Post-graduate pharmacy residency training at The University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center cultivates future leaders in the pharmaceutical care profession through experiences that further advance the resident’s knowledge, confidence, leadership skills and understanding of how a healthcare system functions.

 The ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at UNM Hospital is designed to provide the resident with training and experience in various areas of clinical practice, research and teaching. Through a close and enduring collaboration between the UNM College of Pharmacy and the UNM Hospital Department of Pharmacy, pharmacy residency experiences at UNM are unique compared to most other programs.

 We provide our residents the opportunity to interact with one of the most diverse patient populations in the nation while practicing within an award-winning interdisciplinary healthcare setting.

 New Mexico is the first state to recognize and license advance practice pharmacists (pharmacist clinicians) who provide direct care to patients. Pharmacist clinicians conduct medication reviews and physical assessments, order lab and diagnostic tests, and prescribe medication therapies. New Mexico’s pharmacists can prescribe, dispense and administer a variety of Board-approved medications such as childhood and adult vaccinations, hormonal and emergency contraceptives, naloxone, smoking cessation agents and travel vaccines.

 UNM Hospital has the only Level I trauma center in the area. The 619-bed acute tertiary care facility provides state-of-the-art patient care through inpatient outpatient clinics and emergency services.  UNMH also has an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center, a comprehensive stroke and neurology trauma service, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program, and adult and pediatric comprehensive psychiatry services. UNMH annually manages more than: 93,000 emergency visits, 7,000 trauma cases,18,000 surgeries and almost 500,000 outpatient clinic visits. 

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, basks in 310 days of sunshine, combined with a mild, dry climate and four distinct seasons. Very low humidity means that even when temperatures rise, summer is always comfortable, and our sunny winters are comparatively mild. The closest ski area is a 45 minute drive away, exceptional hiking trails in the Sandia Mountains are a 20 minute drive from anywhere in the city. The state provides endless natural sources of wonder and adventure spanning the dramatic northern mountains to the stark beauty of open spaces like our eastern high plains and southern deserts.

 From the breathtaking views to resilient and diverse people to delicious chile-infused cuisine, New Mexico provides opportunities for constant amazement within a place and culture like no other.

REQUIRED 4- week rotations

• Orientation
• Internal Medicine
• Critical Care (ICU or Emergency Medicine)
• Pediatrics
• Internal Medicine precepting

REQUIRED longitudinal rotations

• Specialty longitudinal experience ( this can be an ambulatory clinic, or spending an extra afternoon once  a week in a special practice area like the ED)
• Research ( research project with a publication ready manuscript)
• Pharmacy Administration ( Longitudinal and a 4 week rotation)

Possible Elective Rotations

• Academia
• Ambulatory Care ( many clinic options)
• Anticoagulation Stewardship
• Cardiology
• Geriatrics
• Hematology/Oncology
• Hepatology
• Infectious diseases
• Informatics
• Nephrology
• Renal Transplant
• Toxicology

Additional Experiences

• Staffing one weekend/month and one evening per week
• Lecture opportunities at the College of Pharmacy
• Teaching Certificate Program
• ACLS/BLS Certification
• Statistics for Pharmacy Residents
• Physical Assessment Certificate Program (optional)
• Leadership Certificate Program