An Academic Multihealth System PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Pediatric Pharmacy Practice
• Residency Programs

Background:

• Pediatric clinical pharmacy is a growing field with increasing demand for specialized practitioners.
• Traditional pediatric residency programs often require freestanding children's hospitals.
• A novel approach was needed to provide pediatric pharmacy residency training in regions lacking such facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and structure of a novel multihealth system pediatric pharmacy residency program.
• To highlight the benefits of a multihealth system approach for resident training in pediatric pharmacy.
• To emphasize the integration of clinical practice, research, and academic experiences.

Main Methods:

• A postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pediatric pharmacy residency program was developed at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University.
• The program utilizes 5 distinct practice sites within a multihealth system, with 6 pediatric faculty members serving as preceptors.
• The curriculum integrates clinical rotations, research project development, and academic activities, including teaching and student precepting.

Main Results:

• The multihealth system model provides residents with exposure to diverse patient populations, pediatric subspecialties, and varied practice settings.
• Residents gain experience in clinical pediatric pharmacy, research, and academic endeavors, including lecturing and student mentorship.
• The program facilitates the development of a research project utilizing a large and diverse patient population.

Conclusions:

• A multihealth system PGY2 pediatric pharmacy residency offers a well-rounded training experience.
• This model enhances residents' preparedness to establish their own pediatric pharmacy practices.
• The program effectively addresses the need for specialized pediatric pharmacy training in diverse healthcare environments.