Pharmacy Residency (PGY1)
Purpose
Children’s Hospital Central California offers a one-year, postgraduate residency program in pharmacy practice, with an emphasis in pediatrics. Graduates of this residency are prepared to fulfill positions as clinical staff pediatric pharmacists, to serve as adjunct faculty members for a college of pharmacy, and to pursue second year post-graduate training in a focused area of pediatric pharmacy practice.
ASHP Required Educational Outcomes
- Outcome R1: Manage and improve the medication-use process.
- Outcome R2: Provide evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy management with interdisciplinary teams.
- Outcome R3: Exercise leadership and practice management skills.
- Outcome R4: Demonstrate project management skills.
- Outcome R5: Provide medication and practice-related education and training.
- Outcome R6: Utilize medical informatics.
Rotations
Required and Elective Rotations – (6 weeks)
- Pharmacy Operations Orientation (required)
- Pharmacy Administration (required)
- California Poison Control System (required)
- Information Technology Services (elective)
Direct Patient Care
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (required)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (required)
- General Medicine – Red Team (required)
- Hematology/Oncology (required)
- Parenteral Nutrition (elective)
Ambulatory Care Clinics
- Neurology Clinic (required)
- Nephrology Clinic (elective)
- Pulmonology Clinic (elective)
- Gastroenterology Clinic (elective)
Weekly Service Rotations
- (6-12 weeks rotations – attendance is weekly, biweekly, or monthly depending on service)
- Medication Utilization Subcommittee/Pharmacy & Therapeutics Utilization Committee (MU/PTU) (12 weeks)
- Infectious Diseases 1 (one AP/PM per week x6 weeks)
- Infectious Diseases 2 (one AM/PM per week x6 weeks)
- Rehab Rounds 1 (every Tuesday morning x6 weeks)
- Rehab Rounds 2 (every Tuesday morning x6 weeks)
Longitudinal Experiences
These experiences are ones that the resident will be oriented and trained during the first several months of the residency and then will be expected to continue progress for the remaining months of the residency.
- Pharmacy Operations (staffing)
- Anticoagulation Service
- Research Project
- Teaching and Education
Program Structure
A 12-month schedule of rotation tracks will be created for residents to rank prior to the start of the residency to meet the required ASHP goals and objectives of the program. As the resident acquires additional knowledge and learning experiences, their specific goals may change (these will be addressed quarterly in each resident’s 
customized plans). Residents may request to change or trade scheduled rotations. All changes must be approved by the Residency Program Director (RPD).
The resident’s schedule during each rotation is determined by the rotation preceptor and outlined to the resident at the beginning of each rotation. It is the resident’s responsibility to ensure that all duties and expectations are understood and to ask for clarification and feedback if/when needed. It is also the responsibility of the resident to, in a timely manner, personally inform the preceptor of all time/schedule conflicts. This includes, but not limited to, committee meeting responsibilities, staffing, absences to attend meetings, and teaching responsibilities.
Examination & Licensure
It is extremely recommended that residents take the California Pharmacy Licensure Exams prior to the start of the residency. Residents must have a valid California Intern License to work prior to receiving their California Pharmacy License. (Call CA State Board for application or visit their web site) All residents should take and successfully pass the California State Board of Pharmacy license exams (both NAPLEX and California Jurisprudence) by December 31st of the residency year or disciplinary action will be taken that may include failure to receive residency certificate and termination from employment.
Leave of Absence
Any planned or unexpected leave of absence greater than 2 weeks is not permissible and will jeopardize the resident’s ability to complete the required ASHP PGY1 Required Educations Outcomes, Goals, and Objectives. If 90% of stated goals and objectives are not completed within the 12 month term, the resident will not be granted the residency certificate.
Additional Learning Opportunities/Experiences
- In addition to required core rotations, weekly service, and longitudinal experiences, residents will also be required to attend pediatric core lectures given by pharmacist preceptors. These lectures run from July through November and give residents an overview of pediatric disease states.
- The research project is also a required component of this residency. Residents will identify a research project related to a topic of interest, propose it to the hospital Investigational Review Board, carry out the study, and ultimately present and publish the study.
Presentations and Teaching
- Residents will be assigned to present a 15 minute powerpoint presentation at monthly Pharmacy Staff and Technician meetings. The topic will depend on the current residents’ rotations and the current operational events each month.
- Residents will be assigned to prepare two 1 hour didactic lectures to present to pharmacy students from local schools of pharmacy APPE classes. The first is scheduled in the Fall and the second in the Winter.
- Residents will be assigned Journal Club presentations, Patient Case presentations, and Drug Consults regularly throughout the year. The schedule coincides with the start of pharmacy student rotations.
- Residents will take an active role in precepting pharmacy students on rotation at Children's Hospital Central California. Once trained, residents will review pediatric core disease states with pharmacy students on acute care rotations.
Application Requirements
It is recommended that candidates complete a pediatric rotation prior to application submission. If candidates are unable to obtain a pediatric rotation, there must be some pediatric experience or exposure documented on the Curriculum Vitae (i.e. pharmacy intern in a children’s hospital, elective in pediatrics, volunteer work in a pediatric setting, etc.).
- Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE accredited school of pharmacy; a M.S. or B.S. in Pharmacy with equivalent clinical experience
- Apply for ASHP Residency Matching Program (CHCC Match # 190313) – visit the ASHP Resident Matching Program web site for more information
- Be eligible to apply for a license to practice pharmacy in the state of California
- Completed online application for employment at Children's Hospital Central California
- Up to date Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letter of intent describing reasons for seeking a pediatric residency
- Three professional letters of recommendation in addition to completed recommendation form for each letter (Two letters from preceptors who can speak of your clinical abilities and one letter from your pharmacy employer. If you completed a pediatric rotation, one letter should be from that pediatric preceptor)
- Official transcripts sent from your school of pharmacy
- Completed Strengths, Weaknesses, Interests, Goals (SWIG)
- Be available for interview in late January or February (Fifteen minute Power Point presentation on a pediatric topic of your choice required during 6 hour interview)
Final deadline for all application materials is January 15th. Review of any completed application packets will begin after January 1st. If there are additional questions about the residency program or application requirements please contact the RPD via email at pharmacy@childrenscentralcal.org.
Mailing Address for all Application Materials
Wenee Liu Lopez, Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Residency and Student Program Director
Children's Hospital Central California
9300 Valley Children's Place, GW19
Madera, CA 93636-8762
Download Fliers
Basic Ingredients of the Children's Hospital PGY-1 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program
How to Prepare for a Pediatric Pharmacy Residency
Current Pharmacy Residency Class
2011-2012 Residents
Dr. Blaire Fujimoto was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific in May 2011. Some of her professional interests include infectious disease, neurology, ambulatory care, and pharmacy education. Her long term goal is to work as a clinical specialist in a pediatric ambulatory care setting. Dr. Fujimoto’s research project for the year involves the use of cellular phone texting for patient and caregiver alerts in the Pediatric Anticoagulation Clinic. Dr. Fujimoto has a passion for teaching and would like to incorporate pharmacy education into her career. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys eating at new restaurants, baking, dancing, fine and performing arts, crafts, and community service. Dr. Fujimoto is grateful for this learning opportunity and for the continuous support from her family, friends and mentors. bfujimoto@childrenscentralcal.org
Dr. Patrick Loo was born and raised in Fresno, California. After high school, Dr.Loo managed to break away from the valley to enjoy 6 years of pharmacy school at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, Massachusetts, where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Dr. Loo has managed to return home as a PGY-1 Pediatric Resident for 2011-2012. Besides a passion for precepting students, Dr. Loo has a particular interest in acute, critical and emergency care. Currently, Dr. Loo’s research project focuses on analyzing the effects CHCC’s newly implemented CPOE system on administration time to the patient. Outside of his residency, Dr. Loo enjoys snowboarding, watching various TV shows (Entourage, True Blood, How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory), and spending time with friends and family. He enjoys eating all types of food a lot morethan cooking, but who doesn’t. Overall, Dr. Loo is enjoying time back at home with his family, and is excited for this yearlong rigorous PGY1 residency to focus on his pediatric clinical skills. ploo@childrenscentralcal.org
Dr. Carlesia Smith is a true southern belle from Memphis, TN. She obtained her Bachelor of Sciences degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Memphis in 2007. She later earned her Pharmacy Degree at University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2011. She was chosen as one of the PGY1 pharmacy residents here at Children’s for the year of 2011-2012. Her plans are to continue with a pediatric specialty residency in oncology or neurology next year. In the future, Dr. Smith intends to pursue a clinical specialist position in pediatrics at an academic medical institution where she can teach and precept pharmacy students and residents in addition to continuing patient care. Dr. Smith’s research project for the year focuses on the use of prolonged infusions of dexmedetomidine in pediatric intensive care patients. Outside of her professional interests, Dr. Smith enjoys watching TV (especially The Wheel of Fortune, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Single Ladies, and Grey’s Anatomy), reading the True Blood series books, spending time with family and friends, going to the movies, and dining out. She absolutely loves foods of various cultures. Just say, “Korean, Vietnamese, or Gyros” and she’s ready to go. Dr. Smith is grateful for the opportunity placed before her this year and is ready to meet and overcome all the obstacles and challenges of a PGY1 residency. csmith6@childrenscentralcal.org
Dr. Nancy Vuong was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Health Sciences in Boston, MA. Her professional interests are infectious disease, neurology, and education in pediatrics. Dr. Vuong’s research project for the year will investigate the use of surfactant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Vuong's ultimate goal is to practice as a clinical specialist at a pediatric institution. She enjoys various hobbies including snowboarding, cooking, and baking. Dr. Vuong is grateful for the continuous support from her family, friends, and mentors throughout her academic journey. An enormous thank you to her family, which includes her parents, three sisters, and a brother, who help mold her into the person she is today. nvuong@childrenscentralcal.org
Residency Showcases
More information about the residency program will be available at the CSHP Seminar and ASHP Midyear Residency Showcases. Please come by to meet the residents and talk with them first hand about the program. In addition, early interviews will be available through the Personnel Placement Service (PPS) at the ASHP Midyear. See the ASHP web site for more details or email us at pharmacy@childrenscentralcal.org.
Questions regarding the programs can be directed to:
Wenee Liu Lopez, Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Residency Director
Pharmacy Student Coordinator
Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist
(559) 353 5522
(559) 353 5515 (fax)
pharmacy@childrenscentralcal.org