Pharmacy Residency Programs

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                                Start Date: 07/01/2026

The purpose of the PGY-1 pharmacy residency program is to build on the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions. Completion of  the PGY-1 pharmacy residency will provide eligibility for board certification and for postgraduate year two (PGY-2) pharmacy residency training. The primary goal of the Portland VA PGY-1 is to prepare residents to function as well-rounded, independent, competent clinical pharmacists in patient care positions in a health care setting.

Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)                      Each core rotation is 3-5 weeks in duration

• Orientation (Residency/Inpatient/Outpatient Operations)
• Ambulatory Care:  Mental Health                                  
• Ambulatory Care:  Primary Care
• Critical Care
• Geriatrics Internal Medicine - Community Living Center
• Internal Medicine
• Pharmacy Administration  
• Anticoagulation
   

Longitudinal Experiences                                                                  

• Committee & Leadership Series (P&T/leadership series/other committees)
• Formulary Management (Medication Use Evaluations/Prior Authorizations)
• Major Residency Project
• Management Project – Process Improvement
• Medication Safety
• Ambulatory Care: Primary Care
• Pharmacy Administration (Leadership)
• Pharmacy Staffing
• Presentations (formal case/journal club/seminar/CE)
• Resident Education Series & Teaching Certificate
   

Elective On-Site Learning Experiences (Choice of Three)
Note: Each elective is 2-5 weeks in duration (choice of up to 3 electives)*

• Academic Detailing
• Emergency Medicine
• Hematology/Oncology
• Hospice/Palliative Care
• Infectious Diseases
• Liver/Kidney Transplant
• Neurology
• Inpatient Psychiatry
• Women’s Clinic

*Electives at other institutions may be available but not guaranteed. (Oregon State Pharmacist license required for off-site elective.) Elective time may be used for make-up or repeat of core rotations if needed.

Program Contact Information

Dr. Lynnette Harlow, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program Director
Lynnette.Harlow@va.gov 

Updated 1/2025

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                                 Start Date: 07/01/2026  

Purpose statement: The PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency program builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in advanced or specialized practice. The PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency provides residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care that improves medication therapy. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency should possess competencies that qualify them for clinical pharmacist and/or faculty positions and position them to be eligible for attainment of board certification in psychiatric pharmacy (BCPP).  

Program Description: Our program is a 12-month, PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The program is designed to offer well-balanced training experiences in both the inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment settings, as well as specialized practice areas such as Substance Use Disorders, Neurology, and Residential Treatment. Residents will participate in a pharmacist-run clozapine clinic as part of their outpatient psychiatry learning experience as well as gain experiencing managing a panel of complex psychiatric outpatients. During the inpatient learning experience, residents will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, which includes trainees from psychiatry, nursing, and social work. Additionally, elective opportunities are available to allow residents to explore areas such as Academic Detailing, Pain Management, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Consult/Liaison Psychiatry. This program is tailored to each resident to suit their unique past experiences and goals, as well as strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, residents will be given clinical privileges under a mental health scope of practice and will use such to order medications, labs, and consults. Residents will be expected to develop critical self-evaluation and leadership skills throughout the residency year that will enable them to be successful psychiatric pharmacy practitioners regardless of practice setting.

Learning Experiences (Blocked Rotations)

• Orientation                                                                                             1-4 weeks*
• Inpatient Psychiatry                                                                           12 weeks
• Outpatient Psychiatry                                                                       12 weeks
• Neurology                                                                                                 4 weeks
• Substance Use Disorder                                                                      4 weeks

*Duration will depend on where resident completed their PGY-1 residency

Learning Experience (Longitudinal Rotations)

• Primary Care – Medication Assisted Therapy (PC-MAT) Clinic
• Clozapine Support Group
• Formulary Management
• Major Residency Project
• Mental Health Administration
• Staffing (Prior Authorizations/E-Consults)
   

Learning Experience (Blocked Rotations) **                                4-5 weeks each

• Consult Liaison Psychiatry
• Academic Detailing (VISN 20)                                                                              
• Pain Management
• Inpatient Psychiatry II (Advanced Elective)
• Outpatient Psychiatry II (Advanced Elective)
• Geriatric Psychiatry

Program Contact Information

Dr. Jeanne Peterson, PharmD, BCPP
PGY-2 Psychiatry Residency Program Director
Jeanne.Peterson@va.gov 

Updated 1/2025

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                  Start Date: 07/01/2026

PGY-2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY-2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY-2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions in ambulatory care, along with board certification, if available.

Required Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)

• Orientation (Residency/Pharmacy Operations)                       4 weeks
• Anticoagulation                                                                                    12 weeks
• Cardiology/Heart Failure                                                                  12 weeks
• Academic Detailing                                                                             12 weeks
• Population Health Management                                                   12 weeks
• Primary Care – Vancouver Clinic                                                   18 weeks
• Primary Care/Women’s Health – Resident Clinic                   18 weeks
• Formulary Management (MUE/Prior Authorizations)           Longitudinal (52 weeks)
• Major Residency Project                                                                    Longitudinal (52 weeks)
• Pharmacy and Primary Care Administration                            Longitudinal (52 weeks)
• Teaching and Education                                                                    Longitudinal (52 weeks)                                          

Elective On-Site Learning Experiences (Choice of Two)           4 weeks each

• Hematology/Oncology                                                      
• Hepatology      
• Liver/Kidney Transplant
• Mental Health
• Neurology
   

Elective rotations are available at VAPORHCS in a variety of patient care settings. This program will be flexible to accommodate each resident’s area of interest. Electives at other institutions may be available but are not guaranteed (Oregon State pharmacy license required for off-site electives). Elective time may be used for making up or repeating core rotations.

Program Contact Information

Dr. Jason Patterson, PharmD
PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program Director
jason.patterson@va.gov

Updated 1/2025

ASHP Accreditation Candidate                                                                                 Start Date: 07/01/2026

The PGY-2 residency programs in pain management and palliative care builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in a highly specialized area. The PGY-2 residency will provide the resident the opportunity to work as an integral member of interdisciplinary teams and function independently as a practitioner. The resident will receive training to become knowledgeable in a variety of acute and chronic (cancer and non-cancer) pain conditions. They will also develop the skills necessary to provide palliative care to patients throughout their illness and at the end-of-life. Residents who successfully complete this program will be prepared for advanced patient care and/or academia in a pain management and palliative care positions.

Required Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)                       Duration

• Orientation (Residency/Pharmacy Operations)                       4 weeks
• Center for Integrative Pain Care (CIPC)                                      12 weeks (3 days/week)
• Outpatient Palliative Care                                                               12 weeks (2 days/week)
• Inpatient Adult Pain Service                                                             4 weeks
• Inpatient Palliative Care                                                                     4 weeks
• Substance Use Disorder/Mental Health                                       6 weeks
• Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and PDMP                           4 weeks
• Outpatient Palliative Care                                                               36 weeks
• Education and Professional Development                              52 weeks
• Major Residency Project                                                                   52 weeks
• Organization and Residency Work Commitments                52 weeks
             

Elective On-Site Learning Experiences (Choice of Three)    4 weeks each

• Emergency Department                                                                     4 weeks
• Neurology                                                                                                 4 weeks
• Psychiatry                                                                                                 4 weeks
• Opioid Treatment Program                                                           2-4 weeks
• Hematology/Oncology                                                                        4 weeks
• Community Living Center – Geriatric Internal Medicine       4 weeks
• Inpatient Surgery                                                                                   4 weeks
• Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program                        4 weeks

Elective rotations are available at VAPORHCS in a variety of patient care settings. This program will be flexible to accommodate each resident’s area of interest. Electives at other institutions may be available but are not guaranteed (Oregon State pharmacy license required for off-site electives). Elective time may be used for making up or repeating core rotations.

Program Contact Information

Dr. Mina Lee, PharmD
PGY-2 Pain/Palliative Care Residency Program Director
Mina.Lee1@va.gov

Updated 1/2025