Preparing Students to Enter the Race for Postgraduate Training

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Postgraduate Training

Background:

• National organizations endorse postgraduate training for pharmacy students before clinical practice.
• Colleges and schools of pharmacy are developing residency preparation programs to meet this goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review published studies on curricular activities and structured programs for pharmacy residency preparation.
• Discuss the development experience of a residency preparation program at Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP).

Main Methods:

• Descriptive report analyzing published studies.
• Review of 15 identified residency preparation programs.
• Case study of TCOP's residency preparation workshop series.

Main Results:

• Common program components include CV critique, mock interviews, and application process sessions.
• TCOP implemented a 5-themed workshop series for third and fourth-year students.
• TCOP's program uniquely incorporated multiple mock interviews.

Conclusions:

• Structured residency preparation programs are essential due to increased competition for postgraduate pharmacy training.
• Development and encouragement of programs similar to TCOP's should be prioritized.
• These programs better prepare students for the demanding residency application and interview process.