PGY2 Specialized Residency: Solid Organ Transplant

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 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 focus 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

Appointment

Monday, July 8, 2024 to Friday, July 11, 2025 (53 weeks)

Positions available

PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant (NMS 748276) - 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
  • Personnel Placement Services (PPS)

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. The application deadline is Tuesday, January 2nd at 8:59 PM PST.
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 2 members of the Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Team and the PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Residency Program Director (RPD). Screeners assess the following: communication skills, clinical experience (breadth, performance, scope of activity), personal/environmental factors (maturity, confidence, motivation, and adaptability), and work experience, letters of recommendation, leadership/initiative, teaching (interest and/or experience), research (interest and/or experience), extracurricular involvement and academic performance. Invitations for an on-site interview will be sent out in January.

Virtual Interviews

The virtual interview process consists of a panel interview and a personal interview with the PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Residency Program Director. Applicants are asked to prepare in advance a 15-20 minute presentation on a solid organ transplant topic.

Interviews will be held in late January to early February, 2024.