Pharmacy residencies

The Oscar G. Johnson VA is excited to offer two PGY1 Pharmacy residency positions at our main Iron Mountain, Michigan Campus. Our program offers a wide variety of ambulatory care opportunities in addition to long-term care and an inpatient acute care experience at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. These experiences are sure to create a well-rounded clinical pharmacist practitioner ready for clinical service. Our PGY1 program is fully ASHP accredited.

During the residency year, residents will learn skills to effectively outline and perform medication use evaluations. Throughout the course of this one-year program, residents will further develop drug information, administrative, time management and organizational skills to aid in the practice of pharmacy. Verbal and written communication skills will be enhanced. In addition, residents will be required to design, conduct and complete project throughout their residency year. This project should be suitable for publishing. Project proposals are reviewed by the medical center’s research department and deemed research (which requires Investigational Review Board (IRB) approval) or process improvement (which is exempt from IRB). Projects will be presented at an annual pharmacy conference where the resident will have the opportunity to do both a poster and podium presentation if selected. 

The OGJ VAMC PGY1 Program has a strong commitment to the ensuring that the PGY1 experience is customized to meet the future career goals of the resident. To demonstrate that commitment, PGY1 residents are allowed to tailor the length of some of their rotations, required and elective, to best match the interests of the resident and what needs the resident has to achieve those future career goals. Each rotation has a defined number of weeks in the experience from which the resident may choose. A minimum number of weeks reflects what the program believes to be adequate to understand the practice setting and achieve related rotation goals and objectives. For example, a resident interested in pursuing a PGY2 or career in ambulatory care may choose to maximize the amount of weeks spent in Primary Care, or choose to do a longitudinal elective while doing fewer experiences in administrative rotations.

Consideration is also given to schedule the rotations in which residents have the most interest early in the residency year. It is important that residents have that exposure up front prior to considering future career goals and/or PGY2 residencies. Residents’ interests may be fluid throughout the residency year, and at times changes are made to the residency schedule during the year based on newfound interests. As a result, no two residents will have the same rotation schedule; no two residents will have the same residency experience. The OGJ VAMC experience is about meeting the needs of the resident and their future path in Pharmacy. The Pharmacy Resident Manual shows an example schedule, but this is tailored at the beginning of each academic year for each resident and is fluid throughout the academic year.

Program Goal
To foster development of knowledge, skills, and values in preparation for patient-oriented pharmacy practice.

Clinical Training

• Required Rotations
   -  Pharmacy Orientation
   -  Pharmacy Operations
   -  Anticoagulation
   -  Formulary Management
   -  Primary Care (PACT)
   -  Mental Health
   -  Pain Management

The philosophy of the Oscar G. Johnson  VA Residency Program is to meet the personal and professional goals of the residents while providing pharmaceutical care to the patients. Elective rotations may be completed in various specialty areas. Additional opportunities may be available based upon preceptor availability and resident interest.  

• Elective Rotations
  -  Substance Use Disorder
  -  Home Based Primary Care
  -  Internal Medicine at the Clement J. Zablocki VAMC in Milwaukee, WI
  -  Geriatrics
  -  Palliative Care
  -  Pharmacy Informatics
  -  Antimicrobial Stewardship
  -  Pharmacy Administration
• Required rotations my also be repeated as an advanced elective.
• Longitudinal Responsibilities

Residents have several longitudinal responsibilities throughout the residency year that include:
      -  Pharmacoeconomics/Medication Use Evaluation
      -  Residency Project
      -  ACPE presentation

PGY1 Pharmacy Practice:

Residency Program Director
Kristin Halla, PharmD, BCACP
Kristin.halla@va.gov

Residency Program Coordinator
Katy Zeier, PharmD, BCPP
Kathryn.zeier1@va.gov

• Competitive salary
• Medical insurance
• Free parking
• 11 federal holidays
• Days off for illness/medical appointments/family care
• Annual leave (Vacation)
• Tuition and travel support for professional conferences

Applications are due on January 5, 2025. 

PHORCAS CODE 296713

Applicant Requirements: 

• Graduate of an American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) accredited School of Pharmacy with a Pharm.D. or equivalent degree or a school with candidate status from ACPE.
• U.S. citizenship (requirement to be employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs)
• Register and participate in the ASHP Residency Matching Program

Application Process & Requirements: 

• Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) must be used to submit electronic application.
• Log  on to PhORCAS for more information.
• Information required by PhORCAS includes demographics, curriculum vitae (CV), transcripts, letter of intent and letters of recommendation. 

Selection of Candidates: 

• Criteria considered by the residency selection committee include: PhORCAS application, knowledge of professional practice, communication skills, ability to apply theory to practice, leadership ability, interest in the program, confidence, and maturity.
• Virtual interviews will be offered, but candidates are welcome to contact us if they would like a facility visit.