PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
Thank you for your interest and consideration in the University of California, San Diego Health PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy program for your advanced critical care training. UC San Diego Health has eight adult ICUs where our residents learn to make evidence-based decisions in complex clinical situations.
As San Diego’s only academic, teaching health system, we serve as a primary referral center for much of Southern California. Our critical care residents have the opportunity to learn advanced critical care pharmacotherapy in our level 3 NICU, Southern California Regional Burn Center and Level 1 trauma center.
Residents accepted into the PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy program will gain the skills to function as the primary ICU pharmacist. This includes rounding with primary and consult teams, participating in code situations, and becoming proficient in critical care-focused process improvements and research.
Program Summary
Our pharmacy residency program is over 30 years old and well-recognized within our institution, allowing maximum pharmacist input in our critical care areas. | Critical care residents participate in delivering didactic instruction at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the critical care elective, and they may have the opportunity to teach more didactic lectures if requested. | Graduates from our program are well prepared to sit for the Board Certification for Critical Care Pharmacists. | We have a close-knit group of pharmacists and preceptors who look forward to our residents becoming part of our pharmacy family. | Each year, the residency program director will elect, or not, to allow current PGY1 residents within the University of California Health (UCH) the chance to commit through the early commitment process to stay on for an additional year in a specialty PGY2 resident following procedures as set forth by the University of California Systemwide Early Commit Policy and Procedure (UC-SWEC).
Residency Positions Available Per Year
2 residents are accepted each year
Beginning Date
August 1 (matched residents must be licensed pharmacists in the State of California before starting the residency year and no later than November 1)
Application Deadline
January 2 of each year
Virtual Interview Dates
January - February of the application year
Application Procedure
Eligible applicants must have graduated from an ACPE-accredited pharmacy school with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and successfully completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy.
Applicants must be enrolled in the Resident Matching Program and apply using Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). Interested applicants should refer to the Program Overview for specific application requirements.
Letter of Intent
Please note that a supplemental application will be required in lieu of a letter of intent. PhORCAS will require you to submit a letter of intent; please upload a blank document. To preview and prepare your answers to the supplemental application ahead of time, please see the supplemental application questions link below.
Letters of Recommendation/Reference
Three electronic references are required. At least two of the references should be from preceptors or supervisors who can directly comment on your clinical practice skills.
Note: Please have recommendation writers complete the electronic reference form within PhORCAS with detailed characteristics and narrative comments. A separate letter of recommendation is not required and is discouraged.
Program Contact
Wan-Ting Huang, PharmD, BCCCP
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Director
wah007@health.ucsd.edu
Overview of the Critical Care Program
Residency Program Purpose
PGY2 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions, and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.