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Preparing for a Career in Pharmacy

The Medical College of Wisconsin Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program prepares graduates for a range of rewarding career opportunities. With pathways ranging from pharmacogenomics and bioinformatics to pharmaceutical industry or patient care, graduates will serve their community as an accessible, trusted healthcare provider.
MCW pharmacy students advocate for pharmacy policy efforts at State Capitol

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Pharmacy Career Paths

Graduates of the MCW PharmD program have diverse job prospects, including:
Faculty Lecture Students
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Academia
Graduates who are interested in educating and precepting the next generation of pharmacists may pursue an academic pharmacy career as a faculty member at a college or university.
Entrepreneurship
Opening an independent pharmacy is an option for graduates who are interested in being their own boss. Independent pharmacy owners and staff pharmacists focus on building and maintaining relationships with community members. This path would be a great fit for PharmD graduates who are interested in business and marketing.
Government and Regulatory
Graduates may pursue careers in with organizations like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration where they protect the drug supply – from performing inspections at manufacturing facilities to involvement in drug recalls and consumer complaints.
Patient Care
Pharmacists counsel patients on safe and appropriate use of medications, ensure patients are receiving the correct medication and dose, and prevent harmful drug interactions. There are various options for specialties and practice settings, including hospital pharmacy (working as part of an interprofessional healthcare team), ambulatory care (working in clinical office and pharmacy settings focused on general care or specific disease states), or community pharmacy (accessible, trusted medication experts who also provide immunizations and wellness services).
Pharmaceutical Industry
Industry pharmacists may create new medications, conduct research via clinical drug trials, work in quality control or collaborate with marketers to promote medications.
Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacogenomics testing allows pharmacists and physicians to skip the trial and error of finding a medication that works best for a patient, instead identifying the genetic factors that play a role in the way a patient metabolizes medications. Pharmacists utilizing pharmacogenomics can establish the proper dose for a patient, assess whether there’s a genetic reason for a patient experiencing an adverse drug reaction, or explain why an antidepressant is not working effectively for a behavioral health patient.
Specialty Pharmacy Practice
Graduates may choose to specialize in a specific disease state (such as cardiology or oncology), patient population (such as pediatrics, geriatrics or veterinary pharmacy) or practice setting (such as emergency medicine or psychiatry).
Technology and Health Informatics
Pharmacists may utilize their clinical experience and information technology knowledge to improve medication management systems and safety protocols for drug administration.
Pharmacy student works in a laboratory setting alongside her preceptor.

Expected starting salary/salary range

According to U.S. News & World Report, $136,030 is the median salary for a pharmacist in 2025. The pharmacist profession was ranked #17 in 2025 Best Health Care Jobs and #22 in 2025 Best-Paying Jobs. Between 2023 and 2033, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5.4% employment growth for pharmacists. 

The expected starting salary for individuals with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree can vary depending on factors such as location, industry, level of experience and specific job responsibilities. It is also important to note that salaries may also be influenced by factors such as additional certifications, skills, and negotiation abilities of the individual candidate.

Benefits of the MCW Doctor of Pharmacy Program

At the Medical College of Wisconsin, PharmD graduates are prepared to practice at the top of their license. Wisconsin has one of the most progressive pharmacy practices in the country, with the largest concentration of clinical training sites in Milwaukee. Wisconsin is one of 11 states nationally to recognize pharmacists as healthcare providers under the state Medicaid system, allowing pharmacists a unique opportunity to care for the underserved in rural and urban areas.

Prospective Student Information

Accelerated Program

  • One of few institutions in the country where you can earn your PharmD in three years (instead of four)
  • Early clinical experiences begin in the second quarter of your first year
  • Years 1 & 2: Weekly clinical rotations (every Friday) — Apply classroom knowledge and develop hands-on skills consistently
  • Year 3: Immersed in various practice sites full-time

Key Location

  • Access to clinical rotations and research experiences at some of the top facilities in the country
  • Shared campus and partnerships with Froedtert Hospital and Children's Wisconsin
  • Partnership with the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, just a short drive from the MCW campus

Unique Learning Environment

  • Customize your PharmD education through academic concentrations
  • Gain a competitive edge in your career interest area
  • Academic Concentration Options: Research, Population Health, Specialized Pharmacy Practice, Entrepreneurship & Leadership
  • Small class sizes with approachable, supportive faculty who know students by name

Post-graduate Training

Map of the United States shows locations where MCW PharmD graduates have matched for post-graduate residency positions.

Residency Match Rate

Residencies are optional post-graduate training programs for pharmacists to continue developing skills and/or specialize in a particular career path. Approximately 66% of graduates from the MCW School of Pharmacy’s six cohorts have pursued residencies and fellowships.

The PharmD Class of 2025 achieved a 90% post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency match rate, exceeding the national match rate of 81%.

Three additional students secured postdoctoral positions in the pharmaceutical industry, for an overall post-graduate training match rate of 91%.

Fellowships

MCW School of Pharmacy alumni have been selected for prestigious fellowships in the pharmaceutical industry with companies such as:

  • Bayer Corporation
  • BD (Marketing fellowship)
  • East Coast Institute for Research (Clinical Research and Pharmaceutical Industry fellowship)
  • Eli Lilly (Clinical Development / Clinical Systems fellowship)
  • Kenvue (Medical Information / Medical Affairs fellowship)
  • Merck (Oncology)
  • Regeneron (Development Operations and Portfolio Management)
  • Sanofi (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics fellowship)
  • TerSera Therapeutics (Medical Affairs / Scientific Communications fellowship)

MCW Pharmacy Alumni Intro

MCW School of Pharmacy Alumni Spotlight

The MCW School of Pharmacy has graduated over 200 Doctor of Pharmacy students from six cohorts.

Our postgraduate training match rates have consistently surpassed the national average, with the Class of 2025 achieving a 90% postgraduate training match rate for PGY1 residency programs.

Learn about the stories and career paths of MCW School of Pharmacy alumni

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