Residency Information

Orientation

All AGH residents complete a standard orientation during the 5-6 weeks of their program. The program director or a designee will orient residents to the program’s purpose, applicable accreditation standards, designated learning experiences, and evaluation strategy. In addition, residents will be introduced to the various operational areas of the AGH Pharmacy Department and gain experience under the guidance of a staff pharmacist. Residents will also attend a general network, hospital, and department orientation training.

Residency projects

Various residency-related projects are required throughout the year. Residents will be provided with numerous opportunities to enhance their verbal and written communication skills in a variety of settings. Residents will give both formal and informal presentations. The required presentations include the following:

  • Pharmacy Grand Rounds and Resident Forum (PGY2 clinical residents)
  • Research Project and Proposal Presentation
  • Resident Research Conference and Manuscript Development
  • Medication Use Evaluation
  • Formulary Project or Policy/Guideline review
  • Resident-Resident Teaching Conference (PGY2 clinical residents)
  • Resident-Student Teaching Conference (PGY1)
  • Pharmacist Continuing Education
  • Journal Club

To more fully engage in quality improvement learning activities and to facilitate writing and literature evaluation skills, residents will complete both a formulary (or class) review and a medication use evaluation. In addition, residents will prepare a manuscript of their research project suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Residents will also engage in several less formal case presentations and in services throughout the year as determined by the rotation preceptors.

Teaching certificate elective

Through a partnership with an affiliated University’s School of Pharmacy, residents may elect to complete the requirements of the teaching certificate program. In addition to required educational presentations and co-precepting pharmacy students, residents will participate in regular teaching training sessions through the year, and develop a teaching philosophy statement and portfolio.

Clinical and administrative on-call

Pharmacy residents participate in an on-call service, which provides first-hand experience in developing problem-solving skills through exposure to various clinical and administrative situations. Residents will participate in a rotating on-call schedule for coverage of these services. Residents will be assigned a preceptor as the back-up for any questions or issues. A comprehensive overview of these services will occur ahead of on-call participation.

Staffing obligations

To provide residents with model pharmacy practice experience, residents will be assigned staffing duties on a rotating basis, as follows:

  • PGY1 & PGY2 programs -  24 hours in a 3-week period
  • PGY1 Administration - 2 shifts (8-hours/shift) per 2-week period