FAQ
How are the residents selected?
Resident selection involves an application process and an onsite interview. Interviews are held in January and February of each year. As an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited program, participation in the Resident Matching Program is mandatory. An early commitment process is available for current Houston Methodist PGY1 residents.
How is the resident’s year organized?
The first month of the residency involves orientation during which the resident will spend time training in various intensive care units (ICU), learn the pharmacy’s computer systems and technology, become BLS- and ACLS-certified (if not already), explore potential research projects and quality improvement processes to evaluate and identify the ACPE-accredited program topic to be performed during the residency year.
Clinical rotations are based on calendar months and may be one to two months in duration. Core ICU experiences include: cardiovascular surgery (CVICU), coronary care unit (CCU), medical (MICU), general surgery and liver (SLICU) and neurosurgery (NICU). Two months are designated as research and management months. Two clinical elective rotation months are available and include offerings in bone marrow transplant, emergency department, infectious diseases, mechanical circulatory support devices and solid organ transplant. Additional time in the above listed core rotations is available if a resident is interested. See elective rotation here.
How are the residents evaluated?
Regular verbal and written feedback is provided to the resident throughout each rotation and during the year. The resident is provided with a list of goals and objectives for each rotation and completes a self-evaluation on these at the end of each rotation. The preceptor completes a final evaluation of the resident during the rotation as well. The evaluation forms are developed from the ASHP’s residency competency areas, goals and objectives using the ASHP online PharmAcademic system. 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.
What teaching opportunities are available?
Houston Methodist maintains an affiliation with Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian Hospital and is a major clinical teaching site for doctor of pharmacy students from the Colleges of Pharmacy at Lebanese American University, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston, University of Texas at Austin and University of the Incarnate Word. Houston Methodist residents have opportunities to assist in the teaching of students from multiple disciplines, including pharmacy, medicine, nursing and physician assistants. The PGY2 residents will also work closely with and mentor the PGY1 pharmacy residents. The resident will serve as the primary preceptor for a College of Pharmacy student in one rotation.
Opportunities for didactic teaching are available within the local colleges of pharmacy. A teaching certificate program is offered as part of the Houston Methodist and University of Houston College of Pharmacy affiliation for residents interested in such a focused training experience.
Is support provided for residents seeking board certification?
PGY2 residents are not eligible to take the Board Certification in Critical Care Pharmacy until they have completed their PGY2 residency. Although financial compensation is not provided, study groups may be formed yearly in which they are able to partake in the study process with others sitting for the exam. These opportunities vary year to year depending on those interested in sitting for the exam.
Are all of the residents from Texas or Texas schools of pharmacy?
No, Houston Methodist considers all residency applicants and strives for diversity in the educational backgrounds of the residents.
Do residents receive support to attend professional meetings?
Financial support is provided for all required meetings including ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Texas Medical Center Critical Care Research Forum, and Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Annual Congress held in January or February. This includes hotel accommodations, airfare, conference registration and meals.
Do residents have library privileges?
Residents have access to The Houston Methodist Library (located on the first floor of the Main Building, room 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 Houston Methodist residents accepted?
Our residency programs produce highly skilled pharmacists capable of many different types of positions when they graduate. Several of our residency graduates (PGY1/PGY2) have attained a diversity of positions, including clinical specialists, academic faculty and pharmacy management. Previous residents have included a former ASHP president, residency program directors, director 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 or more per 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 Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston Dynamo, or Houston Dash games. Houston’s music and art scene includes: Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, and Broadway at the Hobby Center. Discount tickets to some of these venues/events may be found on YouDecide.
Resident selection involves an application process and an onsite interview. Interviews are held in January and February of each year. As an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited program, participation in the Resident Matching Program is mandatory. An early commitment process is available for current Houston Methodist PGY1 residents.
How is the resident’s year organized?
The first month of the residency involves orientation during which the resident will spend time training in various intensive care units (ICU), learn the pharmacy’s computer systems and technology, become BLS- and ACLS-certified (if not already), explore potential research projects and quality improvement processes to evaluate and identify the ACPE-accredited program topic to be performed during the residency year.
Clinical rotations are based on calendar months and may be one to two months in duration. Core ICU experiences include: cardiovascular surgery (CVICU), coronary care unit (CCU), medical (MICU), general surgery and liver (SLICU) and neurosurgery (NICU). Two months are designated as research and management months. Two clinical elective rotation months are available and include offerings in bone marrow transplant, emergency department, infectious diseases, mechanical circulatory support devices and solid organ transplant. Additional time in the above listed core rotations is available if a resident is interested. See elective rotation here.
How are the residents evaluated?
Regular verbal and written feedback is provided to the resident throughout each rotation and during the year. The resident is provided with a list of goals and objectives for each rotation and completes a self-evaluation on these at the end of each rotation. The preceptor completes a final evaluation of the resident during the rotation as well. The evaluation forms are developed from the ASHP’s residency competency areas, goals and objectives using the ASHP online PharmAcademic system. 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.
What teaching opportunities are available?
Houston Methodist maintains an affiliation with Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian Hospital and is a major clinical teaching site for doctor of pharmacy students from the Colleges of Pharmacy at Lebanese American University, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston, University of Texas at Austin and University of the Incarnate Word. Houston Methodist residents have opportunities to assist in the teaching of students from multiple disciplines, including pharmacy, medicine, nursing and physician assistants. The PGY2 residents will also work closely with and mentor the PGY1 pharmacy residents. The resident will serve as the primary preceptor for a College of Pharmacy student in one rotation.
Opportunities for didactic teaching are available within the local colleges of pharmacy. A teaching certificate program is offered as part of the Houston Methodist and University of Houston College of Pharmacy affiliation for residents interested in such a focused training experience.
Is support provided for residents seeking board certification?
PGY2 residents are not eligible to take the Board Certification in Critical Care Pharmacy until they have completed their PGY2 residency. Although financial compensation is not provided, study groups may be formed yearly in which they are able to partake in the study process with others sitting for the exam. These opportunities vary year to year depending on those interested in sitting for the exam.
Are all of the residents from Texas or Texas schools of pharmacy?
No, Houston Methodist considers all residency applicants and strives for diversity in the educational backgrounds of the residents.
Do residents receive support to attend professional meetings?
Financial support is provided for all required meetings including ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Texas Medical Center Critical Care Research Forum, and Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Annual Congress held in January or February. This includes hotel accommodations, airfare, conference registration and meals.
Do residents have library privileges?
Residents have access to The Houston Methodist Library (located on the first floor of the Main Building, room 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 Houston Methodist residents accepted?
Our residency programs produce highly skilled pharmacists capable of many different types of positions when they graduate. Several of our residency graduates (PGY1/PGY2) have attained a diversity of positions, including clinical specialists, academic faculty and pharmacy management. Previous residents have included a former ASHP president, residency program directors, director 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 or more per 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 Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston Dynamo, or Houston Dash games. Houston’s music and art scene includes: Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, and Broadway at the Hobby Center. Discount tickets to some of these venues/events may be found on YouDecide.