Pharmacy PGY1 Residency Program

About the program

Overview

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is located within the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus and is a 200-bed tertiary care facility that serves over 75,000 patients.  We provide almost 1 million encounters and process over 1,600,000 prescriptions annually. 

Our ASHP-accredited PGY1 Residency consists of two residents and is a 12-month program which starts in late June/early July. It is designed to provide professional training in various clinical rotations, inpatient and outpatient pharmacy services, pharmacokinetic dosing, patient education and counseling, and administrative services. We offer opportunities to participate in direct patient care as a provider in a number of clinical settings such as geriatrics, palliative care, ambulatory care, internal medicine, infectious diseases, critical care, mental health, oncology/infusion clinic, investigational drugs, and many more. We also provide a longitudinal, comprehensive research experience and a wide variety of teaching opportunities. Additional projects and activities throughout the year are designed to assist with the residents’ development as a skilled clinical pharmacist and achievement of both the residents’ personal and residency-specific goals.

Purpose statement

This PGY1 residency program builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for PGY2 pharmacy residency training. 

The pharmacist completing this residency will be equipped with the knowledge base and experience to practice as a clinical pharmacist capable of providing exemplary patient care and functioning as a strong leader in the profession.  The pharmacist will be able to effectively and confidently communicate assessments and recommendations to interdisciplinary team members and to the patient.  The pharmacist will be able to identify and prioritize patients who may significantly benefit from their services, providing the patients with comfort and counseling as appropriate.

Program goals

• Provide safe and effective patient care services following the Pharmacist’s Patient Care Process outlined by the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners.
• Provide patient-centered care through interacting and facilitating effective communication with patients, caregivers, and stakeholders.
• Promote safe and effective access to medication therapy.
• Participate in the identification and implementation of medication-related interventions for a patient population (population health management).
• Conduct practice advancement projects.
• Demonstrate leadership skills that contribute to departmental and/or organizational excellence in the advancement of pharmacy services.
• Demonstrate leadership skills that foster personal growth and professional engagement.
• Provide effective medication and practice-related education.
• Provide professional and practice-related training to meet learners’ educational needs.

Residency components

Current PGY1 residents

Benefits

Compensation

• $47,995 (2024-25), paid bi-weekly
• Additional fee-based salary for required weekend staffing

Leave

• Annual Leave: 4 hours per pay period, or 13 days per year
• Sick Leave: 4 hours per pay period, or 13 days per year
• Federal Holidays: 11 paid holidays
• Paid administrative leave may be approved for VA-approved professional travel

Travel

• Reimbursement to attend approved educational meetings (funding permitting)

Health

• Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) eligible for health insurance

Other Benefits

• Office workspace
• Comprehensive health sciences library
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free parking

For more information regarding benefits, please visit OPM.gov

Application information (Match # 122913)

Applicant requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• Pharm.D. graduate of an ACPE-accredited pharmacy program in the U.S.
• Active pharmacist’s license or eligibility for future license (must be licensed through any U.S. State Board of Pharmacy within 90 days of starting the program)
• Registration online with the National Matching Service and using the shared PhORCAS/Match registration portal
• Adherence to all rules of the ASHP Resident Matching Program Process

Required materials

• Completed PhORCAS application
• Letter of Intent
• Curriculum Vitae
• Transcripts from Doctor of Pharmacy coursework
• Three standardized PhORCAS references

Interview requirements and scheduling

• Interview is required (on-site preferred)
• All candidates will be notified of their interview status by the end of January

Completed applications must be submitted via PhORCAS by 11:59 p.m. on Jan.  2. 

For questions regarding the application process, please contact: 

Jennifer Bird, Pharm.D., BCPS, CACP
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program director
Oklahoma City VA HCS (119)
921 NE 13th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Phone: 405-456-2538
Email: jennifer.bird@va.gov