Some questions regarding residencies...

When you apply for them, do you need to be licensed within that state?

Do residency programs affiliated with universities prefer those who went to their pharmacy school/ or one who may have had the opportunity to work there because of location, over an 'outsider' from another state?

Are residencies needed to be a 'hospital pharmacist'?

Do residencies train you to be a staff pharmacist as well as a clinical pharmacist?

With regards to clinical pharmacy, what could you do in pharm.d school to ensure you can become a clinical pharmacist? Do you need any extra degrees? Would I need to get a Masters degree or Ph.D after this to be one? What would set you apart as someone they would understand wants to do this.

What would allow you to participate as a researcher in clinical trials, for instance?

And as a P-2, what types of things could I do in pharmacy school to position myself for a top-notch residency?

Thanks.

I think the FAQs may touch on many of your questions, but I'll see what I can help with.

When you apply for them, do you need to be licensed within that state?

No you don't need to be licensed for the state in which the residency program is in. It would be kind of hard to do so as you apply in the spring semester of P4 yr. Basically they typically require that you be licensed prior to September of the yr you start the residency. Example start the residency in July and become licensed by September at the latest. To minimize stress it would be easiest to get licensure prior to starting residency (i.e. in late May/early June)


Do residency programs affiliated with universities prefer those who went to their pharmacy school/ or one who may have had the opportunity to work there because of location, over an 'outsider' from another state?

Well it depends. Going to the pharmacy school where the residency program is at may give an inside track, but competitive applicants are competitive applicants are competitve applicants so the home field advantage isn't that big of a deal assuming there is more than one residency spot. This really varies a bit w/ the school how much home field matters.


Are residencies needed to be a 'hospital pharmacist'?

Yep. There are always exceptions, but most "hospital pharmacists" w/o residency training and experience (i.e. new grads) are limited to staffing positions. Even w/ 1yr of residency training one may have to compromise for a clinical staff position (50% staffing vs 50% clinical), especially on the east coast.

Do residencies train you to be a staff pharmacist as well as a clinical pharmacist?

There is typically a staffing portion w/ all residencies (typically every 2-3rd wknd and possible coverage for shortages), but training to be a staff pharmacist only requires being familiar w/ the computer system and processing orders and any other various protocol issues.

With regards to clinical pharmacy, what could you do in pharm.d school to ensure you can become a clinical pharmacist? Do you need any extra degrees? Would I need to get a Masters degree or Ph.D after this to be one? What would set you apart as someone they would understand wants to do this.

No extra degrees necessary (certainly not PhD). Going to pharmacy school getting good grades and being involved will suffice. Tech experiences is also nice for understanding inner workings of a pharmacy. Research typically only gets a lot of "wows" if you are shooting for a residency largely supported by a school of pharmacy w/ research as a component.

What would allow you to participate as a researcher in clinical trials, for instance?

As a student or even as a resident you'd have to piggy back onto the efforts of a pharmacist/faculty member already involved in clinical trials. Otherwise this would be quite difficult. Particularly as a student you'd want to go for a research internship over the summer or elective rotation if possible as a student/resident.

And as a P-2, what types of things could I do in pharmacy school to position myself for a top-notch residency?

Network w/ faculty members in clinical practice/research, good grades, extracurriculars, etc. During your P4 rotations you have more time to network w/ clinical pharmacists/researcher and so forth.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot, Kwizard! Very helpful stuff. It gives me a better idea of what it's like out there. These have been burning questions for some time.

I'm going to try to get some intern work over at a hospital in the fall to learn some more.

Thanks Kwizard 👍

DHG said:

Thanks Kwizard 👍

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Not a problem 🙂

kwizard said:

Not a problem 🙂

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Wow... this is really good stuff. I'm amazed at the knowledge some people, like you, possess. This is very helpful.

I'm about to start pharm school this august and was hoping to get an internship/job that would help me become a better clinical pharmacist. I'm interested in pediatric oncology (but this may change overtime when I'm exposed to other areas).

Do you have any suggestions or tips on how or where to find an internship? Is getting a job at a hospital (working closely with a clinical pharmacist) even feasible. I recently got my pharm tech certification, but I do not have any experience, other than my volunteer hours.

Thank You!

Genuine said:

Wow... this is really good stuff. I'm amazed at the knowledge some people, like you, possess. This is very helpful.

I'm about to start pharm school this august and was hoping to get an internship/job that would help me become a better clinical pharmacist. I'm interested in pediatric oncology (but this may change overtime when I'm exposed to other areas).

Do you have any suggestions or tips on how or where to find an internship? Is getting a job at a hospital (working closely with a clinical pharmacist) even feasible. I recently got my pharm tech certification, but I do not have any experience, other than my volunteer hours.

Thank You!

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You can always check out any of the local teaching facilities. Honestly any hospital will do, but the teaching facilities just tend to have a little more variety. Anyplace will do as long as they are willing to work w/ your schedule while in school. The learning/exposure part may depend largely on the people you work w/ and your ability to inquire about topics that interest you. Some hospitals have specific intern programs for pharmacy students that may be a little more helpful. Eitherway the bulk of your job will likely involve doing tech work w/ occasional periods allocated for shadowing/talking w/ any of the various clinical pharmacists. The tech certification helps to get your foot in the door, but isn't a necessity. Yes getting a job is feasible just check the local paper, call around to the hospitals, and/or check any postings on the websites of your respective state society of health system pharmacists (http://www.ashp.org/links.cfm#affiliates). When you start pharm school some professors may also be helpful in obtaining experience in a hospital health system setting; however, I'd be cautious in this regard as some schools really frown on any working during the academic yr. Good Luck!!

Thank You kwizard!!!

kwizard, your information is very useful.

I still want to know how high a GPA can be considered as good grade? >3.5 or >3.0 or Rho Chi er's

I am debating if I should keep my GPA or sacrifice a little bit and work as pharmacy intern.

thanks

forever27 said:

kwizard, your information is very useful.

I still want to know how high a GPA can be considered as good grade? >3.5 or >3.0 or Rho Chi er's

I am debating if I should keep my GPA or sacrifice a little bit and work as pharmacy intern.

thanks

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I wonder the same thing. And what about schools that do a pass/fail system instead of grades?

gsinccom said:

I wonder the same thing. And what about schools that do a pass/fail system instead of grades?

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Good grades for residency training typically mean >3.0. If you have >3.5 than that will certainly keep you in the mix for even the most competitive programs. How much grades mean for residency selection will depend on the program. Rho Chi and all of that is great, but the total pkg is often more of the focus. For instance, many residency programs have a rating system looking at your grades, extracurriculuars, work experience, reccomendation letters, CV, etc.

Most of the programs really aren't that competitive as the ratio b/w the # of programs of potential applicants is close to equal (1:1). The more competive programs are often at the places of prestige and/or the local school of pharmacy are naturally more competitive. However you also have to consider whether they have everything you are looking for in a program. This all depends on the pro's/con's of the residency programs and one's own personal interests. You just really have to do your research about each particular program and figure out what you like and don't and how well you will blend in w/ the various preceptors. In all honesty grades become less and less impt the further you get from pharmacy school. Your ability to adapt, multitask, and learn knew information and apply it to various dilemmas will better predict your capacity for being successful in a residency program and beyond. Grades are only a small part of this.

kwizard said:

....Grades are only a small part of this.

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Average grades make people wonder what you have learned in school? Grades are not small part at all. A C-average student is not a A one regardless the "ability".

kwizard said:

....Your ability to adapt, multitask, and learn knew information and apply it to various dilemmas will better predict your capacity for being successful in a residency program and beyond..

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Hic, if your ability to adapt .... are "great" or "so good", then why did you do in school so bad?

My 2 cents.

Average grades make people wonder what you have learned in school? Grades are not small part at all. A C-average student is not a A one regardless the "ability".

Perhaps there is some misunderstanding. I never implied that a C-avg was ok. Please go back and read the original post as it states that

...Good grades for residency training typically mean >3.0. If you have >3.5 then that will certainly keep you in the mix for even the most competitive programs..."

So in either way each type of student (GPA>3.0 or GPA>3.5) has done well (or at least above avg in pharmacy school). Secondly many programs like to see that the residency candidates have done something else besides go to pharmacy school for the past 4 yrs (i.e. extracurriculars, student organizations, actual pharmacy work (intern or tech), etc.). However, it is worth noting that each program has a different set of skills they value and even a different value they may put on grades in pharm school vs other activities. Nonetheless the point still remains that one of the points behind residency training is to realize that for each situation you have to optimize your oppurtunity and realize that the learning process never ends.

Hic, if your ability to adapt .... are "great" or "so good", then why did you do in school so bad?

Not sure exactly the intent here, but again most residents, past and present, do or did very well in school. However the "big picture" often includes a whole lot more than grades. While grades are certainly impt, they are just not everything.

i can honestly say...
grades are not everything...

my grades were not fantastic
but i was ultra-involved.

and every day i go to my residency and perform my duties just fine.

ultracet said:

i can honestly say...
grades are not everything...

my grades were not fantastic
but i was ultra-involved.

and every day i go to my residency and perform my duties just fine.

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Ultracet.....I think you've pointed out a discreet difference between discerning the great candidate from the acceptible candidate.

Grades are only a reflection of one thing - how well you study.

However...in so many aspects of pharmcy, as Kwizard has so astutely pointed out, there is a difference in being knowledgable & being able to communicate that knowledge & being knowledable & being arrogant or too shy to come forward.

We had a thread on one of these forums in which a student (not resident, mind you) was not only not knowledgable, but also arrogant. There is no place in medicine (or pharmacy), IMO for arrogance.

You must have been able to transmit to the folks who accepted you into your program that altho your grades weren't stellar, you had a gift which should & could be nutured. I hope you appreciate that & accept it for what it is - a belief that you could be a change for the better. I'm hoping you go in everyday to your residency thinking not only how much more can I learn today, but how much more can I give today.

What you give will return back to you far more than anything you've ever received.

I wish you all the best!