Rotation Schedule

At a minimum, each resident will spend two thirds or more of their time involved in direct patient care activities. Learning experiences include block and longitudinal experiences. Blocked experiences are 2 to 6 weeks in duration. Residents complete nine blocks of core adult infectious diseases pharmacotherapy content in four domains, with the second iteration of each rotation requiring more responsibility and greater expectations. Residents select 4-5 elective inpatient learning experiences. Ambulatory care experiences include the UCSF HIV Ambulatory Care Clinics (required) and the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic (elective).

Sequencing of Learning Experiences

Learning experiences are sequenced to build a foundation for effective practice. Trainees begin with orientation and training, including brief immersion with the microbiology laboratory. They then begin development of their longitudinal research project and are then introduced to antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases consult activities at UCSF Medical Center. This culminates in an advanced infectious diseases early capstone experience at the midpoint of the year. The latter half of the year includes a greater focus on evidence-based teaching techniques, HIV clinic experience, and clinical electives with time for completion of research and QI projects. The year culminates in a final capstone advanced infectious diseases experience for the resident to demonstrate ability for independent practice.

Sample Resident Schedule

Note: rotations frequently overlap across months

Learning Experiences Offered

Operational Training

All residents receive comprehensive training in each of the operational areas during orientation, including formalized training in sterile compounding and aseptic technique. At the beginning of the residency year, residents are paired with an experienced preceptor who will oversee their operational staffing learning experience throughout the year and provide residents with summative feedback. Residents staff in conjunction with a clinical pharmacist until they are licensed at which point they will staff independently, typically starting in September.

Staffing Areas

Operational staffing occurs longitudinally and will consist of 16 weekends in total. This is inclusive of 1 major holiday and 2 minor holiday weekends. Staffing shifts will encompass both operational and clinical responsibilities and may occur during the day or evening. 

Project Selection

The PGY-2-ID resident selects a major research project based on their interests and prior training and the needs and capabilities of the institution. Discussions for topic ideas begin from the beginning of the program and are finalized by the time of the resident’s participation in the UCSF Research Certificate Program (see below).

Research Training

PGY2 residents participate in the UCSF Research Certificate Program and will gain skills in adhering to a research timeline, creating an appropriate study design and methodology, completing data collection and analysis and summarizing research findings. Residents are enrolled in the Designing Clinical Research course that is part of the Summer Clinical Research Workshop. This interprofessional curriculum within the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics guides residents through modification of their research proposal and creation of a version suitable for submission to the UCSF Institutional Review Board. For projects requiring more advanced statistics, residents also receive support to work with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) in order to complete analysis.  For PGY2 residents who have previously completed the Designing Clinical Research course, an alternative research course may be substituted, such as the Introduction to Statistical Computing in Research course.

Poster & Platform Presentations

All projects are of a scope suitable for publication. Projects are presented as posters at the UCSF Department of Clinical Pharmacy Spring Research Poster Session. As appropriate, residents are encouraged to submit their research for consideration at national pharmacy and/or infectious diseases meetings. 

Teaching Instruction

Teaching is a focus of the residency at UCSF, and residents receive a Teaching Certificate upon program completion if they complete the required elements of the program. The certificate recognizes the significant contributions and skills that are attained during the residency year. Residents receive training in teaching methodology, precepting and small group conference facilitation through a variety of educational seminars that are planned during the year.

Teaching Experiences

Teaching opportunities may include the following:

• Large group teaching to pharmacy students in Infectious Diseases integrated courses
• Interprofessional education to Infectious Diseases fellows, Microbiology staff, and Nurse Practitioners
• Small group facilitation in Therapeutics courses
• Precepting IPPE and APPE students and PGY1 residents on clinical rotations and project-based work