The Residency Program Director is Katie Derry, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP. Please contact the RPD at klderry@health.ucsd.edu or visit our website for more details https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/pharmacy/residency/Pages/critical_care.aspx

Program Description:

UC San Diego Health is a university-affiliated teaching hospital which provides the unique capability to engage each of our residents in direct patient care activities, research, administration and project management, and teaching. Our PGY2 critical care pharmacy residency program emphasizes critical care pharmacotherapy, safe medication distribution, didactic and practical teaching, and pharmacy leadership. Graduates from our program have taken a wide variety of critical care, emergency department and academia positions. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacy (BCCCP) exam.

PGY2 residents will gain the skills to function as the primary ICU pharmacist during their required, or core, ICU learning experiences, with the expectation that the resident will handle all aspects of the medication process from ordering to administration and follow up. Primary responsibilities include rounding with the ICU team(s), designing, recommending, monitoring, and evaluating patient-specific therapeutic regimens that incorporate the principles of evidence-based medicine, addressing all pharmacokinetically-monitored medications, being an active member of the Code Blue team, validating pharmacy orders for ICU patients, and overseeing and directing PGY1 resident and pharmacy student activities. This integration of staffing and clinical services prepares residents for any type of practice environment they may encounter in their future jobs by emphasizing the development of essential skills required for an advanced pharmacy practitioner:  independent practice skills, multi-tasking and prioritization.

Teaching activities may include regular didactic presentations, leading ICU conferences for fourth year pharmacy students, involvement with UC San Diego SSPPS courses (e.g., conference leader for third year therapeutics course [optional], participation in Critical Care elective [required]), and, as warranted, clerkship preceptorship of PGY1 pharmacy practice residents and fourth-year UCSD pharmacy students. The ability to work independently and to supervise pharmacy students and residents will be emphasized.  The resident will also be involved in a research project.  Scientific writing is strongly emphasized and the preparation and submission of a manuscript suitable for publication will be expected.

Number of residency positions available for 2022-2023 residency year: 2 

Resident Details: 

The annual stipend is currently $56,500. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, vacation, sick and professional leave are provided.  Please visit the UC San Diego Health Pharmacy Residency webpage for more information about duty hours, leave, benefits, position description, terms of dismissal, and more.  Click on the House Officer Policy and Procedure Document:  

https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/pharmacy/residency/Pages/Salary-and-Benefits.aspx

If matched with the UC San Diego Residency Program, matched candidates must have all of the following:

If matched with the UC San Diego Residency Program, matched candidates must have all of the following:

1. Graduated from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The RPD will assess if the resident is in good standing with their PGY1 program at the time of application.
2. Successfully completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy practice residency. A signed residency certificate will be required prior to beginning residency.
3. Obtained California pharmacy licensure prior to beginning residency (absolute deadline to start = November 1^st).  The residency offer may be rescinded if the resident does not take the CPJE prior to August 1^st or does not pass the CPJE on the first attempt.

Application:

All applicants must be enrolled in the Resident Matching Program.  To facilitate this enrollment process and for further information, please visit the following website: www.natmatch.com/ashprmp.  Applications will be accepted when PhORCAS opens and due by December 31^st. Applications should be submitted through PhORCAS and include the following:

1. Letter of intent: We no longer use a letter of intent to evaluate candidates. Instead, we will be asking all candidates to complete an online supplemental application. This application can be found at https://ucsd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_brXXVaKVum7wofz
2. Current Curriculum Vitae with all experiential completed and anticipated learning experiences as well as pharmacy and nonpharmacy work experience.
3. Three electronic references are required. At least two of the references should be from preceptors or supervisors who can directly comment on your clinical practice skills.

Note: Please have recommendation writers complete the electronic reference form within Phorcas with detailed characteristic and narrative comments.  One to two areas of improvement or constructive feedback that the recommender feels the candidate should continue to work on as a PGY2 resident should be identified.  No separate letter of recommendation is required.

We will be conducting virtual interviews only for the 2022-2023 year. Our virtual interviews will be held on 2/1/2022 and 2/2/2022. The components of the interview will be: 

1. Interview with clinical pharmacists

2. Candidate presentation on ICU topic of choice (10 minutes)

3. Pro-con debate on controversial ICU topic (please see website for more details)