Pharmacy Residency Program Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership with Masters Residency Program

PGY1/PGY2/MS Health System Pharmacy Administration Residency

The Pharmacy Residency Program is a 24-month program, resulting in an MS degree in Pharmacy Leadership & Administration from the University of Houston, as well as a Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) and Post-Graduate Year 2 (PGY2) certificate, upon successful completion.

A PGY2 health-system pharmacy administration and leadership residency builds upon PGY1 residency graduates’ competence in the delivery of patient-centered care and in pharmacy operational services to prepare residents who can assume high level managerial, supervisory, and leadership responsibilities. Areas of competence emphasized during the program include safe and effective medication-use systems, quality assurance and improvement, the management of human resources, the management of financial resources, use of technology, and advanced leadership. The residency lays the foundation for continued growth in management and leadership skills.

The 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 leaders.

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Requirements

Core Rotations

  • Administration
  • Clinical Operations
  • Clinical Services
  • Drug Information/Formulary
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Financial Management
  • Human Resources
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine
  • Primary Care
  • Quality and Regulatory

Elective Rotations

Residents may repeat any core rotation in which they have a particular interest. Elective rotations may be selected from, but are not limited to:

  • Anticoagulation
  • Critical Care
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Informatics
  • Investigational Drugs
  • Medication Safety
  • Oncology
  • Pediatrics
  • Apexus 340B

Practice Management

Each resident shall be expected to:

  • Provide coverage as Operations-On-Call manager and other consult services.
  • 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 Pharmacy Administration 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 per year, as well as a minor project, such as a medication use evaluation (MUE) per year.

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 a 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
  • Submit application materials through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) System by January 2, 2024
  • All PGY1/PGY2/MS candidates must also complete the application process for the University of Houston (UH) Master's Program by January 7, 2024

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 official start date of the program is July 1, 2024.

What documents are required for program application?

Applications shall be deemed complete upon receipt of the following:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of Interest
    • Describe your reasons for pursuing a PGY1/PGY2/MS Pharmacy Administration 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.
  • Completed application to the University of Houston College of Pharmacy MS Program

When is the application deadline?

  • All PHORCAS application documents must be received by January 2, 2024.
  • All University of Houston application documents must be received by January 7, 2024.

How can I apply for this residency program?

Application materials shall be submitted via the PhORCAS System.

Can the program extend beyond the 24 months of Residency Class?

Residents will not be allowed to extend the program with or without pay beyond the allotted 24 months of Resident year.

For additional information, please contact:

Jabeen John, PharmD, BCPS, BCSCP
Residency Program Director
Vice President Pharmacy Services
Jabeen.John@harrishealth.org
Shaji Varghese, RPh, MBA
Residency Program Coordinator
Pharmacy Practice Advancement Director
Shaji.Varghese@harrishealth.org
jason
Jason Levy, PharmD
PGY-2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Resident
Chief Pharmacy Resident
Jason.Levy@harrishealth.org