The VA Puget Sound PGY1 Pharmacy Residency provides residents with a broad, in-depth training opportunity with an emphasis on evidence-based drug therapy and the development of advanced pharmaceutical care practice skills. Learning experiences are structured with flexibility to accommodate specific interests of the resident. Core clinical rotations are six-week blocks and include inpatient general medicine, intensive care units (medicine or surgical), primary care, pharmacy practice management, outpatient pharmacy/formulary management. The program offers three 6-week elective rotations. Options include but are not limited to oncology, bone marrow transplant, antimicrobial stewardship, mental health, Community Living Center, inpatient spinal cord injury, emergency medicine, and home-based primary care. Residents will also have the opportunity to choose two 6-month longitudinal specialty rotations throughout the year, such as cardiology, infectious disease/HIV, endocrinology, renal clinic, formulary program management, nephrology, oral oncology, geriatrics, women’s health, and anticoagulation. In affiliation with the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, residents have the option to participate in the teaching certificate program as well as precept UW pharmacy students. Residents will additionally staff weekends in inpatient and outpatient pharmacy and will be dual appointed. For more information about the residency program, please refer to: https://www.va.gov/puget-sound-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
Fringe Benefits:
paid days each of annual and sick leave accrued over the course of the year, 10 paid holidays, professional leave for required conferences, healthcare benefits including dental and vision, opportunity for teaching certificate and teaching through University of Washington School of Pharmacy. Dual appointment for staffing. Dedicated workstation in office with view of Mount Rainier.
Site Special Features:
A university-affiliated teaching, research, and clinical center with a highly diverse patient population in outpatient, inpatient, and extended-care settings. A tertiary care, 1A facility for all veterans in Alaska, Washington, and northern Idaho. A designated Centers of Excellence site amongst nine VA programs in specialty care areas and research. One of three VA institutions in the nation with a bone marrow transplant unit. The VA Puget Sound also has the 5th largest research program in the Department of Veterans Affairs with over 600 active research projects and $38 million average research expenditures. The University of Washington School of Medicine is a primary affiliate. Residents will have opportunities to experience both VA facilities, Seattle and American Lake. Free shuttle service is provided for rotations located in American Lake.
REQUIREMENTS:
Starting Date: 06/30/2025
Application Deadline: 01/03/2025
Duration/Type: 12 mo. residency
Number Positions: 7
Estimated Stipend: $53,379
Interview Required: Yes
Special Requirements for Acceptance:
United States citizenship, eligibility for pharmacist licensure in any US state. PhORCAS™ application with three letters of recommendation, letter of intent, curriculum vitae, academic transcript (for pass/fail schools must include letter from school indicating class average rank, percentile rank, or at minimum quartile ranking), and supplemental essay (details below).
Supplemental Question: (limit 100-350 words)
The Veteran population is extremely diverse, with a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences. Veterans also face disability, mental health disorders and substance use disorders at a higher rate than civilian populations. As a result, being able to care for a diverse patient population is important to the VA. What is one experience you have had in relating with people whose backgrounds are different from your own? What have you learned or gained from that experience?