Pharmacy Residency FAQs

Program Information

How many positions do you offer each year?
We currently accept four (4) PGY1 residents each year.

What is the accreditation status of your program?
We are fully accredited through ASHP. Our next accreditation survey will take place in 2024.

What are the application criteria?
Applicants are required to have a Pharm.D. and be licensed in Ohio by September of their residency year. Academic transcripts, curriculum vitae, a letter of intent and three letters of recommendation will all be taken into consideration.

Do you offer H-1B Visa sponsorship?
We do not sponsor visas at this time.

Do you accept F-1 Visa with OPT applicants?
Yes if expected graduation date is in May or June just prior to the start of the residency year and at least a full 12 months of OPT time is available. Please submit OPT application as early as possible (90 days prior to graduation). 

Do you accept TN-1 Visa applicants?
Yes. We will provide an appropriate employer letter shortly after Match Results Day. We are unable to provide funding for any processing fees and suggest either paying for premium processing or applying at the border to ensure approval prior to the scheduled first day of residency (typically at the end of June). 

Do you emphasize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? Will I be welcome and supported by your program and healthcare system?

We strive for diversity in our residency and boast graduates from diverse ethnic, racial, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We also welcome residents from different schools of pharmacy including non-traditional and pass/fail programs. As of the 2022 match cycle we have not matched with a Visa holder however we have interviewed candidates from several other countries and are looking forward to the Match Day that allows us to welcome a resident who is not a US citizen.

Our program follows the Aultman Diversity Statement and our residents are encouraged and supported to participate in Aultman diversity initiatives throughout the residency year.

Finally, our residents have the opportunity to care for a diverse racial and socioeconomic patient population through the required inpatient and ambulatory care rotations. Resident have the option of expanding their care to additional patient populations through elective opportunities.

What additional characteristics are you looking for in a resident?
We place a high priority on communication skills (both written and verbal), teamwork, flexibility and adaptability. The ideal resident has a solid knowledge base with excellent critical thinking skills but understands that he/she is still learning and portrays a humble and teachable attitude. We are looking for hard-working, self-motivated candidates who are able to function independently and take initiative when needed.

Do you offer shadowing experiences or other opportunities to interact with your residents and preceptors?

Limited Shadowing Experiences

Due to hospital policy, shadowing experiences require 6 weeks advance notice to set up.  A limited number of shadowing days may be available during the months of April, May, early June, October, and November only for students in their final 2 years of pharmacy school (P3s and P4s for 4 year programs, P5s and P6s for 6 year programs).  Non-holiday weekday shadowing is encouraged as both residents and preceptors are working.  Weekend shadowing only has residents available.  To set up a shadowing experience, please email us your request and available days about 2 months prior to your desired time.

Virtual Resident Tours and Chats

We also host an Virtual Resident Tours and Chats in November and December that all residency applicants are encouraged to attend. Residents will provide tours of the resident spaces, give additional program information and answer candidate questions. Information about the Virtual Resident Chats will be available on our website under News and Recruitment every October.

Onsite Tours with a Resident

Private Onsite Tours with a Resident are offered in December to residency applicants. Residents will provide candidates with a tour of the main campus, additional program information, answer candidate questions, and introduce candidates to any preceptors and faculty that are available.  Information about the Private Onsite Tours will be available on our website under News and Recruitment every October.

Residency Showcases and Career Fairs

Finally, a select number of our residents and preceptors attend various residency showcases and other activities each year.  Check our News and Recruitment page to see where to find us next.

How do I apply?
We accept applications only through PhORCAS.

What happens after I apply?
A percentage of applicants will be selected for an on-site interview. On average we are only able to interview about 50% of our applicants due to time constraints.  Interview offers are made in early January and interviews are scheduled in January and February.

Is an onsite interview required?
Onsite interviews are strongly preferred when offered. The residency program follows the state of Ohio and hospital guidelines regarding gatherings and access to the hospital campus. If onsite interviews are not permitted, interviews will be converted to a virtual format for the entire interview season.

What should I expect on interview day?
For onsite interviews: We will likely be interviewing multiple candidates the same day. Candidates will be interviewed by pharmacy managers, residency faculty and clinical staff in a panel interview setting. In addition, candidates will be evaluated on their clinical knowledge in a simulated patient encounter. Candidates will also have the opportunity to interact with our staff and tour through several areas of the hospital. Lunch will be provided and interview days will last approximately 5 hours.

For virtual interviews: live video interviews with pharmacy managers, residency faculty and clinical staff panels will be conducted. Candidates will also be evaluated on their clinical knowledge through a patient case. Finally candidates will have the opportunity to interact with one or more residents.

Do you have any electives?
Yes. The following electives are available as one month rotations: Cardiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Infusion, IV Room Management, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Rural Health. Please note that either Critical Care or Emergency Medicine are required. Many of the required rotations may be repeated for an advanced learning experience in that area as well including Advanced Administration, Advanced Critical Care, Advanced Emergency Medicine, Advanced Infectious Disease, and Advanced Teaching.  In addition, we offer a 1 month elective rotation in Ambulatory Care in affiliation with Alliance Community Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program that will take place at the Alliance campus.

Do pharmacy residents directly manage patients?
Yes. Pharmacy residents are credentialed to participate in the ambulatory care clinic Collaborative Practice Agreement and for managing inpatient protocols including Vancomycin, Aminoglycosides, Penicillin Skin Testing, Renal Dosing, and IV-PO Conversion.

What ambulatory care experiences are available for pharmacy residents?
The required 12 week longitudinal ambulatory care rotation is in the My Community Health Center, a FQHC managed primarily by the medical resident programs. Pharmacy residents are scheduled to see patients under a collaborative practice agreement and directly write prescription and lab orders to manage patient pharmacotherapy.

An elective 1 month ambulatory care rotation is available through the MEDS Clinic at Aultman Alliance Community Hospital which is a pharmacist run clinic responsible for managing chronic disease states in an interdisciplinary environment alongside dietitians and nurse educators.

How are resident rotation schedules determined and are they flexible?

Residents are asked to choose their elective choices as soon as possible to ensure preceptor availability for top choice rotations. We make every effort to schedule top choice rotations for residents considering a PGY2 prior to December. Residents are asked about their elective choices and the rotation schedule is updated quarterly to accommodate as many requests as possible. Residents typically get their preferred rotations but early selection is key to ensuring all choices are scheduled.

What is unique about your program?
Our clinical pharmacy staff is a close knit group even though we are part of a large regional hospital. We also have a diverse collection of clinical specialty areas and interests.

Is your program affiliated with any universities?
The residency program is not formally affiliated with any universities. We do have preceptors that serve as adjunct faculty at Northeast Ohio Medical University and Walsh University. Many of our preceptors also take IPPE and APPE students from most area schools of pharmacy. Pharmacy residents often have opportunities with Aultman College through serving as invited speakers for conference events or tutoring nursing students.

What hours can I expect to work and how many weekends will be required?
Residents will be expected to be on rotation with their preceptors and hours will vary depending on the clinical service. Residents will staff every other weekend and one weekday afternoon every other week.  On average residents work about 55-60 hours per week.

What type of clinical practice environment(s) does your program offer?
Each rotation is slightly different but most include interdisciplinary rounds and bedside patient education. Pharmacy services are in high demand at Aultman and are typically well received by prescribers and nurses.