Frequently Asked Questions

How is your program structured?

Generally, 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. Please see the individual program websites for any deviations.

Required PGY1 Pharmacy learning experiences include: orientation, ambulatory care, critical care, internal medicine, medication use policy, pharmacy practice management and research (December), 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 program specific websites for a more comprehensive list of available learning experiences.

Which PGY1 and PGY2 residency programs do you offer?

How many residents do you accept?

The composition of the residency class changes each year. This year, our residency program includes the following:

  • PGY1 Pharmacy: 12 residents
  • PGY1 Community-Based: 1 resident
  • PGY1 Managed Care - BCBSM: 1 resident
  • PGY1 Managed Care - UMPDP: 1 resident
  • PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership: 4 residents (two PGY1s, two PGY2s)
  • PGY1/PGY2 Investigational Drugs and Research (one PGY1, one PGY2)
  • PGY2 Ambulatory Care: 2 residents
  • PGY2 Cardiology: 1 resident
  • PGy2 Critical Care: 1 resident
  • PGY2 Emergency Medicine: 1 resident
  • PGY2 Oncology: 2 residents 
  • PGY2 Pain / Palliative Care1 resident
  • PGY2 Pediatrics1 resident
  • PGY2 Psychiatry: 1 resident
  • PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant1 resident

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?

The PGY1 Pharmacy, PGY1 HSPAL and PGY1 IDRP residents will  work an average of two weekends per month in a mix of clinical and operational shifts. Operational shifts include cleanroom, product review & checking, and order verification and will be completed in the adult or children & women's hospital. Clinical shifts include anticoagulation, nutrition, and pharmacokinetic coverage.

Each PGY2 resident is required to work 15 weekends per year in an area closely tied to their practice area. The PGY2 Cardiology, Critical Care, Pain & Palliative, Psychiatry and Solid Organ Transplant residents will provide clinical coverage as outlined above. The PGY2 Emergency Medicine provides weekend coverage in the adult and pediatric emergency departments. 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 HSPAL PGY2 residents complete clinical and operational shifts while the The IDRP PGY2 will staff an average of 1 research pharmacist dispensing shift per week.

Please see individual program websites for full details.

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, 2025

When does the residency program(s) start?

PGY1 Pharmacy, PGY1 IDRP, and PGY1 HSPAL residents start: June 16, 2025

PGY1 Community, PGY1 Managed Care, and all PGY2 programs start: 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 program directors and preceptors. 

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, Resident Trip and PGY2 specialty conference 
  • Five program wellness days (3 in Fall and 2 in Spring)
  • 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!