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 52-week postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency positions and three postgraduate year three (PGY2) positions — one PGY2 emergency medicine pharmacy (in candidate status), 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 started July 2023 and is in 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

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.

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

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.

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.


Core oncology pharmacy rotations (four weeks, six 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 (four 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 (financially supported)


Contact information

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

Residency Program Director, Oncology Pharmacy

garrett.john@scrippshealth.org

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 research publications and presentations (PDF, 160 KB).

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.

Scripps Mercy Pharmacy Residents Celebrate Graduation June 2023

A group photo taken outdoors of the 2022-2023 Scripps Mercy Pharmacy Residency Graduates.

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

Residency showcase 

Virtual Open House – All Pacific Standard Time


PGY1 program:


Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 from 3-5:30 pm PST

Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 from 3-5:30 pm PST


Sign up: Please contact the PGY1 residency program director (RPD) Dr. Sikand for an appointment.


PGY2 programs:


  • Psychiatric Pharmacy: Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 from 3-5 pm PST
  • Oncology Pharmacy: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 from 3-5 pm PST
  • Emergency Medicine Pharmacy: Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 from 3:30-5:30 pm PST


To attend, please contact the respective PGY2 RPDs to schedule an appointment.


Personalized meetings to answer your questions about the program after you have had a chance to review our website. 


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. Titova (titova.viktoriya@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 ASHP Residency Showcase in 2023. ASHP Showcase will be Monday afternoon, December 4, 2023 at Booth #4019. 

How to apply

The Pharmacy Practice Residency is a 52-week commitment starting on July 1 (PGY1) and approximately July 22 (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 Microsoft Teams or onsite interview.