PGY1 Pharmacy Residency – Benioff Children’s Hospital

Rotation Schedule

At a minimum, each resident will spend two thirds or more of their time involved in direct patient care activities. Rotation blocks are five to six weeks in duration, for a total of eight blocks throughout the residency year. All residents will be assigned the seven core blocks and may select ONE elective learning experience.

Sequencing of Learning Experiences

Learning experiences are sequenced such that areas of possible PGY2 specialization occur prior to the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. Sequencing and scheduled experiences are modified during the year based on changes in resident interest and customization based on interests and/or performance. 

Sample Schedule

View sample PGY1 BCH schedule

Core Rotations

• Orientation
• General Pediatrics
• Pediatric Intensive Care
• Hematology/Oncology
• Medication Use & Outcomes
• Leadership & Management
• Ambulatory Care

Electives

• Neonatal Intensive Care
• Bone Marrow Transplant
• Infectious Disease
• Solid Organ Transplant & Transitional Care - Kidney, Liver
• Transition of Care Services
• Adult Medicine
• Emergency Medicine

Longitudinal Experiences (CORE)

• Research Project (11 months)
• Pharmacy Grand Rounds (Continuing Pharmacist Education) (4 weeks, scheduled based on Grand Rounds schedule)
• Small Group Teaching (6-8 weeks)
• Hospital Committee Member (11 months)
• Operational Drug Distribution (including Code Response and Mock Codes) (11 months)

Longitudinal Experiences (ELECTIVE)

• Resident Wellness Program (events scheduled year-long)

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.

Staffing Areas

Operational staffing occurs longitudinally and takes place approximately every third weekend spanning throughout the residency year for a total of 16 weekends. Residents staff in the main pharmacy with an emphasis in order verification and oversight of sterile compounding. 

Project Selection

The Residency Program Director receives project proposal submissions from clinical pharmacists for consideration as a resident research project on an annual basis. Projects are reviewed for feasibility, and appropriateness of timeline for the resident research process. The list developed in this forum focus on projects that demonstrate potential value that may focus on clinical pharmacist services, quality improvement initiatives, such as drug safety, optimal medication use, cost effective drug use, and efficient, safe and effective medication preparation, delivery and administration. The Residency Program Director will reach out to the residents in early summer to start discussions of project selection and project ranking based on interest.

Research Training

PGY1 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. Residents will participate in a research certificate whereby they attend structured research sessions throughout the year in guiding the successful completion of the research project.

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. They are also presented as posters at the Vizient residency session that precedes the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. The final platform presentation occurs in spring at the UC Collaborative Conference in California. 

Teaching Instruction

Teaching is a focus of the residency at UCSF, and residents participate in the UCSF Teaching Certificate Program. The certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the program and recognizes the significant contributions and skills that are attained during the residency year. Residents receive training in teaching methodology, precepting IPPE and APPE students in a layered learning model, 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 (optional)
  • Pediatric Elective Lecture
  • Continuing Pharmacy Education, UCSF Health
• Interprofessional education to nursing & physician groups
• Small group facilitation (6-10 weeks, depending on course schedule)
• Precepting IPPE and APPE students on clinical rotations and project-based work 

Overview

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency residents are integral members of the interprofessional emergency response care team. Residents will become certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and receive hands-on pediatric and adult code training. Residents respond to Code White (Pediatrics), Code Blue (Adult), Seizure Codes, and participate in stroke responses. During emergent response, residents ensure appropriate drug selection and administration, timeliness of medication retrieval and preparation, adjusting medication dosages, and monitoring for response.

Mock Codes & Simulation

PGY1 residents at BCH will participate in multidisciplinary simulation-based mock codes throughout the year in both pediatric and adult clinical practice areas to practice their skills. Residents will also have opportunities to participate in simulation lab session at the Kanbar Center for Simulation and Clinical Skills.