Solving the residency riddle: Piecing together your best fit
Xochitl Benitez, PharmD, is a PGY1 ambulatory care pharmacy resident at El Rio Health in Tucson, AZ; Elena Patestos, PharmD, is a 2023–2024 PGY1 community-based resident at Wilkes University and Weis Markets Pharmacy in Schnecksville, PA; Megan Ditzman, PharmD, is a 2023–2024 PGY1 community-based resident at the University of Iowa and Osterhaus Pharmacy in Maquoketa, IA; and Jacob Noble, PharmD, MPH, is a 2023–2024 PGY1–health-system pharmacy administration and leadership resident at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Disclaimer: Not every residency application experience is the same. As individuals who have recently gone through the process, we highlighted important aspects of the process that we wanted others to be aware of.
So, you’ve decided you want to do residency, but are unsure of which program is right for you? Considering numerous factors in your decision-making process and identifying your key priorities will aid in assessing your options.
Three noteworthy areas to investigate during your residency search include the type of residency, future priorities, and environment. Taking the time to investigate these areas and deep dive into the residencies you’re interested in will help to make your time as a resident more enjoyable.
Residency type
Selecting the most suitable residency program involves identifying your area of interest within pharmacy practice. Residency programs offer a diverse range of opportunities across various pharmacy fields during both the first year (PGY1) and second year (PGY2). PGY1 residency options encompass acute care or hospital-based settings, community-based practice, and managed care. Depending on the specific program and practice site, additional practice areas such as ambulatory care may also be emphasized, although more specialized options are typically found in PGY2 programs.
The PGY2 offerings cover an extensive array of practice areas, including:
- Ambulatory care
- Cardiology
- Pharmacogenomics
- Administration and leadership in community, specialty, corporate, and health system settings
- Critical care
- Emergency medicine
- Geriatrics
- Infectious diseases
- Internal medicine
- Investigational drugs and research
- Medication use safety and policy
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Pain management and palliative care
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacotherapy
- Informatics
- Population health and data analytics
- Psychiatric pharmacy
- Solid organ transplant
- Thrombosis and hemostasis management.
With such a wide range of options available, it’s crucial to thoroughly research and determine your specific area of interest to identify which PGY1 and potentially PGY2 programs align with your ultimate career goals in pharmacy practice.
Future priorities
When embarking on your search for residency programs, it is crucial to identify your top priorities. These priorities could encompass a range of factors, such as available rotations, geographical location, the availability of PGY2 options, the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate, or any other aspects that hold personal significance to you. While completing rotations as a student pharmacist, you may discover the clinical areas that interest you most. If so, take these preferences into account when evaluating potential residencies.
Many residency programs offer distinct rotations throughout the year, so pinpointing those that align with your interests will be key to a successful residency experience.
Another priority worth considering is the possibility of pursuing a PGY2 program. Numerous programs offer PGY1 and PGY2 opportunities, some of which allow for early commitment. If a PGY2 program is part of your future career aspirations, it’s advisable to explore programs that offer this pathway. However, if you are uncertain about pursuing a PGY2, it's wise to keep your options open. There is no “perfect path” approach to achieving your career goals, so don’t rule it out!
These are just a few examples of the various priorities you might consider during your search. Incorporating these considerations into your search process will help you find the best match for your residency journey.
Environment of the residency
An element of the search process that is challenging to measure and anticipate is the educational and professional atmosphere you’ll encounter throughout the residency. This environment plays a significant role in your personal well-being, and factors such as mentorship and learning styles are aspects that student pharmacists can assess during the application process to inform their decision-making.
Gaining a better understanding of these aspects of residencies, begins with self-awareness. The more you understand how you receive feedback, cope with stress, and cultivate relationships, the better equipped you are to seek out individuals who share similar values and align with your vision for your future training. Engaging in conversations with current residents and program directors about these facets of the residency experience can also provide valuable insights into the type of environment the organization aims to foster within their program.
A systematic review by Kristin S. Raj found that “positive colleague relationships were associated with greater well-being across four studies.”1 While residencies can be demanding, it can be a positive sign if residents feel supported by their teams and the residency director they work with.
No one-size fits all approach
Investigations into the different types of residencies will vary for each applicant. Take the time to identify your top priorities when considering a residency environment and formulate questions that will help you thoroughly evaluate a program. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this process, and being intentional in your assessment will serve both your short-term and long-term professional development goals.
References
- Raj KS. Well-being in residency: A systematic review. J Grad Med Educ. 2016;8(5):674–684.