Successful candidates are asked to complete the Residency Entering Interest and Self-Assessment questionnaires via PharmAcademic within 30 days of the start of the residency. This will aid residents in identifying areas of strength, weakness, and interest. These forms are also utilized in developing the training schedule and residency plan for each resident.

Customized Residency Plan

The plan is written and developed collaboratively by the resident and program director during the first month of the residency. The plan includes the resident’s interests, areas for improvement, areas of strength, current and future goals, and the plan for training. This information is used to develop an individualized training schedule for the residents. The resident’s plan is updated on a quarterly basis by the resident’s advisor and resident and adjusted according to the resident’s progress.

Residents develop, with guidance from the residency director and their advisor, an annual schedule. The schedule includes all required and elective experiences, research project, staffing requirements, travel, miscellaneous assignments, meetings, and time off.

Required and Elective Learning Experiences

Structured learning experiences spread throughout a 12-month period are utilized to facilitate the achievement of the program outcomes. Within each structured experience, learning activities have been developed, which allow the resident to meet the program’s goals and objectives. There are 15 mandatory learning experiences (orientation, seven rotation blocks, and seven longitudinal rotations) and a minimum of three elective learning experiences. The program is flexible to meet the individual needs and interests of each resident. Residents are encouraged to develop areas of interest and become involved in all pharmacy activities.

The week prior to each learning experience, the preceptors of the current rotation will meet with the preceptors of the next rotation to discuss resident progress, strengths, and areas of opportunity to afford the incoming preceptor an opportunity to evaluate and, if possible, design specific activities to meet the resident’s goals. Activities and expectations to achieve the goals and objectives identified for each learning experience have been developed by each preceptor and are shared with the resident at the beginning of each experience.

Selective-Required Rotational Learning Experiences

  • GME/Pharmacy Orientation
  • Introduction to Staffing
  • Acute Care
  • Three Specialty Rotations based on resident interest and preceptor availability
    • Oncology/Hematology
    • Neurology*
    • A4 Specialty Clinics
    • Infectious Disease
    • Cardiology
  • Two Ambulatory Rotations based on resident interest and preceptor availability
    • Internal Medicine
    • Family Health
    • Endocrine/Weight Management*

Rotations indicated with an asterisk are located off hospital main campus and are less than 15 minutes driving time. Travel for these experiences is not reimbursable as the rotations are selective and can be modified for residents unable to provide transportation.

Elective Rotational Learning Experiences

Elective rotational learning experiences are determined according to resident interest and preceptor availability. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Any of the above listed experiences not previously completed
  • Advanced rotations for the available specialty/ambulatory rotations may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability, but no more than two blocks may be completed in one therapeutic area

Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences

  • Health System Ambulatory Pharmacy Practice
  • Pharmacy Access Services
  • Project/Research
  • Drug Use Policy
  • Population Health
  • Leadership and Administration
  • Teaching/Precepting

Objectives have been selected to assure outcomes and goals are achieved through structured learning experiences. Flexibility has been designed into the program to permit individualization of the program to meet the personal interests and goals of the resident, while directing attention to areas identified for improvement.

Program Features

Program Goals

Residents who complete this program will be able to:

  • Serve as an independent practitioner to optimize medication therapy, improve patient adherence, and enhance overall patient outcomes through specialized clinical interventions and collaborative care approaches
  • Gain a higher level of confidence in their abilities, and be better prepared to handle the challenges of pharmacy practice
  • Contribute to the education of pharmacy learners, interdisciplinary team members, and patients
  • Seek board certification, and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY-2) residencies

Health System Ambulatory Pharmacy Practice

Residents are required to complete a pharmacy practice component of the residency program, referred to as staffing. This is fulfilled by staffing every third weekend, every third Friday evening, and two holidays (including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Memorial Day) throughout the year.

Pharmacy Access Services

Residents will rotate through the specialty pharmacist on-call schedule every four weeks. On-call hours will begin Monday at 8 a.m. on the assigned week and will end at 8 a.m. the following Monday. Any calls received during the on-call period will be documented by the resident in the On-Call Log and will be reviewed at monthly pharmacy meetings. 

Residents will engage patients to complete medication review, patient counseling, and offer pharmacy services including copay assistance and free medication delivery. They will also participate in additional medication therapy management (MTM) activities for the specialty pharmacy via the MTM Outcomes platform to help improve patient outcomes.

Project and Research

Residents are responsible for the completion of a residency project. During the orientation period, residents will select a topic from a list of project ideas, or may propose original projects ideas, and work closely with an assigned preceptor. The proposed project will then be presented to the Human Subject Protections Office to determine if approval of the Institutional Review Board is required. Residents are encouraged to then submit the project as a work in progress for poster presentation at the ASHP Midyear Meeting. Presentation of the completed project (preferably as a podium presentation) at the Eastern States Residency Conference and submission of a written manuscript of publishable quality are requirements of the Residency Program.

Drug Use Policy

Residents are required to participate in at least one Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) or project of similar scope, such as a drug class review, monograph, treatment guideline, or protocol. Projects are conducted in support of patient care at Reading Hospital and residents will follow the policies and procedures determined by the IRB.

Population Health

Residents will participate in regularly scheduled payor and committee meetings, attendance at ad hoc meetings and strategy sessions, and contribution to discussions on pharmacy metrics and population health initiatives. Additionally, they will assist the lead pharmacist with population health or value-based care initiatives, such as data collection, process improvement projects, and presentations.

Participation in Teams and Committees

Residents are required to participate in the Clinical and Specialty Navigator Committee meetings held monthly. During such meetings, residents will prepare and present at least one in-service and their DUP project, along with other projects which may be assigned during various rotations.

Residents will also play an active role in medication safety management to better understand the QI process and its’ impact in patient care within Reading Hospital. They will be responsible for proactive risk assessments and ISMP newsletter review and presenting them to the Clinical and Specialty Navigator Committee meetings.

Teaching/Precepting

Residents will have paid enrollment in the University of Connecticut Teaching and Learning Program and be able to earn the "Teaching and Learning Certificate of Accomplishment." Residents are required to critically evaluate and formally present two research articles to the Department of Pharmacy staff. In addition, they will be given opportunities to participate in and conduct staff education, as well as conferences and symposia outside the department by invitation. Residents will also assist and support preceptors of pharmacy students completing their APPE clinical rotations at the Reading Hospital.  

Participation in Recruitment Efforts

Because the current residents are a valuable source of information and advice for prospective candidates, they will assist the department in recruiting new residents to the program. Residents are also required to spend time providing information to potential candidates during the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and at Residency Showcases, as appropriate.