Frequently Asked Questions

How is your program structured?

Each pharmacy resident has the opportunity to complete ten different one-month rotations, July is devoted to orientation, and December is reserved for working toward completion of residency projects. Required PGY1 Pharmacy rotations include: ambulatory care, critical care, internal medicine, medication use policy, pharmacy management, and pharmacy operations. Ambulatory care may be taken longitudinally, allowing for completion of an additional one-month rotation, if desired. Our PGY1 Community-based Pharmacy, PGY1 Managed Care Program with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, PGY1 Managed Care Program with University of Michigan Prescription Drug Plan, PGY1/2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration, PGY1/2 Investigational Drug Services/Research Pharmacy and each PGY2 specialty residency program have specific rotation requirements. Applicants are encouraged to visit our website for a more comprehensive list of available rotations.

What PGY1 residencies and PGY2 specialty residencies do you offer?

How many residents do you accept?

The composition of the residency class changes each year. This year, our residency program includes twelve PGY2 residents in various specialty practice areas, twelve PGY1 Pharmacy residents, one PGY1 Community Pharmacy resident, four PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residents (two PGY1, two PGY2), two PGY1/PGY2 Investigational Drugs and Research residents (one PGY1, one PGY2), and two PGY1 Managed Care Pharmacy residents.

Do you have personal resident space?

Our residents share office space in the pharmacy clinical office area. Each resident has their own personal workspace and laptop. The office space is located in Victor Vaughn House near the Medical School on the hospital campus. 

What sort of teaching responsibilities do you have?

Our residents receive an adjunct clinical instructor appointment with the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. In this role, residents assist clinicians with precepting PharmD students on clinical rotation and serve as co-instructors for several unique one semester courses in our PharmD curriculum. In addition, some of our PGY2 specialty residents receive additional opportunities to lecture in courses at the College of Pharmacy. We also offer an optional teaching certificate program which provides additional teaching experience and seminar workshops.

What research projects and writing projects do you complete?

Residents are required to complete a research project within the year. An abstract for the project will be presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting at the Vizient Poster Session during December. The results of the project will be presented at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference in the spring. Residents are also required to complete a writing project in collaboration with a preceptor. Writing projects are comprehensive reviews (either review articles or case series) that are suitable for publication and often qualify as continuing education programs.

What is the staffing requirement?

Each PGY1 resident is required to work an average of two weekends per month. The resident spends one weekend per month staffing operations in a central pharmacy, both in the adult and pediatric hospitals. The other weekend includes providing clinical coverage which currently includes anticoagulation, nutrition, and pharmacokinetic coverage. Each PGY2 resident is required to work up to 15 weekends per year, providing anticoagulation, nutrition, bacteremia, and pharmacokinetic coverage to the adult hospital. The Pediatric PGY2 resident provides weekend clinical coverage including anticoagulation, bacteremia, and pharmacokinetic coverage exclusively in Mott Children’s Hospital. The oncology PGY2 residents provide service in the Cancer Center infusion pharmacy. The PGY2 Ambulatory Care and PGY1 Community Practice residents provide pharmacy services in one of our community pharmacies during the weekends. The PGY1 Managed Care resident has prior authorization responsibilities on weekends. The PGY2 Emergency Medicine provides weekend coverage in the adult and pediatric emergency departments. 

How do I get a complete application packet?

All application materials should be submitted via the PhORCAS web portal. 

You can also read more about the process on this website at How Do I Apply?

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline for all residency programs is January 2, 2024

When does the residency program(s) start?

PGY1 Pharmacy, PGY1 IDRP, and PGY1 HSPAL residents start Monday, June 17, 2024

PGY1 Community, PGY1 Managed Care, and all PGY2 programs: Monday, July 1, 2024

Do you financially support visas?

U-M Health pharmacy residency programs are unable to financially support visas.

What is the resident's stipend and benefit package? 

PGY1 resident salary is annually $50,000 and PGY2 resident salary is annually $52,000. Residents are paid monthly. Residents may also moonlight for pharmacist salary, but are restricted to approval by residency preceptors and program directors. 

Pharmacy residents are eligible to receive the following benefits:

  • Medical, prescription, disability, and retirement
  • 15 days of paid time off to be used for personal time, sick time or interviews
  • Business time is given for ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference, Resident Trip, along with one PGY2 specialty conference. 
  • Financial support for ASHP Midyear, Great Lakes Residency Conference, and PGY2 specialty conference 
  • Half-day Fridays monthly for wellness (except November and December)
  • Medical and extended leaves of absences from the program
  • Work from home opportunities and remote agreements for non-direct patient care rotations and research month in December
  • Embroidered white coat
  • Access to free workplace counseling
  • Access to free statistician office
  • Personalized access and training in SPSS and RedCAP software
  • Dedicated laptop computer and desk space

Do candidates from certain schools receive preferred application review? 

No. Applicants from all ACPE-accredited programs are welcome and encouraged to apply!