Pharmacy Residency FAQs

The purpose of the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at St. Peter’s Hospital is to prepare pharmacist practitioners for health-system pharmacy practice, adjunct faculty positions, or to pursue PGY-2 training in a focused area of practice. The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at St. Peter’s Hospital seeks to develop a pharmacist into a more highly trained, competent and confident health-system pharmacy practitioner. The resident will exhibit commitment to the advancement of the profession while building a solid foundation for further development of advanced clinical pharmacy practice skills.

St. Peter’s Hospital is a 442 bed acute facility with services in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, hematology/oncology, women’s & children's services, and others. St. Peter's is one of the Capital Region's largest employers and one of the largest health care organizations in upstate New York.

St. Peter’s Hospital is a component corporation of St. Peter’s Health Partners. With 11,000 employees in more than 185 locations and an annual budget of nearly $1.1 billion, St. Peter’s Health Partners is the Capital Region’s most comprehensive not-for-profit integrated health care network which provides high-quality, compassionate, and sophisticated care to thousands of people every day. St. Peter’s Health Partners is a member of Trinity Health, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems.

Four applicants will be accepted into our PGY1 pharmacy practice program. We do not offer PGY2 specialty residency training positions at this time.

Clinical pharmacy and a clinical student teaching affiliation with Albany College of Pharmacy started in the early 1970s. The pharmacy department is an active Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Pracatice Experience (APPE) site for Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and other Colleges/Schools of Pharmacy. A pharmacy practice residency training program was first established as non-accredited hospital pharmacy residency program from 1992 to 1999 and graduated several pharmacists. The original residency program did not recruit from 2000 to 2011. The pharmacy department resumed residency training with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited residency program in 2012.

Graduates of our PGY1 residency program have assumed a variety of roles in acute care and other clinical practice settings as well as successful Board Certified Pharmacotherapy  Specialist (BCPS) credentialing. Previous graduates have assumed a variety of diverse leadership roles in various professional settings.

We offer clinical services in Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Cardiac, Antimicrobial Stewardship & Infectious Diseases, Pain Management, Emergency Medicine, Ambulatory Anticoagulation Services, Ambulatory Oncology and Ambulatory Primary Care services.

The Mission of the Department of Pharmacy is to create an environment that enables pharmacists to:

• Provide Pharmaceutical Care focused on achieving positive patient outcomes through drug therapy
• Offer high-quality pharmaceutical services that foster the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of drug use
• Contribute to programs and services that emphasize the health needs of the public and the prevention of disease
• Promote pharmacy as an essential component of the health care team

St. Peter's Hospital and members of St. Peter's Health Partners provide care outside of the main campuses using various technologies. Many meetings are conducted utilizing virtual technology. Our organization utilizes Webex and Microsoft Teams to conduct small and large group virtual meetings, education sessions, data collection and much more.

All matched residents that are not a NYS Licensed Pharmacist prior to starting the residency program MUST obtain a NYS Pharmacy Limited (Intern) Permit and supply a copy to the Residency Program director prior to day one of the residency program.  Failure to have a valid NYS Pharmacy Limited (Intern) Permit will result in dismissal from the program.

Contact the program regarding licensure if you have questions on licensure.

All residents MUST be a NYS Licensed Pharmacist within 90 days of start of the residency program.

Although not required, pharmacy residents are encouraged to become a NYS Certified Immunizer. 

Pharmacists seeking to administer immunizing agents must obtain a separate certification from the New York State Education Department (SED). To become certified, a pharmacist must:

• Be currently licensed and registered in New York State
• Submit a completed Pharmacist Immunization Certification Form with the application fee to SED
• Provide evidence that he/she has completed an approved immunization course within the past three years
• Provide evidence he/she is currently certified in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS). “On-line” or “virtual” courses will not be accepted.

Requirements can be found at http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pharm/pharmimmunizations.htm.

Each resident will undergo 12 months of learning experiences, rotating through required direct patient care, longitudinal study, and two elective experiences. Core learning experiences are five weeks long. 

• Required CORE patient care rotations:
• Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
• Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
• Critical Care
• Emergency Medicine and Emergency Response
• Pharmacy Practice
• Surgery/Pain Management
• Selective: Internal Medicine – Pulmonary OR Internal Medicine – Cardiac Services

Longitudinal:

• Inpatient Central Distribution and Clinical Services (Longitudinal – 12 months)
• Project- Research/Practice Improvement (Longitudinal -12 months)
• Pharmacy Practice Management (Longitudinal – 12 months)

Two elective learning experiences are available to each resident. Choices vary depending on preceptor availability, but typically include the following:

• Ambulatory Anticoagulation Clinic
• Ambulatory Primary Care
• Critical Care 2
• Emergency Medicine 2
• Oncology
• Pharmacy Administration

At the beginning of each learning experience, residents receive a list of goals and objectives and residents and preceptors address individualized resident learning desires. During the learning experience, the resident receives formative feedback provided by the preceptor. At the end of the learning experience, the resident meets with a preceptor to review their performance. The Residency Program provides a written report assessing residents using American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP)-approved PharmAcademic. For longitudinal learning experiences, a written evaluation is provided quarterly. On a quarterly basis, the director of the residency program provides residents with an evaluation of their progress based on the preceptor's comments and an individualized training plan, which is amended as required.

The pharmacy department is an active student teaching site for Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and other Colleges/Schools of Pharmacy. The resident has the opportunity to strengthen preceptor skills by working with APPE students on various clinical educational experiences.

Additionally, as a component of the Pharmacy Practice Management (Longitudinal) Learning Experience, the resident develops and conducts a Pharmacy Grand Rounds Program for the Pharmacy staff and students of St. Peter’s Health Partners, including obtaining ACPE credit for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Utilizing a flipped research program, residents are required to design, conduct, and evaluate a major project related to an aspect of pharmacy practice, a required longitudinal learning experience.

A final written manuscript is required for successful completion of the research/project and required for residency program completion.

Presentation of the research project is required at the New York State Residency Research Forum and Trinity Health Residency Research Forum.

The resident has the opportunity to be involved in other research activities conducted by the Department of Pharmacy.

Yes, consistent with the  American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Commission on Credentialing standards, the PGY1 residency experience is primarily a practical experience in delivering the highest quality patient-centered pharmacy care service. Practice skills are developed throughout the program in all aspects in the provision of pharmaceutical care. Residents will staff one full weekend every four weeks and one four-hour shift every other weekend. Responsibilities include patient care, consultation, and distribution services.

A PGY1 resident stipend is $48,000 plus benefits. The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency position is classified as an exempt employee.

Residents receive a comprehensive benefits package, including health care, dental, contribution to tax-deferred retirement program, educational allowance, travel allowance, and paid time off during the residency year.

Sixteen days of paid leave are awarded to each resident. Days may be used for personal time, holidays, vacation, and interview days.

Funding support is provided for residents to attend the American Society of Health-System (ASHP) midyear clinical meeting, and New York State Resident and Preceptor Forum. Importantly, advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) and numerous other training opportunities are available free of charge through St. Peter's Hospital Education Department.

Residents have access to both the St. Peter’s Hospital Medical Library and the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Library.

Residents are provided a personal desk with desktop computer and cabinets in a designated office space within the pharmacy department. Each desktop computer is equipped with a headset and webcam for virtual meeting capabilities. The resident's office is also furnished with a microwave oven, coffee maker, and refrigerator. To promote collegiality, maintaining a well-stocked candy jar assures that staff will stop by for a visit.

Free parking is available, providing convenient and safe access to the hospital.

Albany, the capital of New York state, is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, approximately 150 miles north of New York City. It is included in the "Capital District" along with Schenectady and Troy, encompassing four counties with a population of over 600,000.

The Capital District hosts the New York State Museum, the New York State Theatre Institute, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Capital Repertory Company, Proctor’s Theater, and a number of galleries and historical sites. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is the summer musical venue for pop, rock, jazz, and other musical groups. An array of year-round outdoor activities abound. Fishermen and water enthusiasts will find miles of lakes, ponds, and streams throughout the area. Hiking and biking trails, golf courses, tennis courts, parks, and general recreational areas are plentiful. New York and adjacent Vermont boast the most alpine skiing slopes in the nation, including the state's prominent Olympic site at Lake Placid within a short distance for a day trip skiing adventure. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and ice-skating provide additional winter sporting opportunities. Additionally, Albany is just a short drive to the historic Saratoga Thoroughbred Race Track and the beautiful Adirondack National Park.