VA HPSP for Pharmacy 2024

[phatpharmgirl]

I applied as a PharmD Scholarship Candidate as of 3/26/24. If anyone has applied this year, what is your current status? Mine still says submitted as of today. When emailed they said that they don't have an ETA on review for pharmacy submissions.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[bacillus1]

I am surprised they are still doing this, given the VA hiring freeze.

 

[phatpharmgirl]

Well we have all heard those words before. They have a "hiring freeze" but yet they are still hiring for positions approved before the freeze. So if this money was set aside before, it should be okay.

 

[lord999]

Well we have all heard those words before. They have a "hiring freeze" but yet they are still hiring for positions approved before the freeze. So if this money was set aside before, it should be okay.

Money for HPSP does not come out of the same personnel funds as career Civil Service, those positions are considering Training and Education. You're safe on that score. Those on multiyear positions in training (medical residents) have their funding guaranteed as well, it does not come out of the same personnel funds. There are specific legislative safeties in place to protect those from curtailment (withdrawal of positions or early termination of personnel).

There is an interesting issue though. Should we be unable to hire people when you finish training, the usual practice is that you will be relieved of your service obligation to the VA. This has actually happened before, and it is always favorable to the candidate given the health care worker demand elsewhere.

 

[phatpharmgirl]

Yes, the funds are from a different pot. I had assumed they meant in a general sense because the VA as a whole has been over budget.

Definitely interested to see how hiring goes in a couple years though. Right now my VA is not backfilling positions, but still hiring.

 

[bacillus1]

Yes, the funds are from a different pot. I had assumed they meant in a general sense because the VA as a whole has been over budget.

Definitely interested to see how hiring goes in a couple years though. Right now my VA is not backfilling positions, but still hiring.

Nationwide, they are barely hiring. USAjobs only has 64 jobs today for the 0660 code (pharmacist) nationwide. This is the lowest that I have ever seen in my 12 years as a pharmacist at the VA. and includes all federal agencies. I think they'll let us hire for our chief position since pharmacy obviously needs a chief. Otherwise, we'll see.

 

[BC_89]

Nationwide, they are barely hiring. USAjobs only has 64 jobs today for the 0660 code (pharmacist) nationwide. This is the lowest that I have ever seen in my 12 years as a pharmacist at the VA. and includes all federal agencies. I think they'll let us hire for our chief position since pharmacy obviously needs a chief. Otherwise, we'll see.

Of the 8 VA positions I interviewed for, 6 of them pulled the plug with emails saying the position has been "cancelled and not be filled at this time." One position went to someone else (specialty position to someone with more experience), and the other had to email me back and forth for the past 2.5 months saying that the position needed to be approved on 3 separate occasions, but finally sent a tentative offer (which honestly, could be pulled anytime as well).

I applied as a PharmD Scholarship Candidate as of 3/26/24. If anyone has applied this year, what is your current status? Mine still says submitted as of today. When emailed they said that they don't have an ETA on review for pharmacy submissions.

Things have changed since last time I tried to apply (2021) but was told the slots were already filled. At least on SDN, you may be the only active user who is currently applying. Presuming you hit the check marks and the availability has no merit on the current conditions, I'd say you'd here back 3-4 weeks at the latest (if its the same person I communicated with a few years ago).

Would be interested to hear when you get the results and what the conditions say. Good luck!

 

[phatpharmgirl]

Thanks! When I hear back I will let everyone know.

 

[phatpharmgirl]

Of the 8 VA positions I interviewed for, 6 of them pulled the plug with emails saying the position has been "cancelled and not be filled at this time." One position went to someone else (specialty position to someone with more experience), and the other had to email me back and forth for the past 2.5 months saying that the position needed to be approved on 3 separate occasions, but finally sent a tentative offer (which honestly, could be pulled anytime as well).


Things have changed since last time I tried to apply (2021) but was told the slots were already filled. At least on SDN, you may be the only active user who is currently applying. Presuming you hit the check marks and the availability has no merit on the current conditions, I'd say you'd here back 3-4 weeks at the latest (if its the same person I communicated with a few years ago).

Would be interested to hear when you get the results and what the conditions say. Good luck!

I just heard back after 7 months and 2 weeks. I got an offer!

 

[workingfarmer]

I just heard back after 7 months and 2 weeks. I got an offer!

congrats what year do you graduate or did you graduate? I was the first cohort for this program; I am glad they are still doing this but dont know how they manage to give the candidates jobs though; good luck!

 

[phatpharmgirl]

congrats what year do you graduate or did you graduate? I was the first cohort for this program; I am glad they are still doing this but dont know how they manage to give the candidates jobs though; good luck!

I graduate in 2028. What cohort did you apply for? When did you graduate?

 

[AdmiralWelderPharm]

I got an offer too, 4 year commitment. There is a QnA townhall... Im just as curious as how does placement, interviewing and location preference work when you are "commited" to the VA

 

[lord999]

You sign a mobility agreement that allows ordered relocation within 28 days notice. In the past, you get sent to a hard to fill position or spend time as a traveler. Housing is your problem under this agreement.

 

[AdmiralWelderPharm]

You sign a mobility agreement that allows ordered relocation within 28 days notice. In the past, you get sent to a hard to fill position or spend time as a traveler. Housing is your problem under this agreement.

yeah i am very skeptical. I have 7 VA hospitals in my commuting area and none have any clinical listings on usajobs much less pharmacy related.
I am disabled war vet, so there is other ways to get my tution paid. I was more using the program as job placement to get back into the va system(former non clinical employee)

You said something about “spend time as a traveler”. Are suggesting that they use or can use pharmacist in a per diem contract manner in critical shortsge areas.? Sort of like a traveling nurse

 

[lord999]

yeah i am very skeptical. I have 7 VA hospitals in my commuting area and none have any clinical listings on usajobs much less pharmacy related.
I am disabled war vet, so there is other ways to get my tution paid. I was more using the program as job placement to get back into the va system(former non clinical employee)

You said something about “spend time as a traveler”. Are suggesting that they use or can use pharmacist in a per diem contract manner in critical shortsge areas.? Sort of like a traveling nurse

Ok, so you're a 10-pointer, the mobility agreement is literally the same as the one you had depending on your A school if enlisted or OAIS if an officer. Basically, at the will and judgment of the mysterious system in DC. No different.

Yes, some rather unfortunate souls can be bounced around. Especially if the person comes off as a jerk, front office can go into the personnel system and reassign you which starts a 28 day timer for you to move. Some travelers were done this way, so not quite like a per diem system. Others were used to plug critical holes in the way you imagine.

I have some very non-PC advice on the matter, but basically the PC version of this is to make sure you have the arrangements in hand BEFORE you go into the personnel assignment system to make requests. This really, really helps if you're one of our VALOR interns and can get the right connections to find the right shortages.

If I were you though, I would go this way and apply anyway. 10 pointers get a fairly good shake in the system, and we have rather broad discretion on that matter especially if you have to be stationed somewhere that you need treatment. (For example, one of the residents got a forced match to an SCI medical center because they were unfortunately also an SCI patient of ours.)

And there's only two places in the country with that access. If you're in the West Coast version of that, there's considerations that we can talk in private about as the positions are guarded. If you are in the Southeast Coast version of that, I hope you come from a local school or good luck trying.

 

[phatpharmgirl]

Ok, so you're a 10-pointer, the mobility agreement is literally the same as the one you had depending on your A school if enlisted or OAIS if an officer. Basically, at the will and judgment of the mysterious system in DC. No different.

Yes, some rather unfortunate souls can be bounced around. Especially if the person comes off as a jerk, front office can go into the personnel system and reassign you which starts a 28 day timer for you to move. Some travelers were done this way, so not quite like a per diem system. Others were used to plug critical holes in the way you imagine.

I have some very non-PC advice on the matter, but basically the PC version of this is to make sure you have the arrangements in hand BEFORE you go into the personnel assignment system to make requests. This really, really helps if you're one of our VALOR interns and can get the right connections to find the right shortages.

If I were you though, I would go this way and apply anyway. 10 pointers get a fairly good shake in the system, and we have rather broad discretion on that matter especially if you have to be stationed somewhere that you need treatment. (For example, one of the residents got a forced match to an SCI medical center because they were unfortunately also an SCI patient of ours.)

And there's only two places in the country with that access. If you're in the West Coast version of that, there's considerations that we can talk in private about as the positions are guarded. If you are in the Southeast Coast version of that, I hope you come from a local school or good luck trying.

Now I'm scared. Im not a vet. But I am a current employee of the VA. Any tips for me regarding placement?

 

[AdmiralWelderPharm]

Ok, so you're a 10-pointer, the mobility agreement is literally the same as the one you had depending on your A school if enlisted or OAIS if an officer. Basically, at the will and judgment of the mysterious system in DC. No different.

Yes, some rather unfortunate souls can be bounced around. Especially if the person comes off as a jerk, front office can go into the personnel system and reassign you which starts a 28 day timer for you to move. Some travelers were done this way, so not quite like a per diem system. Others were used to plug critical holes in the way you imagine.

I have some very non-PC advice on the matter, but basically the PC version of this is to make sure you have the arrangements in hand BEFORE you go into the personnel assignment system to make requests. This really, really helps if you're one of our VALOR interns and can get the right connections to find the right shortages.

If I were you though, I would go this way and apply anyway. 10 pointers get a fairly good shake in the system, and we have rather broad discretion on that matter especially if you have to be stationed somewhere that you need treatment. (For example, one of the residents got a forced match to an SCI medical center because they were unfortunately also an SCI patient of ours.)

And there's only two places in the country with that access. If you're in the West Coast version of that, there's considerations that we can talk in private about as the positions are guarded. If you are in the Southeast Coast version of that, I hope you come from a local school or good luck trying.

Yeah i went to A school in pensacola . the ranked us on our final test score. The choices were all over the place from CT , VA , CA, WA, IL . But you are right there were more billets on the large bases like Norfolk or San Diego. I would love to match to my own VA hospital its literally 20 mins away on a bicycle. my school does not have any VA APPE rotations at my local va … except for one hospital 90 mins away. There 4 more VA hospitals within 40 mins drive… only one has PGY2.

What do you mean “forced match”? was that residency placement or VA employee placement

And yes i am a 10 pointer, 100%Pt, i worked as. VSR before pharmacy school. I enjoy the one on one with veterans . imm lookninto VALOR

 

[lord999]

Yeah i went to A school in pensacola . the ranked us on our final test score. The choices were all over the place from CT , VA , CA, WA, IL . But you are right there were more billets on the large bases like Norfolk or San Diego. I would love to match to my own VA hospital its literally 20 mins away on a bicycle. my school does not have any VA APPE rotations at my local va … except for one hospital 90 mins away. There 4 more VA hospitals within 40 mins drive… only one has PGY2.

What do you mean “forced match”? was that residency placement or VA employee placement

And yes i am a 10 pointer, 100%Pt, i worked as. VSR before pharmacy school. I enjoy the one on one with veterans . imm lookninto VALOR

Forced match - The Civil Service can override a match or an employment placement if the reason for it is to deal with treatment consideration. I use the term forced match, but I think the official term is "compassionate assignment." It usually works in the person's favor.

Now I'm scared. Im not a vet. But I am a current employee of the VA. Any tips for me regarding placement?

Don't piss off the placement officer/staff. Be careful about joining frats as there are VA's that have longstanding disdain for PDX, KP, or KE and some VA's are completely anti-frat like the two sober VA medical centers (if you want to know which of them they are, it's unofficial but think about the two places VA has a medical center with an extremely strong religious community). Recommend being a VALOR to learn the bureaucracy. If you're a current employee of the VA directly, ask about how LDA mobility agreements work, and it's basically the same one (with the addition that you may be reassigned to clinical duties at will, anywhere from VHACO, anytime they believe it is in their best interest).

 

[phatpharmgirl]

Forced match - The Civil Service can override a match or an employment placement if the reason for it is to deal with treatment consideration. I use the term forced match, but I think the official term is "compassionate assignment." It usually works in the person's favor.



Don't piss off the placement officer/staff. Be careful about joining frats as there are VA's that have longstanding disdain for PDX, KP, or KE and some VA's are completely anti-frat like the two sober VA medical centers (if you want to know which of them they are, it's unofficial but think about the two places VA has a medical center with an extremely strong religious community). Recommend being a VALOR to learn the bureaucracy. If you're a current employee of the VA directly, ask about how LDA mobility agreements work, and it's basically the same one (with the addition that you may be reassigned to clinical duties at will, anywhere from VHACO, anytime they believe it is in their best interest).

Thanks so much! I almost joined LKS. But I won't be joining now. I guess my goal would be to at least stay in the state I live in. I know it may be a stretch, but it's the best case scenario for my husband and I.

 

[lord999]

Thanks so much! I almost joined LKS. But I won't be joining now. I guess my goal would be to at least stay in the state I live in. I know it may be a stretch, but it's the best case scenario for my husband and I.

With your time, you’re better off joining your state chapter of ASHP and AMCP. If you’re going the technical route, join ASAP as a student. If you work for the VA, then Federal Forum or ACHE depending on your track preference of clinical versus management (technical track uses ASHP or ASAP depending on specialization). You must take FACHE if you are going for SES/ST/SL consideration.