Residencies

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Medical College of Virginia Hospitals & Physicians

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy

The pharmacy residency programs at the VCU Health System/MCV Hospitals, and Virginia Commonwealth University, began in 1970 as a two year program associated with the Master of Science degree. In 1972 the program was accredited by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists and graduated its first resident. The degree residency combination was discontinued, and the residency became a one year general program in 1977. Since 1972, the residency programs have expanded and changed, and now include a pharmacy practice residency and numerous specialized residencies. In 1996, the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals and the School of Pharmacy at VCU combined efforts to increase the number of specialized residencies. The programs have graduated over 200 residents.

The primary goal of each residency program is to provide practical training and experience, while offering the resident the opportunity and stimulus to develop, to the highest degree attainable, his or her professional expertise in the provision of pharmaceutical care.

PGY-1 Residency Programs:

Pharmacy Practice Residency

The Pharmacy Practice Residency is a twelve-month program designed and structured to provide the organized health care practice community and the pharmacy profession with knowledgeable, creative, and resourceful practitioners who can provide direct patient care services in an institutional practice environment. It supplements an academic pharmacy education and provides the opportunity and necessary stimulus for graduate pharmacists to develop their knowledge and expertise in the provision of pharmaceutical care. The program is flexibly designed to accommodate the training needs of Doctor of Pharmacy degree graduates. This residency participates in the ASHP Matching Program.

Community Pharmacy Practice Residency

The Community Pharmacy Practice Residency is a twelve-month program designed and structured to provide the organized health care practice community and the pharmacy profession with knowledgeable, creative, and resourceful practitioners who can provide direct patient care services in a community pharmacy practice environment. It supplements an academic pharmacy education and provides the opportunity and necessary stimulus for graduate pharmacists to develop their knowledge and expertise in the provision of patient care and in development of patient care programs. The program is flexibly designed to accommodate the training needs of Doctor of Pharmacy degree graduates. This residency participates in the ASHP Matching Program.

PGY-2 Residency Programs:

Specialized Residencies

The specialized residencies in pharmacy practices are twelve-month programs designed to prepare a practitioner who will be able to lead in conceptualizing, planning, developing and demonstrating specialized pharmacy services. The development of such skills is achieved through the ongoing provision of appropriate service, administration, education and research activities in selected, specialized pharmacy services at VCU Health System. Two-year programs, leading to a Pharmacy Practice Residency certificate and a specialized residency certificate upon completion, may be available to interested applicants.

Fellowship Training

Additional fellowship training, with a focus on research in a pharmacotherapy specialty, may be available through faculty at the School of Pharmacy.

Stipend and Benefits

A yearly stipend and a health insurance plan (including paid outpatient physician visits) are provided to all residents. Residents receive two weeks of paid vacation and uninterrupted stipend during minor illness. Financial assistance is provided for certain professional activities.

Faculty Appointment

Successful residency applicants will be eligible for a clinical faculty appointment in the VCU School of Pharmacy. Teaching opportunities, including didactic and experiential teaching of Doctor of Pharmacy students, constitute approximately 10 - 15% of the overall residency training program.