PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

Take the Next Step Start your Pharmacy Career

The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Northwest Medical Center is a 12-month program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The program was established in 2012 and partners with the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy for student precepting, off site elective rotation in Toxicology, and a Teaching Certificate Program. A pharmacist completing the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program will be well-prepared to provide direct patient care services in an acute care facility, pursue advanced training in a PGY2 residency or fellowship, and board certification.

Northwest Medical Center offers 2 PGY1 Pharmacy Residency opportunities annually. See below for the application process.

ASHP Code: 81016 | NMS Match Code: 144213

Submit Application Learn More About Applying

What to Expect About the Program

The program emphasizes clinical practice consisting of core (required) learning experiences in specific aspects of acute care pharmacy practice and elective opportunities. These core and elective learning experiences provide the basic foundation for quality clinical practice. In addition, this program enables the resident to learn and apply teaching and research techniques.

Northwest Medical Center became an official teaching hospital in 2023 with the start of an internal medicine residency program, there are plans to add a transitional residency program in 2024 and a family practice residency program in 2025. There is also the Jersey School of Nursing on-campus.

Train with the best Why Work Here?

people talking icon

Team-Oriented

Work with a group of friendly individuals who want you to be successful. Pharmacists at Northwest enjoy excellent relationships with physicians and nurses.

node path icon

Individualized Attention

Take advantage of a program with a personalized approach to your training. We maximize our time with residents and our structure allows us to customize your residency experience to meet your goals.

line graph icon

Endless Growth Potential

Join a group of residents with a proven track record of success. Our alumni obtain PGY2 training and are working in acute care positions and academia.

Course Outline Learning Experiences

Core:

  • Orientation (6 weeks)
  • Adult Internal Medicine (6 weeks each):
    • Cardiology
    • General Medicine
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship (6 weeks)
  • Intensive Care Units (Cardiac and Medical) (6 weeks)
  • Emergency Medicine (6 weeks)
  • Practice Management & Pharmacy Administration (6 weeks)

Electives:

Longitudinal:

Training

Preceptors:

The pharmacist preceptors are very engaged in process improvement, program/preceptor development and teaching/education with multidisciplinary staff, providers, students and residents. There are about 13 pharmacist preceptors with more than 13 years of service on average per preceptor. About 69% of the preceptors are residency trained and 62% have board certification.

Program Expectations Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

The emphasis of the program is to encourage residents to provide evidence-based, compassionate, and cost-effective patient care. Pharmacists at Northwest Medical Center maintain a visible presence on the units they serve and communicate regularly with nurses, providers, and other members of the healthcare team to support the well being of their patients.

The resident will communicate effectively with supervising pharmacists regarding their patient evaluation, interpretation of diagnostic tests, and plan of care and intended therapeutic interventions. Additionally, the resident will provide oral and written consultations focused on improving patient outcomes and enhancing communication with the health care team. According to institutional protocols, residents serve as consultants in the management of parenteral nutrition, anticoagulation, and analgesia as well as providing pharmacokinetic and renal dose adjustments.

Academic Responsibilities:

The pharmacy resident will participate in the education of IPPE and APPE students from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and is required to participate in the longitudinal TEACHING CERTIFICATE (PRSTL) PROGRAM, please follow the link for complete information.

Each resident will complete a research project with a preceptor and RPD. The results will be presented at a national or regional conference of the resident’s choice. After completion of data collection and analysis, the resident will be responsible for drafting a manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The following represents a sample of publications resulting from resident research;

Aljabri A et al. Blood glucose reduction in patients treated with insulin and dextrose for hyperglycemia. Emergency Medicine Journal. 2020;37:31-5.

Bakhsh HT et al. Medication errors in psychiatric patients boarded in the emergency department. International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine. 2014;25.191-8.

Alshibani M, Basilim A, et al. The impact of pharmacy mediated conversion from IV to oral corticosteroids in patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of Translational Science. 2017;3(4):2-4.

TEACHING CERTIFICATE (PRSTL) PROGRAM

Staffing Responsibilities:

The resident is required to rotate through the staffing responsibilities of the department during the residency year. In general, this will consist of three 10 hour shifts per month and two holidays. Northwest Medical Center utilizes an integrated staffing model, thus staffing responsibilities include both order verification and clinical activities for patients in assigned care areas. Clinical activities include adult parenteral nutrition monitoring, pharmacokinetic monitoring, anticoagulation monitoring and education, pain consults, renal dose adjustments, responding to adult codes, answering drug information questions, and other duties as deemed necessary to optimize drug therapy.

Benefits and Financial Provisions:

The resident is entitled to all benefits provided to full time Northwest Medical Center personnel. Funds are provided to help offset travel expenses to selected state and national meetings.

Salary: $50,000

Open Positions: 2 annually

What to Expect Application Process

Northwest Medical Center residency programs participate in the ASHP-associated Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) for applications and the National Matching Service (NMS) for the residency matching process.

Please submit the following REQUIRED documents through the PhORCAS system by January 2nd:

  • Letter of Intent
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Pharmacy School Transcripts
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

ASHP Code: 81016 | NMS Match Code: 144213

Virtual interviews for invited applicants will occur in January and February, with the Residency beginning in mid-June.

Submit Application

Contact Information

For additional information about the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, please contact:

Eric Bergstrom

Eric Bergstrom, Pharm D

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director

Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator

Northwest Medical Center
6200 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85741
eric.bergstrom@northwestmedicalcenter.com
Pills icon