Rotation Schedule

Each resident will spend two thirds or more of their time involved in direct patient care activities. All residents receive orientation and training in July before embarking on clinical rotations. All residents will be assigned 7 core blocks and may select 4 elective learning experiences. Core rotation blocks are approximately 4 weeks in duration. Longitudinal administrative responsibilities and committee work extend throughout the year.

Sequencing of Learning Experiences

The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Resident receives orientation to solid organ transplant specific activities and operations in the first three weeks of the program. Core rotational learning experiences are preferred prior to elective courses. Sequencing and scheduled experiences are modified during the year based on changes in resident interest and customization based on interests and/or performance.

Core Rotations

• Orientation (3 weeks)
• Heart Transplant I (4 weeks)
• Lung Transplant (8 weeks)
• Kidney Transplant I (4 weeks)
• Liver Transplant I (4 weeks)
• Outpatient Clinics (4 weeks)
• Transplant Infectious Diseases (3 weeks)

Longitudinal

• Longitudinal Research Project (approximately 11 months)
• Longitudinal Quality Improvement (approximately 11 months)
• Longitudinal Teaching (approximately 11 months)
• Longitudinal Operations (approximately 11 months)

Electives

• Heart Transplant II (4-6 weeks)
• Kidney Transplant II (4-6 weeks)
• Liver Transplant II (4-6 weeks)
• Pediatrics (TCUP/DOTS) (4 weeks)
• Adult Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy (4 weeks) 

Operational Training

The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant pharmacy resident receives comprehensive training in each of the operational areas during orientation, including formalized training in sterile compounding and aseptic technique.

Staffing Blocks

Operational staffing occurs longitudinally and will consist of 15 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 PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Resident will receive project proposal submissions from the transplant pharmacy preceptors and faculty for considerations as a research project. Projects are rigorously reviewed for feasibility, and appropriateness of timeline for the resident research process by the Residency Advisory Committee for Solid Organ Transplant. The list developed in this forum focuses on clinical outcomes in the management of solid organ transplant patients, the value of clinical pharmacist services, and/or focus on quality improvement initiatives. The vetted projects will be presented to the resident during orientation and selected by the resident based upon interest.

Research Training

PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant pharmacy residents have the option to 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 can enroll in the Designing Clinical Research (DCR) 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. Residents with research experience have the option of enrolling into the Introduction to Statistical Computing in Clinical Research Course for using STATA in lieu of the DCR 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. They are also presented as posters at the Vizient Consortium Pharmacy Network Meeting that precedes the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. Residents will also submit their research for consideration at a national transplant conference.

Resident Research Projects

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
• Interprofessional education
• Small group facilitation
• Precepting IPPE and APPE students on clinical rotations and project-based work