PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
Our PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program welcomed its first resident in 2017 and received full accreditation by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in 2019.
The residency program director is Sila Small, PharmD, BCCCP, Critical Care Pharmacist Specialist. The residency program coordinator is Megan Lauzon, PharmD, BCCCP.
For 2025-26, the program is recruiting one PGY2 critical care pharmacy resident.
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program
Our PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency is a one-year postgraduate specialty training program that offers residents an immersive experience in all aspects related to critical care pharmacy after they have completed a PGY1 residency.
The goal of the program is to develop residents into advanced critical care pharmacy practitioners. Residents will become fully integrated members of the interdisciplinary critical care team, learn to manage complex pharmaceutical regimens in a fast-paced environment, complete quality improvement projects, and gain experience in inpatient pharmacy leadership, including committee work and precepting activities.
Residents will complete training in pharmacy operations, required core rotations, and multiple elective rotations during the 12-month residency program. Our residency program partners with Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital to potentially offer one elective rotation to the critical care pharmacy resident (off site elective learning experiences are subject to availability). The rationale for selecting the required rotations is to comply with ASHP standards and ensure that residents will acquire the necessary clinical skills to become effective practitioners of the future.
Residents are encouraged to select elective rotations that match their individual preferences, and which build upon past experiences. Required rotations and elective rotations are outlined below. All learning experiences are 5 weeks in length (unless otherwise specified) but may be changed to accommodate the resident’s schedule and interests.
Program Structure
Required Learning | Elective Learning | Required Year-Long Longitudinal |
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*Duration may be altered depending on resident’s previous experience
At the completion of the PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency, the resident will possess the skills necessary to work as a pharmacist specialist in various critical care specialties and will be prepared to work in clinical, academic, and leadership roles.
Residency Activities
Research Projects
Each PGY2 resident will be required to design and write a research proposal. If Institutional Board Review (IRB) approval is required, the resident will present to the IRB committee. The primary focus of the research project will be critical care-related, with attention to an aspect such as quality improvement or cost savings. The Residency Program Coordinator assigned project preceptor, and members of the Resident Research Subcommittee will guide the resident throughout the year with the intent of presenting the research results at Northern California Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Meeting and potentially the Western States Regional Residency Conference in San Diego, California. Residents will prepare a project manuscript and may submit for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Teaching
Our institution is affiliated with a variety of pharmacy schools. Dozens of pharmacy students per academic year complete their clinical clerkship rotations (APPEs) within our institution, thus providing the resident many opportunities to precept pharmacy learners. We also have a robust PGY1 residency program. PGY2 critical care residents will assist pharmacists in precepting students and PGY1 residents during their rotations. Additionally, our institution is a certified provider of continuing education for pharmacists; the PGY2 resident will be asked to present a continuing education program during the year.
Pharmacists are well-integrated into the multidisciplinary team in the critical care environment. As the drug expert, pharmacists are often requested to share their knowledge with the other members of the healthcare team, including physicians, residents, nurses, physician’s assistants, respiratory therapists, and students in a variety of formal and informal ways, such as lectures, in-services, and whiteboard teaching. As an example, pharmacy residents participate in topic selection and design for the Medical ICU’s Pharmacy Education Board. Residents are also required to create and deliver a 1-hour lecture for nurses in the critical care training program. Past topic examples include stroke management, antimicrobial therapy, and management of diabetic ketoacidosis.
All residents are invited to participate in the Teaching Certificate Program offered jointly by our institution and University of Pacific. Residents will improve their teaching skills through a variety of activities such as precepting pharmacy students/residents, participation in inter-professional activities, and participation in monthly teaching seminars. Upon completion of the program pharmacy residents will be issued a teaching certificate plaque by the University of the Pacific-San Jose Region. The program is optional for PGY2 residents who already have a teaching certificate from their PGY1 program.
Pharmacy Operations/Staffing
Residents will be required to staff approximately 3 days per month in critical care areas (including the emergency department and the medical, coronary, surgical, burn, and trauma intensive care units). Staffing requirements are subject to change.
Committee Work
As part of the longitudinal Critical Care Administration learning experience, the resident will work closely with the enterprise clinical coordinator, participate as a member of the Critical Care Committee, and as a member of the Medication Safety Committee. During this learning experience, the PGY2 Resident will present and complete a minimum of two critical care focused projects to the Critical Care Committee (and other committees as needed). Projects may include but are not limited to developing clinical guidelines, performing a medication utilization review, and creating or updating Epic medication builds. In addition, residents will review ICU Occurrence Reports and present findings at the monthly Medication Safety Committee meetings.
Regional & National Conferences
In October, residents may attend the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) Seminar, an annual four-day meeting where residents showcase their institution’s residency program to prospective applicants and have an opportunity to attend continuing education programs and develop networking connections.
In December, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Annual Midyear Meeting provides similar benefits to that of the CSHP meeting, except on a broader scale, as this is a national conference.
The critical care pharmacy resident is encouraged to attend and present their research project at the annual Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) conference.
In May, the resident will present the outcomes of their research project at the Northern California Society of Critical Care Medicine (NorCal SCCM) Meeting. Residents are also encouraged to attend and present their research results at the Western States Residency Conference.
Conference attendance is optional but encouraged. The residency program reimburses residents for at least 50% of registration costs, but the program is unable to reimburse residents for airfare (mileage reimbursement for driving is available). Partial hotel reimbursement is often available as well, but not guaranteed. Conference attendance requirements may be tailored to fit the resident’s projects and interests.
Qualifications for Acceptance
- PharmD degree from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy
- Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency program or one in the ASHP accreditation process (i.e. – Candidate Status)
- Eligible for licensure in the state of California
- Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States
- Favorable recommendation letters from clinical facility and/or former employers
- Demonstrate collegiality, clinical knowledge, interest in research, and motivation necessary for successful completion of residency training
- Demonstrate desire to pursue a career in critical care pharmacy
- Completion of an interview with residency program coordinator, residency program director, director of pharmacy services, and preceptors
Application Process
For any questions, all interested applicants should contact:
Sila Small, PharmD, BCCCP
PGY2 Critical Care Residency Program Director
[email protected]
Megan Lauzon, PharmD, BCCCP
Residency Program Coordinator
[email protected]
The PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency participates in the ASHP Residency Match Program.
The following documents will be required of all prospective applicants to complete the application process. All materials should be submitted via PhORCAS:
- General PhORCAS application (including letter of intent)
- Curriculum Vitae (include descriptions of activities completed during rotations)
- Three letters of reference, with at least two of the three letters of reference from your PGY1 program. Reference writers should submit the PhORCAS reference form and are asked to provide specific comments on the candidate’s abilities to:
- Organize and manage time
- Accept constructive criticism
- Demonstrate independence and resourcefulness
- Work with peers and communicate effectively
- Supplemental attachments to be submitted via PhORCAS:
- A sample PowerPoint presentation on a critical care related topic (~20 min in length)
The deadline to submit the documents via PhORCAS is January 2, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Select candidates will be invited for an interview in February. If you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to give a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on critical care related topic. This can be the same or different presentation from the one included in the PhORCAS application.
Thank you for your interest in our program!