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Pharmacy Residency Program

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VA Portland offers pharmacy residency opportunities in a number of clinical settings.
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Thank you for inquiring about the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) Pharmacy Residency Programs. We are pleased you are considering our program(s) for your professional future!
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Our programs are developed to allow residents a great deal of self-direction, individualize their schedule, and maximize opportunities to explore particular areas of interest. We offer opportunities to participate in active pharmacy practice in a number of clinical settings, including our extensive ambulatory care clinics. Additionally, being close to both Oregon Health & Science University Hospital and the College of Pharmacy allows the resident to choose from a variety of electives, such as research, women's health and academic teaching. Our pharmacists serve as valuable members of the health care team, are committed to the profession of pharmacy, and demonstrate great leadership and mentoring skills.

All materials must be submitted to PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service). Our interview process typically runs approximately 4-6 hours and will include several small group interviews with various preceptors in Portland, a meeting with the Director of Pharmacy, and a tour of the site.

***Due to COVID-19 we are not currently offering in-person interviews, all interviews will be conducted virtually***

We hope you will decide to join us for your residency year in Portland! Thank you for your interest in the VA Portland Health Care System and we look forward to receiving your application.

PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice (94004)

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                                   Start Date: 07/01/2023

The purpose of this PGY-1 pharmacy residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY-2) pharmacy residency training. The primary goal of the Portland VA PGY-1 is to prepare residents to function as well-rounded, independent, competent clinical pharmacists in patient care positions in a health care setting.


Required Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)                      Each 5 weeks in duration

  • Orientation (Residency/Inpatient/Outpatient Operations)
  • Ambulatory Care:  Mental Health                                       
  • Ambulatory Care:  Primary Care
  • Critical Care
  • Geriatrics Internal Medicine - Community Living Center
  • Internal Medicine
  • Pharmacy Administration        

Longitudinal rotations                                                                   

  • Anticoagulation Clinic
  • Citywide Residency Conference (monthly meetings)
  • Committee & Leadership Series (P&T/leadership series/other committees)
  • Formulary Management (Medication Use Evaluations/Prior Authorizations)
  • Major Residency Project
  • Management Project – Process Improvement
  • Medication Safety
  • Pharmacy Administration (Leadership)
  • Pharmacy Staffing
  • Presentations (formal case/journal club/seminar/CE)
  • Resident Education Series & Teaching Certificate

Elective On-Site Learning Experiences (Choice of Three)           Each 4 weeks in duration

  • Academic Detailing
  • Clinic Management
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Hospice/Palliative Care
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Liver/Kidney Transplant
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacy Informatics
  • Inpatient Psychiatry
  • Women’s Clinic

*Electives at other institutions may be available but not guaranteed. (Oregon State Pharmacist license required for off-site elective.) Elective time may be used for make-up or repeat of core rotations if needed.

**Availability of elective learning experiences for the 2023-24 residency year may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated guidelines.


Program Contact Information

Dr. Amar Patel, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program Director
Amar.Patel1@va.gov

Updated 11/2022

PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program (94028)

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                                   Start Date: 07/01/2023

Purpose statement: The PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency program builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in advanced or specialized practice. The PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency provides residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care that improves medication therapy. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency should possess competencies that qualify them for clinical pharmacist and/or faculty positions and position them to be eligible for attainment of board certification in psychiatric pharmacy (BCPP).

Program Description: Our program is a 12-month, PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The program is designed to offer well-balanced training experiences in both the inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment settings, as well as specialty areas such as Substance Use Disorders, Neurology, and Pain Management.  Residents will participate in a pharmacist-run clozapine clinic as part of their outpatient psychiatry learning experience as well as gain experiencing managing a panel of complex psychiatric outpatients. During the inpatient learning experience, residents will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, which includes trainees from psychiatry, nursing, and social work. This program is tailored to each resident to suit individual past experiences and goals, as well as strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, residents will be given clinical privileges under a mental health scope of practice and will use such to order medications, labs, and consults. Residents will be expected to develop critical self-evaluation and leadership skills throughout the residency year that will enable them to be successful psychiatric pharmacy practitioners regardless of practice setting. 


Required Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)

  • Orientation                                                                                             1-4 weeks*
  • Inpatient Psychiatry                                                                           12 weeks
  • Outpatient Psychiatry                                                                       12 weeks
  • Neurology                                                                                                 4 weeks
  • Substance Use Disorders                                                                    4 weeks

*Duration will depend on where resident completed his/her PGY-1 residency

Learning Experience (Longitudinal Rotations)

  • Primary Care – Medication Assisted Therapy Clinic
  • Clozapine Clinic
  • Formulary Management
  • Major Residency Project
  • Pharmacy Administration
  • Staffing (Prior Authorizations/E-Consults)

Learning Experience (Blocked Rotations)**           4-5 weeks each

  • Consult Liaison Psychiatry
  • Academic Detailing (VISN 20)                                                                              
  • Pain Management 
  • Inpatient Psychiatry II (Advanced Elective)
  • Outpatient Psychiatry II (Advanced Elective)
  • Geriatric Psychiatry

**Availability of elective learning experiences for the 2023-24 residency year may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated guidelines.


Program Contact Information

Dr. Jeanne Peterson, PharmD, BCPP
PGY-2 Psychiatry Residency Program Director
Jeanne.Peterson@va.gov 

Updated 11/2022

PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program (94038)

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                                   Start Date: 07/01/2023

PGY-2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY-2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY-2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.


Required Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)

  • Orientation (Residency/Pharmacy Operations)                       4 weeks
  • Anticoagulation                                                                                    12 weeks
  • Cardiology/Heart Failure                                                                  12 weeks
  • Academic Detailing                                                                             12 weeks
  • Primary Care – Vancouver Clinic                                                   18 weeks
  • Primary Care/Women’s Health – Resident Clinic                   18 weeks
  • Longitudinal rotations                                                                       52 weeks each
    • Formulary Management (MUE/Prior Authorizations)
    • Major Residency Project                                                                                    
    • Pharmacy and Primary Care Administration                                              
    • Teaching and Education                                                                                    
    • Population Health Management 

Elective On-Site Learning Experiences (Choice of Two)           4 weeks each

  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Mental Health                                                                              
  • Hepatology           
  • Neurology
  • Pain/Palliative Care

Elective rotations are available at VAPORHCS in a variety of patient care settings. This program will be flexible to accommodate each resident’s area of interest. Electives at other institutions may be available but are not guaranteed (Oregon State pharmacy license required for off-site electives). Elective time may be used for making up or repeating core rotations.

**Availability of elective learning experiences for the 2023-24 residency year may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated guidelines.


Program Contact Information

Dr. Antoine Zogbi, PharmD, BCACP
PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program Director
Antoine.Zogbi@va.gov

Updated 11/2022

PGY-2 Pain and Palliative Care Residency Program (94906)

ASHP Accredited Residency                                                                                   Start Date: 07/01/2023

PGY-2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY-2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY-2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.


Required Learning Experiences (Core Rotations)                       Duration

  • Orientation (Residency/Pharmacy Operations)                       4 weeks
  • Outpatient Palliative Care                                                                  4 weeks
  • Center for Integrative Pain Care (CIPC)                                      12 weeks (3 days/week)
  • Substance Use Disorder - Rural Health Focus                         12 weeks (2 days/week)
  • Inpatient Adult Pain Service (OHSU)                                             4 weeks
  • Inpatient Palliative Care                                                                     4 weeks
  • Pain Management, Opioid Safety and PDMP                            4 weeks
  • Longitudinal rotations                                                                       52 weeks each*
    • Education and Professional Development
    • Organization and Residency Work Commitments
    • Major Residency Project
    • Outpatient Palliative Care                                                        *44 weeks (0.5 days/week)

Elective On-Site Learning Experiences (Choice of Two)          4 weeks each**

  • Academic Detailing (VISN 20)
  • Opioid Treatment Program                                                           **2-4 weeks
  • Emergency Department  
  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Community Living Center – Geriatric Internal Medicine
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Inpatient Surgery
  • Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program
  • Advanced CIPC

Elective rotations are available at VAPORHCS in a variety of patient care settings. This program will be flexible to accommodate each resident’s area of interest. Electives at other institutions may be available but are not guaranteed (Oregon State pharmacy license required for off-site electives). Elective time may be used for making up or repeating core rotations.

**Availability of elective learning experiences for the 2023-24 residency year may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated guidelines.


Program Contact Information

Dr. Mina Lee, PharmD
PGY-2 Pain/Palliative Care Residency Program Director
Mina.Lee1@va.gov

Updated 11/2022

Pharmacy Applicant Qualification and Application Process

Applicant Qualifications

  • Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from an Accredited School of Pharmacy
  • Certificate of completion of an ASHP accredited PGY-1 pharmacy residency program (for PGY 2 programs)
    • Eligible for licensure to practice pharmacy in any state
    • United States citizenship
    • Participation in the ASHP Resident Matching Program Application Process
    • All applicant materials must be submitted through Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application (PhORCAS) by 01/01/2023
  • Official School or College of Pharmacy transcript

**Please submit an official transcript by the due date. If fall/winter APPE rotation grades are not included in your official transcript, please advise your school advisor, regional coordinator, or APPE coordinator to address a letter with APPE rotation grades

  • Letter of Intent
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation using the standardized reference template in PhORCAS (for PGY-2 programs, please make sure one of these letters is from your PGY-1 Residency Program Director)

Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview in late-January or early-February.

Program Contact Information: 

Dr. Amar Patel, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program Director
Amar.Patel1@va.gov

Dr. Jeanne Peterson, PharmD, BCPP
PGY-2 Psychiatry Residency Program Director
Jeanne.Peterson@va.gov

Dr. Antoine Zogbi, PharmD, BCACP
PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program Director
Antoine.Zogbi@va.gov

Dr. Mina Lee, PharmD
PGY-2 Pain/Palliative Care Residency Program Director
Mina.Lee1@va.gov