Frequently Asked Questions
How is the resident's year organized?
The first two weeks of the residency is orientation during which the residents rotate through different areas of the hospital., learn the pharmacy's computer systems, explore potential research projects and medication usage evaluations (MUEs), and obtain BLS and ACLS certifications. A Foundations in Direct Patient Care learning experience is the first clinical learning experience scheduled after orientation and allows the resident to learn the fundamental clinical and operational services provided by pharmacy in a structured, supervised setting to develop core competencies in patient care. Additional clinical or administrative learning experiences will be scheduled after the Foundations in Direct Patient Care experience on a monthly basis.
What transcripts are required when applying?
The applicant should submit college of pharmacy transcripts
How flexible is the program with electives?
During the residency, some residents discover new areas of interest. The program is very flexible in adapting the residency experience to accommodate the resident's interests and goals. Elective learning experiences are available off-site if the desired experience is not available at Houston Methodist Hospital.
How are the residents evaluated?
The resident is provided with a list of goals and objectives for each learning experience. The preceptor provides frequent verbal feedback and completes a midpoint and final evaluation of the resident. The evaluation form is developed from ASHP's Residency Learning System (RLS). On a quarterly basis, the residency program director provides the resident with an evaluation of their progress. The objective of the frequent evaluations is to provide constructive feedback to the resident on their progress to maximize the opportunity for learning.
Is the resident required to do oral presentations?
The residents are required to do formal and informal presentations on a monthly basis. The presentations can be in the form of inservices to the nursing or medical team or formal presentations such as a one hour ACPE-accredited continuing education program. In addition, platform presentations of the project will occur at hospital meetings and conferences.
What teaching opportunities are available?
Houston Methodist Hospital is a major clinical teaching site for students from regional, national and international colleges of pharmacy including but not limited to the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Texas A&M, Lebanese American University and University of The Incarnate Word. Residents have opportunities to assist in the teaching of students from multiple disciplines including pharmacy, medicine, nursing, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Opportunities for didactic teaching exist in the local colleges of pharmacy.
Do residents receive support to attend professional meetings?
Support is available for required meetings such as the Midwest Pharmacy Residents Conference, and ASHP Annual Summer Meeting. Support to attend additional meetings is determined on an individual basis.
Do residents have library privileges?
Residents have access to The Houston Methodist Library (located on the first floor of the Main Building M155) as well as many electronic resources including over 12,000 journals, 3,000 e-books and 40 subscription databases and applications. A few of the popular databases are: Micromedex, Clinical Pharmacology, Lexi-Comp, Natural Medicine, Dynamed, Clinical Key and Up-To-Date, which are available from the hospital, as well as remotely through an application or the hospital’s VPN.
What types of positions have former residents accepted?
Our residency programs produce highly skilled pharmacists capable of many different types of positions when they graduate. Several of our residency graduates have attained a diversity of positions including clinical specialists, PGY2 residency positions, academic faculty, fellowships, and pharmacy management. Previous HM pharmacy residents have included a former ASHP president, numerous residency program directors, directors of pharmacy, local pharmacy chapter officers, and other successful leadership positions.
What is the average cost for housing in Houston?
You should expect to pay $1500/month for a one or two bedroom apartment if you live in the Texas Medical Center area. Housing in outlying areas is less expensive but results in longer commute times. Most residents choose to live closer to the hospital.
What is there to do in Houston?
Houston is the fourth largest city in the nation and as such has an abundance of recreational opportunities. Evenings out can include professional sporting events such as the Houston Astros, Texans, Rockets, or Comets games. Discounted tickets are often available since Methodist is the official health care provider for many of the teams. An abundance of local multicultural activities exist such as the season of festival, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Broadway musicals.
The first two weeks of the residency is orientation during which the residents rotate through different areas of the hospital., learn the pharmacy's computer systems, explore potential research projects and medication usage evaluations (MUEs), and obtain BLS and ACLS certifications. A Foundations in Direct Patient Care learning experience is the first clinical learning experience scheduled after orientation and allows the resident to learn the fundamental clinical and operational services provided by pharmacy in a structured, supervised setting to develop core competencies in patient care. Additional clinical or administrative learning experiences will be scheduled after the Foundations in Direct Patient Care experience on a monthly basis.
What transcripts are required when applying?
The applicant should submit college of pharmacy transcripts
How flexible is the program with electives?
During the residency, some residents discover new areas of interest. The program is very flexible in adapting the residency experience to accommodate the resident's interests and goals. Elective learning experiences are available off-site if the desired experience is not available at Houston Methodist Hospital.
How are the residents evaluated?
The resident is provided with a list of goals and objectives for each learning experience. The preceptor provides frequent verbal feedback and completes a midpoint and final evaluation of the resident. The evaluation form is developed from ASHP's Residency Learning System (RLS). On a quarterly basis, the residency program director provides the resident with an evaluation of their progress. The objective of the frequent evaluations is to provide constructive feedback to the resident on their progress to maximize the opportunity for learning.
Is the resident required to do oral presentations?
The residents are required to do formal and informal presentations on a monthly basis. The presentations can be in the form of inservices to the nursing or medical team or formal presentations such as a one hour ACPE-accredited continuing education program. In addition, platform presentations of the project will occur at hospital meetings and conferences.
What teaching opportunities are available?
Houston Methodist Hospital is a major clinical teaching site for students from regional, national and international colleges of pharmacy including but not limited to the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Texas A&M, Lebanese American University and University of The Incarnate Word. Residents have opportunities to assist in the teaching of students from multiple disciplines including pharmacy, medicine, nursing, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Opportunities for didactic teaching exist in the local colleges of pharmacy.
Do residents receive support to attend professional meetings?
Support is available for required meetings such as the Midwest Pharmacy Residents Conference, and ASHP Annual Summer Meeting. Support to attend additional meetings is determined on an individual basis.
Do residents have library privileges?
Residents have access to The Houston Methodist Library (located on the first floor of the Main Building M155) as well as many electronic resources including over 12,000 journals, 3,000 e-books and 40 subscription databases and applications. A few of the popular databases are: Micromedex, Clinical Pharmacology, Lexi-Comp, Natural Medicine, Dynamed, Clinical Key and Up-To-Date, which are available from the hospital, as well as remotely through an application or the hospital’s VPN.
What types of positions have former residents accepted?
Our residency programs produce highly skilled pharmacists capable of many different types of positions when they graduate. Several of our residency graduates have attained a diversity of positions including clinical specialists, PGY2 residency positions, academic faculty, fellowships, and pharmacy management. Previous HM pharmacy residents have included a former ASHP president, numerous residency program directors, directors of pharmacy, local pharmacy chapter officers, and other successful leadership positions.
What is the average cost for housing in Houston?
You should expect to pay $1500/month for a one or two bedroom apartment if you live in the Texas Medical Center area. Housing in outlying areas is less expensive but results in longer commute times. Most residents choose to live closer to the hospital.
What is there to do in Houston?
Houston is the fourth largest city in the nation and as such has an abundance of recreational opportunities. Evenings out can include professional sporting events such as the Houston Astros, Texans, Rockets, or Comets games. Discounted tickets are often available since Methodist is the official health care provider for many of the teams. An abundance of local multicultural activities exist such as the season of festival, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Broadway musicals.