Residency Showcase Program Listings

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

The VACCHCS PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program was established in 2010 and is accredited by ASHP. It is a full-time, temporary appointment with an anticipated duration of one year. Residents are employed within the Federal government and thus are subject to all regulations and requirements of the Federal system. The residency program is designed in accordance with the ASHP Accreditation Standard for Post Graduate Pharmacy Residency Programs. Competency areas include: 1) Patient care, 2) Practice Advancement, 3) Leadership, and 4) Teaching and Education. 

The purpose of this residency program is to build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete this PGY1 residency program will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including PGY2 residency.

Residents are a member of the health care team and deliver patient care in ambulatory, acute, and long-term care settings. They are actively involved in formulary and medication-use management, medication safety, and systems improvement activities, while serving as educators for patients, pharmacy interns, and other health professionals. Residents also learn how to self-evaluate and incorporate feedback to support continuous professional development.

Program Summary:
• Duration: Full-time, 12 months
• Number of Positions: Two
• Start Date: July 1st
• Estimated Stipend: $48,745 (2025 - 2026)
• Benefits: Federal health, dental and vision benefits available; education and travel allowances as approved; 13 days paid vacation and 13 days sick leave; 11 federal holidays, of which, residents are given nine as paid time off (and staff two minor)

Required Core Rotations (five weeks each except as noted):
• Inpatient Pharmacy/IV Orientation (three weeks) and Outpatient Pharmacy Orientation (two weeks)
• Acute Care Internal Medicine I (General Medicine)
• Acute Care Internal Medicine II (ICU)
• Ambulatory Care I (Primary Care at Fresno Clinic)
• Ambulatory Care II (Primary Care at Fresno and Oakhurst Clinics, Women's Health, and Pharmacogenomics)

Acute Care Internal Medicine I and Ambulatory Care I take place in the first half of the residency program, and the second block of these experiences take place in the second half of the program.

Required Longitudinal Rotations (45 weeks total starting after orientation):
• Ambulatory Care*
• Major Project
• Project Management and Leadership Development
• Staffing 
• VA Teaching and Precepting Certificate

Residents get one-half day per week for clinic and one-half day per week for administrative and project time. Staffing is inpatient operations and clinical, and takes place one weekend and one evening shift every three weeks, and two minor holidays.

*Longitudinal Clinic Opportunities: Anticoagulation, Benzodiazepine Taper, Clozapine, Hematology/Oncology, Primary Care, Psychiatry, Pulmonary.

Elective Opportunities (three electives, five weeks each):
• Academic Detailing, Anticoagulation, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Managed Care, Pain Management, Pharmacy Informatics, Psychiatric Acute Care, Psychiatric Ambulatory Care, VISN Informatics, and VISN PBM Formulary, Data, and Program Management

Application Qualifications:
• United States Citizenship
• Graduation from ACPE-accredited School of Pharmacy

Application Process - Must be submitted through PhORCAS:
• Letter of intent and curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation; at least one letter should come from a preceptor from a clinical rotation or a supervisor if already in practice
• Official transcript
• Phase 1 application deadline: Jan 2

NMS Match Code: 188813

Interview:
• An interview is required and takes place in early February

About VA Central California Health Care System

VA Central California Health Care System (VACCHCS), located in Fresno, California, is a 63-bed acute care, general medical and surgical center with state-of-the-art primary, secondary and tertiary care in major diagnostic and treatment specializations. In addition, a 60-bed Community Living Center (CLC) is located on campus and provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation care. The health care system has 40,000 Veterans enrolled for health care eligibility and serves more than 32,000 Veterans in six counties in the San Joaquin Valley. The six counties include Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare. Three Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) support this wide catchment area, located in Merced, Oakhurst, and Visalia. VACCHCS uses Telehealth services, such as video conferencing, to increase timely access to high quality care. The facility is a part of the VA Sierra Pacific Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 21, which is one of 18 VISNs in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VISN 21 includes seven VA Medical Centers, seven co-located CLCs, and 56 CBOCs located in Northern and Central California, Nevada, Hawaii, the Philippines, and U.S. Territories in th...e Pacific Basin. VISN 21 is remarkable in several ways – one of which is its academic affiliations. All seven VISN 21 health care systems have highly successful clinical affiliations with prestigious universities in the areas of medicine, nursing, and allied health professions. VISN 21 hosts the largest number of Centers of Excellence within America’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA), receives the most research funding in VHA, and has expansive and collaborative relationships with its Department of Defense partners. VISN 21 is on par nationally with inpatient and outpatient satisfaction measures and often exceeds the VHA national average. The network is committed to ensuring that Veterans have full access to the highest quality of care, and that patients and staff alike have high levels of satisfaction.

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