This residency is designed for graduates to develop the skills and confidence necessary to practice as a critical care pharmacist specialist and be eligible for board certification. Residents will become an integrated member of an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive medication management in pulmonary, cardiology, emergency
medicine, and surgical services. Responsibilities include direct patient care, teaching health professionals/trainees, and completing a research project related to the critical care environment.

Educational Goals:
• In collaboration with the health care team, provide comprehensive medication management to critically ill patients
following a consistent patient care process
• Demonstrate ability to manage formulary and medication-use processes for critically ill patients, as applicable to
the organization
• Demonstrate leadership skills for successful self-development in the provision of care for critically ill patients
• Provide effective medication and practice-related education to critically ill patients, caregivers, health care
professionals, students, and the public (individuals and groups)
• Demonstrate the skills necessary to conduct a critical care pharmacy research project

Program Structure:

Required Learning Experiences                                                                 Duration 

• Critical Care Pharmacy and Residency Orientation                     3 weeks
• Pulmonary Critical Care                                                                           8 weeks
• Surgery/Anesthesia/OR (SAO)                                                                6 weeks
• Critical Care II                                                                                                6 weeks
• Cardiology                                                                                                      6 weeks
• Emergency Department                                                                           5 weeks

Elective Learning Experiences (max of 2 for off-site)                                               Duration

• On-site (VA San Diego): Infectious Diseases, Inpatient Nephrology               4 weeks
• Off-site* (local affiliated facilities): Trauma, Emergency Medicine,                4 weeks
  Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

*Non-VA rotations are subject to availability and require CA licensure

LONGITUDINAL COMPONENTS:

• Medication Use Evaluation (MUE)
• Committee Involvement
• Formal Research Project
• Abstract and platform presentation at
  South-West VA Conference

Recruitment Brochure: https://www.va.gov/files/2025-11/PGY2%20Residency%20Programs_3.pdf

Applicant Qualifications:

• Participation in the ASHP Resident Matching Program
• United States citizenship with proof of naturalization if naturalized 
• Possess a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited School or 
College of Pharmacy
• Completion of or be in the process of completing an ASHP-accredited 
PGY1 residency
• Eligible for licensure to practice as a pharmacist at VA San Diego within 
120 days from the beginning of the residency program
• Must be able to show documented proof for each requirement and must 
maintain eligibility for the duration of the VA appointment via the Am I 
Eligible? Checklist for Health Professional Trainees (HPTs) Training at VA 
Facilities: Am I Eligible? Checklist for VA HPTs

Application Process:

• All application materials must be submitted through Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application (PhORCAS):
• PHASE I DEADLINE is January 2, 2026 at 11:59PM EST
• PHASE II DEADLINE if positions available is March 23th, 2026 at 11:59PM EST
•   Submitted Materials must include:
• Basic Demographics
• Verified Transcripts for Schools or Colleges of Pharmacy Only
• Personal Statement/Letter of Intent 
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of recommendation using the standardized reference template in PhORCAS
• Extracurricular Information
• Selected applicants will be invited to a personal virtual or on-site interview.  Candidates who are not invited for an on-site interview will be notified via e-mail.