Pharmacy PGY1 Residency Program
The PGY1 residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete the PGY1 program will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including PGY2 residencies.
About the program
Overview
The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is located within the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus and is a 200-bed tertiary care facility that serves over 75,000 patients. We provide almost 1 million encounters and process over 1,600,000 prescriptions annually.
Our ASHP-accredited PGY1 Residency consists of two residents and is a 12-month program which starts in late June/early July. It is designed to provide professional training in various clinical rotations, inpatient and outpatient pharmacy services, pharmacokinetic dosing, patient education and counseling, and administrative services. We offer opportunities to participate in direct patient care as a provider in a number of clinical settings such as geriatrics, palliative care, ambulatory care, internal medicine, infectious diseases, critical care, mental health, oncology/infusion clinic, investigational drugs, and many more. We also provide a longitudinal, comprehensive research experience and a wide variety of teaching opportunities. Additional projects and activities throughout the year are designed to assist with the residents’ development as a skilled clinical pharmacist and achievement of both the residents’ personal and residency-specific goals.
Purpose statement
The PGY1 residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete the PGY1 program will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including PGY2 residencies.
Program goals
- Provide safe and effective patient care services following the Pharmacist’s Patient Care Process outlined by the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners.
- Provide patient-centered care through interacting and facilitating effective communication with patients, caregivers, and stakeholders.
- Promote safe and effective access to medication therapy.
- Participate in the identification and implementation of medication-related interventions for a patient population (population health management).
- Conduct practice advancement projects.
- Demonstrate leadership skills that contribute to departmental and/or organizational excellence in the advancement of pharmacy services.
- Demonstrate leadership skills that foster personal growth and professional engagement.
- Provide effective medication and practice-related education.
- Provide professional and practice-related training to meet learners’ educational needs.
Residency components
Learning Experiences
- Required Rotations (5 weeks unless otherwise stated)
- Orientation (4 weeks)
- Institutional Pharmacy Practice
- Ambulatory Care I
- Internal Medicine I
- Geriatrics/Community Living Center/Palliative Care Unit
- Selective Rotations (2 selections, 5 weeks each)
- Ambulatory Care II
- Mental Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Geriatrics/Community Living Center / Palliative Care Unit
- Elective Rotations (2 selections, 5 weeks each)
- Emergency Medicine
- Infusion Clinic / Hazardous Drugs
- Integrated Pain Management
- Internal Medicine II
- Or may choose from list of selective rotations
- Longitudinal Experiences
- Ambulatory Care Clinic (4 hours weekly, 8 months)
- Major Project - Inverted Research Model (IRM)
- IRM Project 1 - data collection, analysis, manuscript, presentation of findings (10 months)
- IRM Project 2 - project development, protocol, approvals, data request, hand-off (6 months)
- Pharmacy Administration
- Part 1: ADE & QA (10 months)
- Part 2: Recruit/Interview (5 months)
- Part 3: Leadership-Management (3 months)
- Part 4: MUE/Formulary (4 months)
- Presentation and Teaching (10 months)
- Optional Experiences
- Teaching Certificate
- IV Certification
- ACLS Certification
Projects and Activities
- Journal Clubs (2*)
- In-Service*
- Case Presentation*
- Grand Rounds Presentation*
- Drug class review, monograph, treatment guideline, treatment protocol/pathway, utilization management criteria, or order set*
- MUE with project report*
- Major Project – Inverted Research Model (IRM) – (proposal and timeline, protocol, manuscript, and 2 presentations)*
- Written education* (i.e., clinical memorandum, newsletter, patient education brochure or handout)
- ADE Reviews
- BLS Certification
- Meetings: P&T Committee (4), IRB (1), R&D (1), PGY1 recruitment events, National VA Journal club calls (2-4), staff meetings, regional or national professional meeting
- Mentorship: RPD-resident meetings (1-3 times per month), quarterly development plan review with RPD*, National VA Pharmacy Resident Call Series, Resident Research Advisory Committee, National VA Understanding Designs for Clinical Research Course, National VA Journal club workshop series, and others
Requirements for Completion of Residency
- Adherence to residency policies (licensure, time commitment, leave limits, duty hours, etc.)
- Complete all projects and activities above denoted with *
- Complete all required learning experiences
- Complete all PharmAcademic evaluations
- No objectives rated below 3 (average on final rating)
- 80% learning objectives marked as ACHIEVED FOR RESIDENCY
Staffing
Obtaining a dual appointment as a staff pharmacist to cover 2 weekend shifts per month is expected after successful completion of the institutional pharmacy practice rotation. Pharmacist’s wages are earned for the shifts worked.
Meet Our Team
Benefits
Compensation
- $ 49,194 (2026-27), paid biweekly
- Additional fee-based salary for staffing hours worked with dual appointment
Leave
- Annual Leave: 4 hours per pay period, or 13 days per year
- Sick Leave: 4 hours per pay period, or 13 days per year
- Federal Holidays: 11 paid holidays
- Paid administrative leave may be approved for VA-approved professional travel
Travel
- Reimbursement to attend approved educational meetings (funding permitting)
Health
- Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) eligible for health insurance
Other Benefits
- Office workspace
- Comprehensive health sciences library
- Employee Assistance Program
- Free parking
For more information regarding benefits, please visit OPM.gov
Application information (Match # 122913)
Applicant requirements
- U.S. Citizenship
- Pharm.D. graduate of an ACPE-accredited pharmacy program in the U.S.
- Active pharmacist’s license or eligibility for future license (must be licensed through any U.S. State Board of Pharmacy within 90 days of starting the program)
- Registration online with the National Matching Service and using the shared PhORCAS/Match registration portal
- Adherence to all rules of the ASHP Resident Matching Program Process
Required materials
- Completed PhORCAS application
- Letter of Intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Transcripts from Doctor of Pharmacy coursework
- Three standardized PhORCAS references
Interview requirements and scheduling
- Interview is required
- All candidates will be notified of their interview status by the end of January
Completed applications must be submitted via PhORCAS by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 2.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact:
Jennifer Bird Pharm.D., BCPS, CACP
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program director
VA Oklahoma City health care
Phone:
Email: jennifer.bird@va.gov
Oklahoma City VA HCS (119)
921 NE 13th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104