Miami VA Healthcare System

The Miami VA Healthcare System Pharmacy Practice Residency is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and spans one year providing a minimum of 2000 hours of orientation, instruction, and experience in adult clinical pharmacy practice.  The program emphasizes training in various aspects of pharmacotherapy within the acute, chronic and ambulatory care settings.  During each rotation, and under the guidance of their preceptors, the resident will function as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist with all associated responsibilities.   Residency preceptors, in concert with the Program Director, will evaluate the resident’s progress and identify areas of competence and deficiency.

Application Package (Application for Associated Health Occupations 10-2850c)  

Purpose Statement for Pharmacy Residents

Pharmacists completing this residency will be:

• Competent and confident clinicians in providing optimal medication therapy outcomes in patients.
• Accountable and responsible for assuring the appropriate, safe, and economic use of medications through the application of knowledge, and specialized skills, and functions in direct patient care.
• Proficient to participate in educating other health care practitioners on medication related topics.
• Exhibiting professional maturity and leadership skills by strengthening their professional values and attitudes, monitoring their own performance, and demonstrating commitment to the pharmacy profession.

Resident Qualifications

All candidates must possess a Pharm.D. degree from an American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) accredited college or school of pharmacy. Applicants must be United States citizens and possess a valid license to practice pharmacy or become licensed in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia before August 1st of residency year. Applicants must be a member of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists.

Candidates will be evaluated on the following basis: professional competence, ability to communicate, ability to work cooperatively in a team setting, expressed understanding of the profession, extracurricular activities, and scholastic achievement. Residency candidates must participate in and adhere to the rules of the Residency Matching Program process.

Pharmacy Practice Residency Structure

Orientation

• Hospital Orientation
• Pharmacy Services Orientation
• Residency/RLS Orientation
• Inpatient/Ambulatory Skill Verification
• Hospital Computer Program Orientation

Employee Benefits

Stipend: Estimated $40,000

Annual Leave

As a full time employee, the resident earns annual leave at four hours per pay period, or 13 days per year. Five days will be accrued after 6 months. This allotment includes leave time granted for interviewing for positions. Request for leave must be initiated four weeks prior to departure. The resident will discuss the request with the Program Director and rotational preceptor to ensure that rotation objectives will be met.

Sick Leave

As a full time employee, the resident earns sick leave at four hours per pay period, or 13 days per year. When the resident is unable to work, as a result of illness, either on their rotation or staffing assignment, he or she should contact the Program Director as soon as possible.

Service Commitment

Residents represent Pharmacy Service as Clinical Pharmacy Specialists, functioning throughout the Medical Center and interacting with a variety of staff from different professional and organizational levels, as well as patients.  In addition, residents function as staff pharmacists in the intravenous and sterile products section on their assigned weekends.

Recruitment and Selection of Residents

• The Pharmacy Service will participate in the National Matching Program for Pharmacy Residents of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP).
• The Pharmacy Service will participate in the Residency Program Showcase at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting for the purpose of recruiting qualified applicants and providing onsite interaction with prospective residents.
• At the ASHP Midyear Clinical meeting, the Program Director, current residents and preceptors in attendance will participate in the recruitment of candidates for the residency program.
• Residency candidates should complete the application package  in its entirety. The application must include a written discussion of the applicant’s professional goals and objectives, college transcripts, and three letters of recommendation.
• Applications  should be received prior to January 5th. The matriculation date is July 1st.  For more information, please contact Dr. Carmela Jean at (305) 575-7000, ext. 6088 or carmela.jean@va.gov or write to the Miami VA Healthcare System, Pharmacy Service (119), 1201 N.W. 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125 (Attention: Director, Pharmacy Practice Residency Program).
• Resident candidates will be invited for an on-site interview.  The one-day interview will include meeting with the Chief of Pharmacy Service, Program Director, Residency Preceptors, and the current group of residents.  Applicants will be notified by February 5th if no interview is to be scheduled.
• After the interview process is completed, the interview groups will meet to discuss and evaluate each candidate. A single ordinary rank list of all candidates will be generated by the Program Director.
• The Chief of Pharmacy Service will review and approve the resident ranking.
• The Program Director will submit the final rank list to the Resident Matching Program

Residency Assessment

Once the resident starts the residency, he/she will complete the Resident Self-Evaluation and Planning Form and return it to the Program Director. The purpose of this assessment is to identify the resident’s areas of strength and deficiency. The information will be used to plan for the resident’s rotations and individualize the resident’s program year.

The performance of the resident is based upon the use of predetermined goals and objectives based on the ASHP Residency Learning System Goals and Objectives.  The preceptors practicing in a particular rotation select specific objectives to be evaluated during their rotation.  The resident and preceptor will meet periodically to evaluate the resident’s progress on their rotation as well as review criteria-based checklists performed during the rotation.  After completing the rotation, the preceptor will evaluate the performance of the resident using the “Summative Evaluation” form.  The evaluation form will be reviewed and signed by the resident and preceptor then forwarded to the Program Director for concurrence.  The resident will complete the “Preceptor and Learning Experience Evaluation” form, which shall be discussed with the preceptor and Program Director.

Quarterly evaluation sessions with the resident, preceptors, and Program Director will be scheduled to review and assess the resident’s progress towards meeting program requirements using the residency evaluation tracking tool and resident quarterly evaluation form.

Residents will be asked to evaluate the program at the end of the residency year, but are encouraged to address program issues with the Program Director at any time during the year.

Residency Program Certificate

Upon successful completion of all program requirements and compliance with all conditions of the residency program, the resident will be awarded a certificate indicating successful completion of the Residency in Pharmacy Practice.

Residents who fail to complete program requirements and do not comply with all conditions of the residency program will not be awarded a certificate of completion of the residency program.

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