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Virtual Care

Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency

Pharmacy residency programs at Scripps Mercy

Residents of the Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency program.

Pharmacy residency programs at Scripps Mercy

Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego offers four 12-month postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency positions and three postgraduate year two (PGY2) positions — one PGY2 emergency medicine pharmacy, one PGY2 psychiatric pharmacy and one PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency position.


The PGY1 program has been fully accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) since 2002. The PGY2 program in psychiatric pharmacy enrolled their first resident in 2017 and is fully accredited. The PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency started on July 27, 2020 and is also fully accredited. The PGY2 emergency medicine pharmacy starts July 2023 and is in pre-candidate status. We are affiliated with four pharmacy schools and train more than 100 medical, family practice, trauma and podiatry residents as well as more than 30 fourth-year PharmD candidates each year.

Please note: Some of the footage and images in this video were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scripps is currently following all CDC guidelines, and has implemented special protocols, to keep our facilities safe for our patients and staff. Read more about our precautions or watch the video. 

Program highlights

The Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program offers residents a challenging academic experience in a progressive environment that prepares residents for leadership roles in the pharmacy profession. Clinical and distributive services are provided by full-time, unit-based pharmacists — many of whom have advanced clinical training. Scripps Mercy’s pharmacists enjoy sharing their breadth of knowledge by precepting both pharmacy residents and students.


  • The pharmacy department is open 24/7 and includes a main pharmacy, oncology infusion center, 11 clinical pharmacist practice settings, nine satellite locations and telepharmacy services. 
  • More than 30 clinical pharmacists on staff provide a broad range of clinical services, carry out pharmacist-driven medication protocols, staff our oncology infusion center, and teach pharmacy students, medical and pharmacy residents. 
  • Pharmacy residents have direct access to pharmacy faculty, are integrated into the medical teaching program and are considered “house staff” with similar privileges as medical residents.
  • Residents complete a broad depth of clinical rotations tailored to individual experience, interests and career goals, and each resident may participate in programs throughout Scripps’ five campus locations. 
  • Residents conduct IRB-approved research, present at international and national meetings, and have the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate.

Academic affiliations

We have academic affiliations with the following pharmacy schools:


  • University of California, San Diego
  • University of California, San Francisco
  • University of Southern California
  • University of the Pacific

Message from director

Harminder Sikand, Clinical Director of Pharmacy Services and Director of Pharmacy Residency Program.

Message from director

Hear directly from the residency program director about what to expect from this pharmacy residency program.


Harminder Sikand, Pharm D; FCSHP, FASHP, FCCP, Director of Clinical Services and Residency Programs

Read a message from director

Thank you for your interest in the Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program. Scripps Mercy is the oldest and largest hospital in San Diego County. We provide both primary care and tertiary care to our patients. Our tertiary care ICU is one of the busiest and highest-acuity ICUs in the county. Our emergency department is a certified STEMI center and Stroke Center and services our Level 1 Trauma Center patients.


The Department of Pharmacy is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Clinical pharmacy services are provided throughout the hospital with distribution originating in the main pharmacy. Clinical and distributive services are provided by more than 30 full-time unit-based clinical pharmacists, many with advanced clinical training.


The Department of Pharmacy, in conjunction with Scripps Mercy physicians and nurses, is committed to delivering a top-quality education experience.


The residency year is the most exciting year of your pharmacy career. It is filled with a steep and exhilarating learning curve. Although this year is challenging, it is an experience we hope you will think back on fondly as you embark on your resident journey.


Please take an opportunity to further review our web content and learn why Scripps Mercy Hospital is an excellent place to begin or continue your training.


Warmly,

Harminder Sikand, PharmD, FCSHP, FCCP, FASHP

Director of Clinical Services and Residency Programs

Rotations and teaching sites

The Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency Programs are uniquely situated in a variety of acute care settings, which exposes residents to the highest-quality learning experience possible.

PGY1 pharmacy residency

The Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program builds upon the knowledge and skills residents acquired during their student internships and clerkships. Clinical rotations as well as centralized and decentralized staffing are a critical part of the learning experience and include specific learning objectives.


PGY1 postgraduate year one:


Core rotations (four weeks, unless specified) 


  • Orientation
  • Internal medicine
  • Transitions of care 
  • Infectious diseases
  • Emergency medicine
  • Medication safety (two weeks)
  • Critical care
  • Trauma


(Core rotations may be repeated as an elective offering.)


Elective rotations 


  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Neurocritical care
  • HIV/HCV clinic
  • Oncology
  • Palliative care
  • Psychiatry
  • Nephrology
  • Neonatal intensive care*
  • Bone marrow transplant*


*Offsite rotations


Longitudinal experiences 


  • Clinical administration
  • Staffing: 20 weekend days including one major and one minor holiday
  • Teaching certificate
  • Precept students (P4)

 

Committee participation 


  • Pharmacy and Therapeutics
  • Medication Safety
  • Antibiotic Stewardship
  • Residency Interview Committee
  • Clinical Practice Council


Academic Teaching


  • UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy therapeutic case conferences 
  • Presentation of noon conference to medical residents
  • Primary Preceptor of fourth-year Pharmacy APPE Rotation


Residency travel (pending COVID pandemic restrictions)


  • ASHP midyear


Contact information

Harminder Sikand, PharmD, FCSHP, FASHP, FCCP

Director of Clinical Services and Residency Programs 

sikand.harminder@scrippshealth.org

PGY2 emergency medicine pharmacy residency (pre-candidate status)

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego is the county’s longest-established medical center and an academic teaching hospital, STEMI receiving center, Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center and a Level I Trauma Center. The emergency department is one of the busiest in San Diego, which sees approximately 75,000 patients annually in the heart of downtown San Diego.


The emergency department has over 25 medical attendings, five nurse practitioners and three pharmacist attendings along with medical residents who rotate through the program. The trauma service consists of six attending trauma surgeons, medical residents as well as trauma fellows.


This specialized residency will train the resident to practice independently as an emergency medicine pharmacist specialist in a variety of practice settings such as adult emergency medicine, medical ICU, surgical ICU, pain and palliative care, and infectious disease along with a variety of elective rotations. The resident will precept students and PGY1 residents on emergency medicine rotations.


Core rotations (four weeks, unless specified) 


  • Orientation
  • Emergency medicine I, II, III
  • Emergency medicine trauma
  • Medical intensive care
  • Surgery/trauma ICU
  • Infectious disease
  • Neurocritical care (two-week rotation)


Elective rotations (four weeks each)


  • Pain and palliative care
  • Cardiology consult service
  • Cardiothoracic ICU*
  • Pediatrics*
  • Toxicology*


*Offsite rotation


Longitudinal rotations


  • Projects: research project/medication use evaluation/formulary monograph
  • Staffing: 16 weekends throughout the year plus one major and one minor holiday 
  • Teaching Certificate Program SDPRL (elective)

  

Committee participation 


  • PGY2 Residency Interview 
  • ED Supervisory Committee
  • Stroke Committee
  • Disaster Preparedness Committee
  • Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
  • System ED Careline 
  • Pharmacy Clinical Practice Council  


Academic teaching


  • UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy therapeutic case conferences  
  • Student topic discussions throughout the year
  • Grand Rounds Conference to medical residents and pharmacists
  • Pharmacy Morbidity and Mortality Pharmacy Conference 
  • Primary Preceptor of fourth-year Pharmacy APPE Rotation or PGY1 Resident


Residency travel (pending COVID pandemic restrictions)


  • One meeting a year (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear or American College of Clinical Pharmacy) 


Contact information 

Andrew Smith, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, BCCCP

Residency Program Director, Emergency Department

Emergency Medicine Pharmacist Specialist

smith.andrew@scrippshealth.org

PGY2 psychiatric pharmacy residency

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego has one of the oldest psychiatry services in San Diego County. Our 15 attending psychiatrists care for more than 13,000 inpatients annually. We have a critical care psychiatry unit as well as an acute care adult and geropsychiatric inpatient program. The psychiatric liaison team provides psychiatric evaluation and triage services to the Scripps Health system 24/7.


Family Health Centers of San Diego – Mental Health Services, affiliated with Scripps Health, manages patients with mental health and substance use disorders on an outpatient basis. A-Visions vocational training program, in partnership with the San Diego Mental Health Association and Visions program, helps decrease the stigma of mental illness by integrating members back into society.


The pharmacy resident will have the opportunity to participate in all settings described above.


Core rotations (4 weeks, 6 weeks*)


  • Orientation 
  • General psychiatry I *
  • General psychiatry II * 
  • Chemical dependence substance use disorders I 
  • Neurology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Mood and psychosis
  • Emergency medicine
  • Psychiatry consult service


Elective rotations (four weeks)


  • Academia 
  • Chemical dependence and substance use disorders II
  • Geriatrics 
  • Pain and palliative care
  • Psychiatry consult service II
  • Transitions of care
  • VA psychiatry clinics


Longitudinal rotations


  • Projects: research project/medication use evaluation/formulary monograph
  • Staffing: 16 weekends throughout the year plus one major and one minor holiday 
  • Teaching Certificate Program SDPRL (elective)


Longitudinal clinics


  • Family Health Centers of San Diego — Mental health services (half day weekly)
  • UCSD free clinic — psychiatry and neurology (monthly)
  • Pain & psychiatry management (monthly)


Committee participation 


  • PGY2 Residency Interview
  • Pharmacy and Therapeutics 
  • Psychiatry Supervisory 
  • Clinical Practice Council
  • Behavioral Health Care Line  


Academic teaching


  • Student topic discussions throughout the year
  • UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy therapeutic case conferences  
  • Pharmacy Morbidity and Mortality Conference
  • Noon conference to medical residents
  • Primary Preceptor of fourth-year Pharmacy APPE Rotation or PGY1 Resident


Residency travel (pending COVID pandemic restrictions)


  • American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP)


Contact information

Kimberly Tallian, PharmD, APH, BCPP

Residency Program Director, Psychiatry 

tallian.kimberly@scrippshealth.org

PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego is the county’s longest-established medical center and an academic teaching hospital. The Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) Oncology Pharmacy Residency Program received full accreditation in 2021. The program will train the resident to practice independently as an advanced practitioner on the optimal use of medications used to treat individuals with oncological and hematological malignancies in clinical and academic settings. 


Five oncologists across the breadth of specialties practice at Scripps Mercy. The resident will practice in acute care oncology, infusion center and ambulatory care settings in a collaborative environment with Oncology fellows and medical residents. The resident will have opportunity to precept both APPE students and PGY1 residents.


The partnership between Scripps Health and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center brings a customized, multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists, carefully selected to support and treat each patient.


Core Oncology Pharmacy Rotations (4 weeks, 6 weeks*)


  • Operations
  • Inpatient Oncology I
  • Inpatient Oncology II 
  • Outpatient Infusion Center I* 
  • Outpatient Infusion Center II* 
  • Palliative care
  • Inpatient Bone Marrow Transplant I
  • North County Oncology Clinics
  • Investigational Drug Services



Elective Rotations (4 weeks)


  • Inpatient Bone Marrow Transplant II
  • Infectious Diseases emphasis in Hematology/Oncology Patients
  • Women's Health - Gynecologic oncology & Breast Cancer
  • Non-Malignant Hematology
  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • Sarcoma


Longitudinal Core Rotations


  • Staffing 16 weekends throughout the year plus one major and one minor holiday
  • Teaching certificate program (SDPRL) required unless received as PGY1
  • Clinical Administration: Research Project, Medication Use Evaluation, Formulary Review, Medication Safety Project
  • Longitudinal Clinics: (Core*)
  • Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellow Clinic*
  • Multi-Disciplinary Clinic
  • Gynecologic oncology
  • Soft Tissue Sarcoma 
  • Breast Cancer
  • Other Disease Specific Opportunities: GU, GI, Malignant Hematology


Committee participation


  • PGY2 Residency Interview
  • Pharmacy and Therapeutics 
  • Tumor Board
  • Clinical Practice Council



Academic Teaching


  • UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy Therapeutic Case Conferences  
  • Student topic discussions throughout the year
  • Pharmacology Pearls to Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellows
  • Primary Preceptor of fourth-year Pharmacy APPE Rotation or PGY1 Resident
  • Pharmacy Morbidity and Mortality Conference
  • Presentation of noon conference to medical residents 
  • Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellows Lectures 


Residency Travel (pending COVID pandemic restrictions)


  • Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association


Contact information

John Garrett, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCOP, APh

Residency Program Director, Oncology Pharmacy

garrett.john@scrippshealth.org

Scripps Mercy Hospital

Scripps Mercy Hospital is the oldest and largest teaching hospital in the San Diego area. It has two campuses: San Diego and Chula Vista. The pharmacy residency program resides on the San Diego campus, which is the primary site for the clinical education of more than 100 internal medicine, family medicine, trauma and podiatry residents, as well as medical students, other health professionals and fellows.


The pharmacy department is open 24/7 and includes a central pharmacy along with nine inpatient satellite locations, which provides pharmacy residents with a broad range of learning experiences.


  • Level I Trauma Center
  • Busiest emergency department in San Diego
  • Certified Stroke and STEMI receiving center
  • Cancer Center
  • Licensed for 700 acute care beds
  • Ranked on Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work
  • Scripps Health is ranked among the top in San Diego on the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals list and as high performing in multiple specialties.

Faculty and residents

Residents at Scripps Mercy Hospital work under the mentorship of experienced pharmacy experts who have Board Certification (BPS) in Pharmacotherapy and/or specialty area of practice. With academic scholarship at the core of the pharmacy residency program, our team is dedicated to delivering superior medical education and guidance to meet your interests and career goals.

Faculty and pharmacy department leadership

The Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Program recognizes the contributions of our faculty and administrators who successfully conduct and support quality experiential education in a completely acute care-focused clinical teaching environment.


Scripps Mercy’s clinical pharmacists enjoy sharing their breadth of knowledge by precepting pharmacy residents and students. Additionally, they provide a broad range of clinical services, follow pharmacist-driven medication protocols to ensure appropriate medication use and safety, and work collaboratively with physicians, nurses and other health care team members to deliver high-quality, efficient services to patients and staff.

Current residents

The Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency programs focus on pharmacotherapy, research, project management skills and teaching in a decentralized pharmacy setting while also preparing residents for leadership roles in the pharmacy profession. Meet your pharmacy residents:


Scripps Mercy Pharmacy Residents Celebrate Graduation June 2022

A group photo taken outdoors of the 2021-2022 Scripps Mercy Pharmacy Residency Graduates.

Research projects, presentations and publications

Scripps Mercy Hospital pharmacy residents conduct institutional review board IRB-approved research during their resident year.


The research project is chosen based on the resident’s interest and the feasibility of completion during the resident year. From inception to completion, the resident manages the research project and is required to present the abstract at a national meeting.


View a list of Scripps Mercy Hospital pharmacy resident publications and presentations (PDF, 73 KB).

Salary and benefits

The terms and conditions of resident training and employment are specified in the employment agreement that also includes training obligations, stipend and benefit provisions. The pharmacy residency manual fully describes policies, practices and procedures. Copies of the employment agreement, yearly rotation schedule and other pertinent materials are provided at the time of the interview.


The annual stipend and specific benefits are listed in the employment agreement, discussed in the residency manual and summarized below.

Annual salary

  • PGY1 pharmacy resident: $54,080
  • PGY2 pharmacy resident: $58,240

Insurance, leave and other benefits

Medical

All members of the resident staff are offered health insurance benefits for themselves and eligible dependents at a minimal cost. Medical coverage includes vision, prescription drug and chiropractic/acupuncture plans.


Dental coverage

Dental plan offers network and out-of-network coverage options. Eligible dependents can also be covered at a minimal cost.


Life insurance/AD&D

Multiple levels of employee life insurance are available, including accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. You may purchase supplemental, spousal or dependent life insurance at various levels. Long-term disability insurance is available at an additional cost. State disability insurance is paid by the resident (the state of California requires this contribution, which provides income insurance for disability due to non-job-related injury or illness).


Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Confidential, free, short-term professional counseling is available for employees and family members for issues impacting work or personal life.


Vacation

Pharmacy residents receive three weeks of paid vacation per academic year.


Meals

Pharmacy residents have access to the physician’s lounge seven days a week and food is free of charge.


Parking

Parking is provided free of charge in Scripps Mercy Hospital’s Doctor's parking structure.


Educational funds

Funds are available for references, conferences and conference attendance.


Conferences

Residents have the opportunity to attend one meeting:


  • A California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) Seminar - PGY1
  • The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Mid-Year Clinical Meeting - PGY1 and PGY-2
  • College of Psychiatric and Neurological Pharmacists (CPNP) - PGY2 Psychiatry
  • Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) - PGY2 Critical Care
  • Other conferences as deemed appropriate


Additional benefits

Pharmacy residents are also entitled to the following benefits:


  • Onsite medical library with three librarians; 24/7 access
  • Entertainment discounts
  • Gym membership discounts
  • Childcare discounts
  • Access to the Wellness Program
  • Scripps Passport entertainment discount card

Residency showcase 

Virtual Open House – All Pacific Standard Time


PGY1 program:


Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 from 2-7 pm PST


PGY2 programs:


  • Psychiatric Pharmacy: Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 from 3-5 pm PST
  • Oncology Pharmacy: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 from 3-5 pm PST
  • Emergency Medicine Pharmacy: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022 from 3-6 pm PST


To attend, please schedule an appointment.


Personalized meetings to answer your questions about the program after you have had a chance to review our website. Sessions will be no more than six individuals at a time.


Contact the individual RPD listed below to schedule time on that day:


PGY1 Pharmacy - Dr. Sikand (sikand.harminder@scrippshealth.org)


PGY2 Emergency Medicine - Dr. Smith (smith.andrew@scrippshealth.org)


PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy – Dr. Tallian (tallian.kimberly@scrippshealth.org)


PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy – Dr. Garrett (garrett.john@scrippshealth.org)


We will be at Residency showcase (PGY1 and PGY2 Emergency Medicine, Oncology, Psychiatric Pharmacy) at both ACCP Annual Meeting and ASHP Residency Showcase in 2022. ASHP Showcase will be Tuesday morning, December 6 at Booth #5516. 

How to apply

The Pharmacy Practice Residency is a 12-month commitment starting on July 1 (PGY1) and August 1 (PGY2). To be considered for the pharmacy residency program, candidates must be a graduate of an accredited college of pharmacy and eligible for California licensure. Candidates also undergo a personal onsite interview.

Apply to the Scripps Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency program

Application procedure for PGY1 and PGY2 residents:


Applicants must participate in the ASHP Match Program and apply using PhORCAS.


  • See PhORCAS for all details.
  • Your personal letter of intent should not exceed 250 words. 
  • Three letters of recommendation are required (two preferably from acute care rotations).
  • There are no additional supplemental items required.


The application submission deadline is January 1 of each year.


Interview process for PGY1 residents:


Prospective candidates will receive correspondence inviting them for an in-person or virtual interview. You must have camera and audio capability for the virtual interview and the ability to conduct the interview in a quiet space. Those attending in person will meet with the residency director, participate in a formal campus tour, spend time with current residents and interact with our pharmacist attendings. 


Please submit a passport-sized photo after you have received confirmation for an interview.


Interview dates for PGY1 2023-2024 year:


  • January 27, 2023
  • January 28, 2023
  • February 3, 2023
  • February 4, 2023


Note: Pending COVID pandemic this may convert to virtual interviews. The RPD will email all the details to individuals invited for the interview early January to define the interview process.


Interview schedule for PGY1 and PGY2 candidates (not in order):


  • Leadership team interview: 15 minutes
  • Tour with current residents: Review video on website
  • Residency advisory committee interview: 60 minutes
  • Residency Manual review and questions: PDF will be emailed in advance


Interview process for PGY2 programs that have not early committed:


The interviews will be either virtual or in-person based on the candidate’s preference. The individual RPD will email all the details to individuals invited for the interview early January to define the interview process.


Interview dates for PGY2 2022-2023 year:


PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy - February 21, 2023

PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy - February 23, 2023

PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy - February 24, 2023


Interview schedule PGY2 programs:


  • Tour: Please see video on website if you are not joining us in person
  • PowerPoint presentation by PGY2 candidate: 10 minutes
  • Residency advisory committee interview: 45 minutes
  • Residency Manual review: PDF will be emailed in advance

Who can apply

Requirements for PGY1 and PGY2 residents:


  • Matched residents must be licensed pharmacist interns prior to July 1 in the State of California
  • Matched residents must have Board Licensure exam dates set prior to the start of residency and be able to sit for exams before or during first month of residency
  • Matched residents must be licensed pharmacists in the State of California prior to October 1 (PGY1) and November 1 (PGY2)
  • Matched residents must have a current BLS certificate (AHA certified) prior to the start of the residency year
  • Note: We do not sponsor Visas. Applicants must be US citizens, US permanent residents or hold a valid EAD-employment authorization.

Contact us

If you have questions or need to make special arrangements, please contact Harminder Sikand, PharmD, at sikand.harminder@scrippshealth.org.