There are numerous career paths that one can pursue after graduating from pharmacy school. The two most common types of postgraduate training available are residencies and fellowships. We spoke with Josiah Land, PharmD, currently serving as a PGY1 resident at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to learn more about residencies.

 

Primeaux: What made you want to pursue a pharmacy practice residency?

Land: I have known since I started pharmacy school that I wanted to be involved in a clinical practice setting with a direct patient care component. I also knew that I wanted to work in an academic medical center with an interdisciplinary team that provides comprehensive care for patients. The field of oncology has always interested me because the disease states are so complex and I knew I could play a role in supporting patients who have cancer. In order for me to achieve these goals, I knew that residency training would be the best route for me to lay a foundation for my future practice.

 

Primeaux: How can student pharmacists prepare for a residency?

Land: There are many things student pharmacists can do to prepare for residency training regardless of how far along they are in their pharmacy education. I encourage every student to get involved. It is not necessary to be the chapter president of three campus organizations, but student pharmacists should find ways to interact with peers and faculty, get involved with the community, and network with other practitioners. Above all, being involved helps build interpersonal and communication skills, improves time management skills, and allows you to develop professionally. It is also very important to reach out to faculty members at your school who have completed residencies. Getting their perspective will assist you in determining if residency training is right for you. 

Student pharmacists should also try to tailor their APPEs so they will be exposed to the types of experiences a resident may need such as  inpatient rotations (both general and specialized, depending on interest), ambulatory care, and academia. Having a well-rounded APPE schedule will give you a nice snapshot of what residency training will be like. I encourage you to interact and build relationships with pharmacy residents at your institution to learn more about the day-to-day details of resident life.

 

We then spoke with  Belmont University College of Pharmacy Assistant Professor Genevieve Ness, PharmD, to learn more about the specific opportunities a fellowship can provide.

 

Daubert: What made you want to pursue an industry fellowship?

Ness: During the summer of 2009, I completed an internship through the Student Talent Identification Program at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and was stationed in the Pharmacy Solutions department. I had the opportunity to work on the Lamictal ODT launch, provide information to the brand teams about e-prescribing, and visit other departments within GSK, where I discovered the functions and responsibilities of the medical information department. Through this experience, I determined that I wanted to pursue fellowship training in drug information within the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Daubert: How can student pharmacists prepare for a fellowship?

Ness: Students should consider completing an internship or rotation within the pharmaceutical industry. This can help students identify the area they would like to pursue. Since many areas of specialization are available through fellowships, it is important for the student to know the area they want to enter. Some fellowship programs may also have opportunities to visit or work within other departments. When completing an internship or rotation, be sure to experience as much as possible. Become involved with projects, prepare and deliver presentations, and network.

 

As Land and Ness’ experiences affirm, completing a residency or fellowship can be extremely rewarding for pharmacy graduates. These specialized training programs provide the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to provide exceptional patient care,  contribute to the advancement of health care, and prepare for the role of health care provider.