Pharmacy Residency Programs

Pharmacy Residency Programs
Dad smiling hugging young child

The Department of Pharmacy Services at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers a one-year PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, and a one-year PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program. Learn more about the programs, requirements, and expectations.

  • PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program: The post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) residency is designed to effectively enable the new practitioner to develop a solid foundation in problem solving and decision-making skills in multiple aspects of pharmaceutical care.
  • PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program: PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Program: The purpose of the PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Program is to cultivate future leaders in pediatric pharmacy practice. Pharmacists completing this residency will master the principles of pediatric pharmacotherapy and be competent and confident pediatric practitioners capable of providing direct patient care in various pediatric subspecialties. PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Program graduates will understand the principles of a sound pediatric pharmacy operational system and be able to integrate these principles into their clinical practice. These pharmacists will be skilled in educating other health care professionals, patients, pharmacy students, and the community on pediatric medication-related issues and will be capable of conducting basic clinical research to answer medication-related questions in the pediatric population. They will demonstrate professional maturity by following a personal philosophy of practice, monitoring their own performance, exhibiting commitment to the profession, and exercising leadership in improving the safety of the medication-use system.
  • PGY1/PGY2 Combined Corporate Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency Program: The purpose of the combined PGY1/PGY2 Corporate Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (CPAL) residency provided by CHOP, in partnership with Cencora is to build upon a PGY1 residency graduates’ competence (following completion of the PGY1 Program at CHOP) in the delivery of patient-centered care and in pharmacy operational services to prepare residents who can assume high level managerial, supervisory, and leadership responsibilities. This combined residency program will provide residents with opportunities to experience and build knowledge in safe and effective medication-use systems, quality assurance and improvement, the development of strategic sourcing initiatives utilizing clinical expertise, the use of advanced literature analysis skills, the management of human resources, the management of financial resources, use of technology, and advanced leadership. Residents who successfully complete an accredited combined PGY1/PGY2 Corporate Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency will have a strong foundation for continued growth in management and leadership skills, preparing them for a clinical or operational management/supervisory role in a variety of work settings.
  • Pharmacy Residency Handbook and Policies

The residency programs are designed using the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' (ASHP) Residency Standards, and utilize the goals and objectives designed within this program.

View the slideshow for a look at our facilities and a sample of some of the technology used in our department.

Each workstation is well equipped with both print and electronic resources. Pharmacists at these stations verify the appropriateness of a medication order utilizing information coming from an integrated computer system based on computer physician order entry - a pillar of patient safety.

This large area is well equipped with the most commonly prescribed medications, and a pneumatic tube delivery system to minimize turn-around time. On-demand compounding of extemporaneous products is also done in this area.

CHOP is the second hospital in the United States to utilize this specific technology. RIVA is responsible for both bulk and patient-specific preparation of doses of commonly used / high volume medications. This technology improves patient safety as no human interaction is necessary - this ensures both the accuracy and sterility of all doses prepared.

RIVA is a self-contained system that dispenses medications by weight (calculated by the medication's specific gravity). The robot reconstitutes and/or dilutes source containers, draws up the medication, appropriately labels the syringe or bag, and sterilizes the product before leaving the apparatus. Finally, RIVA has a very vigorous internal quality assurance program to ensure the highest degree of safety and reliability is maintained.

This newly renovated room is fully USP<797> compliant and has produced within its walls nearly 600,000 doses per year (~1600 doses each day).

This state-of- the- art center boasts a large capacity and is complete with a large LCD screen television, video projectors and telecommunication capabilities to facilitate meetings and/or training events. This area is used primarily for pharmacy staff meetings, educational purposes, and monthly meetings of the hospital's Therapeutic Standards Committee (our P&T) and Drug Use Evaluation committee.

To ensure adequate inventory the CHOP Department of Pharmacy utilizes a kanban system, an important tenant in the Toyota Lean system to facilitate the highest level of efficiency possible. The department also institutes a color coding system to notify the staff of any ISMP high alert medications or look-alike / sound-alike drugs to increase patient safety.

This is another way that the CHOP Department of Pharmacy strives to increase patient safety.

Residents with team leader meeting in hallway.

Meet our team

The Department of Pharmacy Services residency programs are led by clinical pharmacy specialists with expertise in a wide range of pediatric pharmacologic areas. Residents will work with preceptors specializing in all facets of patient pharmaceutical care from general medicine to highly specialized intensive care units.

Scholarly activities: teaching commitments

The clinical pharmacists at CHOP coordinate classes in various disciplines at area universities, including:

  • “Pediatric Pharmacotherapy” at Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • "Pediatric Pharmacotherapy” at Jefferson School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA

The clinical pharmacists also serve as guest lecturers at several Schools of Pharmacy, including:

  • Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA
  • Thomas Jefferson University College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA

In addition, our clinical pharmacists conduct unit-based education of physician trainees and other multidisciplinary staff, including nurses, respiratory therapists, registered dieticians, etc. and are responsible for a series of American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) accredited clinically oriented CE programs provided to the entire pharmacy staff.

Medical Professionals conferring together

Resources for professionals

We have curated resources to support your professional development, including how to join our Pharmacy team at CHOP. 

An Inside Look at CHOP Pharmacy

Watch this video to learn how the Department of Pharmacy Services at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is providing the best possible pharmaceutical care to pediatric patients.