Characteristics That Define a Successful Pharmacy Resident as Perceived by Residency Programs

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Residency Program Evaluation
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Pharmacy residency programs are crucial for advanced training.
• Defining resident success is vital for program improvement and future recruitment.
• This study surveyed program directors to understand their criteria for resident success.

Discussion:

• Subjective traits like dependability and professionalism are highly valued, especially in PGY1 programs.
• PGY2 programs emphasize clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and dependability.
• Securing a clinical position is the primary objective measure of success for both PGY1 and PGY2 residents.

Key Insights:

• RPDs identified key subjective (dependability, professionalism, self-motivation, work ethic) and objective (obtaining a clinical position) characteristics.
• A high percentage (76-100%) of residents were deemed successful by their programs.
• There are some differences in emphasis between PGY1 and PGY2 programs.

Outlook:

• Understanding these success factors can refine resident selection processes.
• This data can inform curriculum development to better prepare residents for success.
• Further research could explore long-term career outcomes based on these defined success metrics.