PGY2 Specialized Residency: Infectious Disease

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 eight 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/AIDS 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 a 2-week 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.

Learning Experiences Offered

Sample Resident schedule

Note: rotations frequently overlap across months

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 through 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 15 weekends 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.

Recent 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 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

Appointment

July 7, 2025 to Friday, July 12, 2026 (53 weeks)

Positions Available

PGY2 Infectious Diseases (NMS 92156) – 1 position

Recruitment

The Residency Program Director and residents recruit potential residency applicants at the following events:

• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting
  • Residency Showcase

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must be a graduate of an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy or otherwise be eligible for licensure in California. Additionally, applicants must be participating in, or have completed, an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency program or one in the ASHP accreditation process (i.e., one with candidate or preliminary accreditation status).

Non-US and US Citizens from Foreign Schools of Pharmacy

Non-US citizens must be eligible to work and live in the US by obtaining an appropriate visa and must be eligible to work as a licensed pharmacist in California. We do not sponsor visas for foreign pharmacy residency applicants. Non-US and US citizens who graduate from a foreign school of pharmacy must first be certified by examination before the process of licensure in the US can begin. The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee ™ (FPGEC®) certificate program operates under the auspices of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy®. The NABP® provides the FPGEC Certification Program as a means of documenting the educational equivalency of a candidate's foreign education, as well as the license and or registration to practice pharmacy. More information about this entire process is provided in these NABP® links: nabp.pharmacy.

1. Match: All applicants must register for The Match – ASHP Resident Matching Program.
2. PhORCAS: Applications will be accepted through PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service), a web-based pharmacy residency application system. 
3. Cover Letter: A cover letter describing the elements of the program that most interest you and how each element relates to your personal goals is also required.
4. Letters of Recommendation: We request a minimum of one (two is preferred) of your three references should come from a preceptor who you have worked with in a clinical setting, related to an APPE in acute or ambulatory care. The clinical preceptor should be able to comment on your scope of responsibility, total patient load, level of autonomy, clinical abilities, and organizational and time management skills. All 3-reference writers should use the standard PhORCAS template to submit their candidate recommendation. An uploaded letter of recommendation is optional and not required.

Application Reviews

Each PGY2 applicant packet is screened and scored by a member of the PGY-2-ID Resident Selection Committee. Screeners assess the following: communication skills, clinical experience (breadth, performance, scope of activity), personal/environmental factors (maturity, confidence, motivation, and adaptability), work experience, aggregate letters of recommendation, leadership/initiative, teaching (interest and/or experience), research (interest and/or experience), and interest in and suitability for a career in infectious diseases. The screening score is used to determine if an on-site interview will be granted. On-site interviews are offered to approximately 4-6 applicants each year.

Interviews

The interview process consists of panel and personal interviews with pharmacists and infectious diseases physicians, and a personal interview with the Residency Program Director. Lunch is provided with select current residents and clinical pharmacists, in addition to a campus and medical center tour.

PGY2 Infectious Disease interviews will be held on the following dates for the upcoming interview cycle