Pharmacy Residency Program PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

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Pharmacy Residency

Harris Health System's Department of Pharmacy will train pharmacists to be adept and skilled in multiple areas of direct patient care, to exercise leadership in improving medication safety, and to use administrative skills for health system improvement. Residents will strengthen their commitment to the profession of pharmacy and in turn, train the next generation of healthcare providers.

PGY1 Program Purpose: PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

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Residency Requirements

Required Learning Experiences

  • Orientation
  • Administration/Management
  • Clinical Operations Inpatient
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine
  • Formulary Management and Drug Information
  • Primary Care
  • Longitudinal: Emergency Response
  • Longitudinal: Education and Preceptorship
  • Longitudinal: Research and Projects
  • Longitudinal: Staffing and On-Call Service- Inpatient

Elective Learning Experiences

Residents may repeat any required learning experience in which they have a particular interest in. Elective learning experiences may be selected from, but are not limited to:

  • Cardiology- Inpatient
  • Cardiology- Ambulatory
  • Hematology-Oncology Ambulatory
  • Hematology-Oncology Inpatient
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Human Resources
  • Informatics
  • Internal Medicine II
  • Investigational Drug Service (IDS)
  • Medication Safety
  • Pediatrics/Neonatal
  • Primary Care II
  • Psychiatry
  • Quality and Regulatory

Practice Management

Each resident shall be expected to:

  • Provide clinical on-call coverage.
  • Attend and participate in Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Medication Use Safety Committee, and subcommittee meetings.
  • Develop or revise Policy and Procedures.

Presentations

Each resident is expected to present a formal case, a journal review, and/or administrative topic review to pharmacy staff as required for rotation.

Service Component

Each resident is expected to staff every third weekend.

Projects

Each resident is expected to plan, design, and complete at least one major project with the guidance of a project mentor. Residents are required to complete one additional minor project, such as a medication use evaluation (MUE).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the program's admission requirements?

Individuals wishing to apply to the Harris Health Residency Program must:

  • Be a graduate of an ACPE-­accredited College of Pharmacy
  • Have current valid pharmacy license in the state of Texas, or be eligible for licensure
  • Have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for pharmacy school curriculum (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Enroll in the Residency Matching Program

What are the licensing requirements?

Applicants to the Harris Health System Pharmacy Residency Programs shall have either obtained a license to practice pharmacy in Texas, have reciprocated their license to practice pharmacy in Texas, or be in the process of obtaining their license to practice pharmacy in Texas as soon as possible.

Resident interns and resident pharmacists shall submit documentation of active licensure in the state of Texas [North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE)] to the Residency Program Director as soon as it is available and no later than 60 days from the start of the residency program.

Per ASHP requirements, a minimum of 2/3 of the residency must be completed as a licensed pharmacist, therefore resident interns/pharmacists who have failed to meet the licensure deadline due to failure of either the NAPLEX or Texas MPJE exam shall be dismissed from the residency program.

Can Harris Health sponsor applicants with visas?

Harris Health cannot sponsor student work visas.

Are applicants graduating in August considered?

Applicants must graduate by May from an ACPE­-accredited College of Pharmacy.

What is the official start date of the program?

The program start date is June 30, 2025.

What documents are required for program application?

Applications shall be deemed complete upon the receipt of the following:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of Interest
    • Describe your reasons for pursuing a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. The letter should include details about your professional interests, achievements, and your five-year goals as a pharmacist
  • Official Transcripts
    • Official transcripts related to pharmacy education are required
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
    • Reference writers must complete the standardized reference form in the PhORCAS system.
    • One letter of recommendation must be from a pharmacist who has supervised you or an APPE preceptor.

When is the application deadline?

The deadline to apply to our program is January 3, 2025.

How can I apply for this residency program?

Application materials shall be submitted via the PhORCAS System.