General Pharmacy Practice
The Residency Program in Pharmacy Practice is designed to train selected, highly motivated and qualified pharmacists in the provision of pharmaceutical care so that they are prepared to assume an advanced practice and/or academic position. The program consists of a 12-month period of concentrated training in all aspects of institutional pharmacy practice. The program is flexible, in that it will adapt to the needs of the individual resident, yet, it will provide the basic foundation for quality pharmacy practice.
The program emphasizes clinical practice and includes rotations in general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ambulatory care, critical care, clinical pharmacokinetics, infectious disease and drug information. Elective rotations are available in other clinical and administrative areas. The program also requires the resident to learn and develop teaching and research techniques.
This residency participates in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Residency Matching Program and is fully accredited by ASHP.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this pharmacy practice residency, the resident shall be able to:
- Be a competent and confident provider of pharmaceutical care.
- Provide information on the therapeutic use of drugs, adverse drug events, including epidemiological considerations, and toxicology of drug including recognition and management of adverse events.
- Discuss therapeutic options using an evidence based medicine approach and focus preferred therapy for individual patients considering multiple diagnoses, drug therapies and other factors.
- Be able to evaluate patient responses to therapy including therapeutic response, adverse reactions and interference with clinical tests.
- Participate in clinical drug research.
- Define and assess patient problems by obtaining medical histories, and utilizing appropriate laboratory and radiological tests.
- Perform problem-oriented clinical data collection to determine accomplishment of therapeutic objectives and toxic effects of therapeutic modalities.
- Define her/his own professional role in the primary care environment based on his/her unique knowledge in clinical therapeutics.
- Establish chronic care therapeutic protocols and review the therapeutic practices of primary care clinicians.
- Participate in the education and training of pharmacy students, medical housestaff and faculty, nurses and other care professionals. Participate in the management of medical emergencies.
Training Site
The primary training site for the Pharmacy Practice Residency is University Medical Center. Elective rotations may be taken at other facilities in the Tucson area.
Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the Pharmacy Practice Resident is monitoring drug therapy of all patients assigned by the preceptor. The resident will rotate through the various required clinical services and be under the supervision of the responsible clinical faculty for that service. The resident is also responsible for attending clinical pharmacy conferences, participating in the pharmacotherapeutics and nutrition support on-call service on a rotation basis, and providing a written evaluation of each rotation and written self-evaluations based on residency goals and objectives. The resident is also responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of a research project.
Academic responsibilities will include assisting in training pharmacy students in clerkship rotations, participating in clinical faculty research as opportunities become available and to gain experience in providing case discussions and lecture to pharmacy students.
A Residency Project is a requirement of all programs. The objective is to develop the resident's skills in problem identification, investigation and solution. Each project must be approved by the residency director/preceptor before research is initiated.
Benefits and Financial Provision
These programs are competitive with similar residency programs nationwide. Residents are entitled to all benefits provided full time, University faculty. Funds may be provided to help offset travel expenses to selected state and national meetings.
Number of positions: 5-8
ASHP Code: 7913
Applicant Qualifications
General requirements for the programs include:
- The applicant should possess a PharmD degree or pharmacy practice-oriented MS degree from a school of pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
- All Specialized Residents are second-year residencies. A previous one-year Pharmacy Practice residency is highly desirable. This requirement may be waived for candidates of outstanding merit and qualifications.
- The applicant must be eligible for licensure as a pharmacist in the Sate of Arizona and, if selected, must successfully complete the June Board exam in Arizona.
- The applicant must be recommended by his/her college faculty and/or previous employer.
- It is desirable that the applicant have prior experience in hospital pharmacy practice.
All programs require on-site interviews. Preliminary interviews are conducted at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Application to the program may be made by sending a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, transcripts, and 3 letters of recommendation to:
Pharmacy Practice Residency Program
College of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science
1703 E. Mabel
Tucson, AZ 85721-0207
Certification
Upon successful completion of the residency program, an appropriate certificate shall be awarded to the resident by the college and the hospital.