PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
The Methodist University Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency is an ASHP‑accredited, 52‑week program designed to develop residents into competent, confident and well-rounded pharmacy practitioners. The program typically accepts seven residents each year and provides broad clinical, operational and leadership training across a large academic medical center.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Provide evidence‑based pharmaceutical care across diverse practice settings
- Demonstrate effective communication, professionalism and leadership
- Engage in continuous learning and self‑evaluation
- Contribute to medication-use safety, quality improvement and research
- Educate patients, learners and interprofessional colleagues
In addition to the learning experiences outlined, residents are also able to participate in several learning opportunities meant to complement their clinical learning experiences. These include the Pharmacy Residency Education Series (PRES), which includes topics on clinical, operational, leadership, wellness and research subjects and The University of Tennessee Teaching and Learning Program.
Mentorship
Each resident selects a facilitator from among the group of preceptors to advise them throughout the year. The facilitator assists the resident in tailoring learning experiences to his or her goals, interests, & previous experiences. The facilitator may also guide the resident as they select their research project, identify preceptors to assist them with presentations & direct them in career choices.
Learning Experience Rotation Structure
Residents complete a series of 4 to 5-week core, selective and elective rotations designed to build a strong clinical foundation while allowing customization based on interests and career goals.
| Core Rotations | Selective Rotations |
| Orientation | Critical Care Selective (Medical ICU or CVICU/CT Surgery) |
| Internal Medicine | Ambulatory Care (Cardiology, Hematology-Oncology or Transitions of Care) |
| Pharmacy Administration and Leadership | Medicine Subspecialty (Acute Stroke, Nephrology, or Cardiology) |
Residents receive 5 additional elective rotations and any rotation not chosen as a selective may be chosen as an elective.
| Elective Rotations | |
| Acute Stroke | Internal Medicine 2 |
| Ambulatory Care - Cardiology | Medical Intensive Care |
| Ambulatory Care – Hematology-Oncology | Nephrology |
| Cardiology | Neurocritical Care |
| Cardiovascular Intensive Care / CT Surgery | Pediatrics* |
| Emergency Medicine | Transitions of Care |
| Hepatology | Transplant Nephrology |
|
Infectious Disease / Antimicrobial Stewardship |
Transplant Surgery (Liver) |
*Residents may select up to one elective rotation off-site at a hospital during the residency year.
Longitudinal Learning Experiences
Residents participate in the following longitudinal experiences:
1. Medication Safety and Policy
Residents complete a 16-week longitudinal experience focused on medication safety, drug information, formulary management and policy development. Each resident completes:
- One major comparative medication review or abbreviated MUE
- Two minor projects (e.g., protocol review, drug shortage planning, policy updates) based on system needs
2. Medication-Use Evaluation (MUE)
Using a “flipped” model, residents are assigned an MUE project developed by the previous class. Residents design data collection tools, analyze results and present findings to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Abstracts are submitted to ASHP mid-year and presented at the conference as a poster presentation. Residents will present their findings at the Methodist Research Symposium in April. In the latter half of the year, residents will work to identify topics and complete MUE write-ups for the next class.
3. Service and On-Call
PGY1 residents provide clinical and operational service approximately every fourth weekend (about 26 shifts per year) and complete two evening shifts per four‑week block (about 26 shifts per year). Residents also participate in on‑call coverage for approximately six weeks annually.
While on site, residents respond to Code Stroke and Code Blue activations, gaining experience in emergency response, rapid medication preparation and interdisciplinary communication.
4. Research
Each resident completes a yearlong research project, including dedicated project time in December. Results are presented at the Midsouth Residency Conference in the spring.
5. Required Presentations
PGY1 residents are required, at a minimum, to complete three primary presentations at various time points during the residency year: a one-hour CE presentation, a 30-minute residency conference presentation and a 30-minute presentation to a physician group.
6. Precepting
Residents serve as the primary preceptor for a student learner during one rotation, developing skills in teaching, coaching and evaluation.
Salary and Benefits
- Approximate salary: $47,000 (paid bi‑weekly)
- Free badge-accessed, covered garage parking
- Private office with dual screen monitors
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Pharmacy Affiliated Instructor
- Institutional and university resources, including drug resources, medical journal access and other clinical databases
- Additional benefits include health insurance, pet insurance, paid time off, bereavement and conference/travel support