Congratulations! If you’ve decided you want to apply for a pharmacy residency program, you have already taken the first step! (If you’re still on the fence, you can read my last post about whether a residency is right for you here). The next step is figuring out HOW to choose a pharmacy residency program to apply to during this time.
It’s no surprise that it can be overwhelming. According to this year’s National Matching Services report, there were 4768 applicants that matched to 2283 pharmacy residency programs. That’s a lot of residency programs to choose from!
In 2020, there were 4768 pharmacy resident applicants that matched to 2283 programs.
data from the national matching services report
So how do you choose which pharmacy residency programs to send an application to? You can’t apply to all of them because it would be too time-consuming and expensive. It would also be a waste of time if the specific program isn’t even something that interests you! Instead, you need to take some time to think about what you want and if the program matches your need. To match to a post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency, both you and the residency site need to fit each other. That’s why it’s called “the match!”
Questions to ask before you choose a pharmacy residency program
What worked well for me was to make a list of questions that addressed the points important to me. Below are some of the questions you can consider before you choose a pharmacy residency to apply to:
1. Accreditation
Do you care if the residency program is accredited? Not all pharmacy residencies are accredited, and this should be the first thing you consider. ASHP has a process that grants accreditation to certain practice sites that meet their requirements and standards. I would highly recommend a program that’s accredited because –
- Your training will meet a certain standard. In order for a site to be accredited, it must pass an official process through document review, site survey, review and evaluation by the Commission on Credentialing. Since ASHP pushes for pharmacy students to apply to residency programs, it wants to ensure the program adheres to the principles and philosophy of their standards.
- Your residency director & coordinator will invest in you. If they are going through all the effort of getting their site accredited, that shows they are willing to put work and time into the program. If they’re trying to build a reputable program, then they will inevitably make an effort to make your training worthwhile.
- It looks better on your resume. Simply put, most employers looking for a residency-trained candidate will put more weight in an accredited residency program than a non-accredited program.
If the program isn’t accredited, do your homework and figure out why. Make sure that reason isn’t a red flag.
2. Program Curriculum
Not all residency programs are created equal. Many PGY1 sites make their general curriculum for the year available online. Look for what rotations you’ll float through to see if it matches your interests. For example, a lot of Kaisers focus more heavily on ambulatory care or outpatient services, while other hospitals may focus primarily on inpatient care. Then there are other programs that have a good mix. Also, within those settings, what departments will you see? Are you interested in oncology ambulatory care? Or acute care in the emergency department? Make sure the program offers what you’re looking for!
3. Patient Population
Is the patient population and demographics important to you? Do you want to see a wide range of patients or a subset population? For example, when I rotated through the VA hospital during my APPEs, I mostly only saw older, male patients. It makes sense since the hospital serves veterans. If you want to work with pediatrics or pregnant women, or even a diverse young adult population, then the VA likely is not your ideal site.
4. Staffing Requirements
A lot of programs have some sort of staffing requirement. Of the programs that I looked at, they ranged from staffing a few times a year to staffing every weekend! Why does this matter? Because of the time commitment! Are you able to set aside all the time and energy required of the program? If you have children or other personal responsibilities, would you be able to commit the weekends in addition to the weekdays to your pharmacy residency? Some programs give you weekdays off when you have to work weekends, others ask you to work in addition to the weekdays. On the flip side, staffing gives you greater experience and prepares you to work once you finish residency. So think about what you prefer and what’s more important to you.
5. Work Environment
A huge component of work is the people you work with and the environment. If you get a chance to visit the site, go! Observe how the staff work together. Are they friendly? Professional? Do they work well as a team? Try to talk to current residents or staff and see how they like it there. Picture yourself in that environment and ask yourself if you would enjoy working with the people there!
6. The Residency Class
The size and quality of the residency class is also something to consider. How many residents does the site take? Do you want to work with just one other resident? Or do you want a larger group of residents to potentially hang out with, vent to, and give tips and insights about upcoming rotations?
7. Location
The location also matters! Are you willing to go out-of-state or do you want to stay local? Where will you live? How will you commute to your site? Does the weather matter? I looked at one out-of-state program because I really liked what the site offered, but the location and weather was not ideal for me. As a true Californian who treasures the sun, I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed moving to a state where it rained constantly. And mood can definitely affect work. Also, is it important for you to have friends and family nearby?
8. Job Prospect
Completing a residency program makes you competitive and better trained to staff wherever you go. However, do you want to stay on at your residency site and work there full-time? If so, take a look and see if the site hires their own residents. Many sites do, because they spent a whole year training them. If they have a tendency to keep their residents, then you likely will be considered for hire at your own site at the end of the year.
You’ve asked the questions. Now where do you find the answers to help you choose a pharmacy residency program?
1. Online
- Browse the ASHP website for accredited programs. They provide a list of all the current programs that received accreditation, and from there you can browse them based on your location and category preference.
- Go to the specific pharmacy residency site. There, they offer a brief overview of their curriculum and expectations. Oftentimes there are a list of frequently asked questions so read through them to understand what they offer.
2. ASHP and CSHP Residency Showcases
If you can attend a residency showcase, I highly recommend it! There you will learn more about the program and be able to talk face to face with residents and program directors & coordinators. However, for Fall 2020, it is all virtual. From what I’ve heard, you can ask a program 1 question, then you’ll have to go to the back of the “virtual line.” It doesn’t sound like you’ll be able to talk to many programs depending on how many people are interested, so make sure you narrow down the programs that really interest you!
3. Local School Showcases
Some schools also host their own residency showcases and invite local residency programs to attend. Usually these occur earlier in the year, prior to CSHP and ASHP mid-year. I believe most of the local ones are already done for the year, but if you’re applying next year or in future years, keep an eye out for them in September!
4. Current and Past Residents
One of the best sources to find out more about the residency beyond the general information is by talking to current and past residents. I mentioned earlier that it helps to talk to current staff to gauge the work environment. Likewise, talking to the residents will reveal more about whether they’re enjoying the program or not. This was one of the major factors that helped me further narrow down my options and choose a pharmacy residency program that was right for me.
5. Open Houses
A lot of programs also offer open houses. Again, this is a great way to learn more about the site and work environment. Reading about the residency site online is one thing, but seeing it in person is another. You’ll get to see what your site looks like, where the pharmacy residents work, how the pharmacy staff work. Do the staff look like they enjoy their work? Do they look stressed? Be observant!
The greatest takeaway is this: figure out what you want and hope for to get out of the program and make sure the program is able to match those desires. I hope these questions and insights guide you to figure out how to better choose a residency program fit for you. Let me know if this helps and/or if you have any other questions! And if you’ve been through the process, what are some other things future candidates can consider?