ZSFG pharmacy residency FAQ

We seek candidates who are flexible, proactive, and have a positive attitude. We value strong knowledge and teamwork. Our ideal candidate thrives in our hospital, clinical settings, and pharmacy department, and is passionate about serving our patient population. We also aim to build a diverse, fair, and inclusive workforce to enhance health outcomes and minimize healthcare disparities for our patients.

We plan to conduct interviews on selected dates from late January to February. If selected for an interview, we will notify you.

• To be eligible for the PGY1 residency programs, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.1, if your pharmacy school issues grades
• Performance during your Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations and high quality of the letters of recommendation from your clinical preceptors are also very important

Unfortunately our program does not sponsor H-1B Visa, F-1 Visa, or TN-1 Visas.  Non-US and US citizens who graduate from a foreign school of pharmacy are required to achieve Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification before applying for a pharmacy licensure exam or California state board of pharmacy license. 

There is a possibility of being hired as a full-time employee depending on the availability of positions and your performance during your residency year.

The PGY1 programs will prepare you for the following:

• Acute care clinical pharmacist
• Ambulatory care clinical pharmacist
• Specialized PGY-2 residency position

This PGY2 program will prepare you for the following:

• Psychiatric clinical pharmacist in ambulatory care
• Psychiatric clinical pharmacist in acute care

Residents who have completed the PGY1 program have gone on to pursue the following: 

• PGY2 residencies in Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Psychiatry, Cardiology, Pain & Palliative Care, Pediatrics
• Careers as clinical pharmacists specializing in:
  • Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Cardiology/Critical Care, Pain Management, Internal Medicine

Residents who have completed the PGY2 in Psychiatry have taken the following types of jobs:

• Psychiatric clinical pharmacist in
  • Inpatient psychiatry
  • Inpatient consultation liaison
  • Psychiatric emergency emergency services
  • Ambulatory care
• Neurology clinical pharmacist in inpatient

• PGY1 pharmacy practice residents: staff every third weekend in inpatient pharmacy. Following your weekend staffing, you will have one day off during the week.

• PGY2 resident: staff one weekend per month in inpatient pharmacy. Following your weekend staffing, you will have one day off during the week.

• PGY1 Ambulatory care resident: one weekday every other week in the outpatient pharmacy.

Yes, schedule changes are possible. But, any changes will be subject to preceptor availability.

Extending a rotation is possible, depending on preceptor availability.

Yes, residents will have a laptop computer and desk space. They will also have access to our campus medical library.

You must obtain your California pharmacist license by October 29th. Residents who do not possess a California pharmacist intern license will be required to obtain one before starting their residency.

ZSFG residents will have priority in selecting rotations before they are opened to residents from other institutions such as UCSF, Touro University, and the VA who wish to rotate at our hospital and clinics.

You are welcome to sign up for additional staffing shifts through the registry if you wish to work extra hours in addition to your assigned staffing commitment.

Residents will be required to engage in teaching activities for hospital and clinic staff, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.  Furthermore, residents will have the opportunity to serve as mentors for pharmacy students who are completing their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) and Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) rotations at ZSFG and associated clinics.  This teaching and mentoring role will allow residents to contribute to the professional development of their peers and foster a collaborative learning environment within the healthcare team. Residents also will complete a teaching certificate program through UCSF.

Yes, ACLS/BLS training will be provided. While residents are on rotations in the hospital, they will be expected to cover code blue shifts throughout the year.  Residents are also expected to attend codes during their Emergency Medicine rotation and any rotations through the ICU.  In addition, residents will participate in a longitudinal simulation curriculum with the UCSF Residency Training Program to increase confidence and competence during emergent situations.  Residents will visit the Kanbar Center for Simulation and Clinical Skills, a high-fidelity simulation center within UCSF, to participate in four simulation lab sessions throughout the residency year.  

ACLS training will not be required for the ambulatory care resident or PGY2 psychiatry resident.  There is no expectation for the resident to respond to codes in the clinics. 

If you have your own research project idea that aligns with the residency program's requirements and expectations, we will provide support and guidance to help you develop and execute it successfully as your yearlong residency project. However, if your project idea doesn't meet the necessary qualifications, we will work with you to come up with an alternative research topic that fits within your area of interest and meets the residency program's standards. The goal is to ensure that you have a meaningful and valuable research experience during your residency.

• Residents will complete a 5-week small group session on designing clinical research throughout their residency year in order to develop an IRB-approved protocol.
• Sessions will include:
  • Study design
  • Study subjects and measurements
  • Sample size, confounders, and data management
  • Presentation skills
  • Manuscript writing

Residents will receive financial support to help cover their travel expenses to professional meetings. 

ZSFG aligns with ASHP's dedication to clinician well-being and resilience. To address burnout, our residency program organizes quarterly off-campus gatherings for residents and preceptors, promoting a sense of community. Past events encompassed activities like attending Giant's baseball games, bowling, rollerblading, dinners, and so much more! Also, we operate a mentorship program, pairing residents with pharmacist mentors, prioritizing resident mental health and well-being. ZSFG is also a member of the Bay Area Residency Network (BARN), facilitating monthly networking events with other residency programs in the Bay Area. 

Yes, our clinical pharmacists round with their services. ZSFG is a teaching hospital for UCSF residents and physicians. Most teams are interdisciplinary consisting of an attending physician, medical residents and interns, and sometimes medical students. Our pharmacists also work closely with our nurses and social workers. 

In a few short words: dynamic, collaborative, innovative, and easygoing.

Under the collaborative practice agreement, clinical pharmacists have the authority to manage medications for patients with any chronic disease they have been diagnosed with, in the clinic setting. These pharmacists are recognized as credentialed providers.  Prescriptions and lab orders can be issued under their names. 

In the hospital setting, some of our clinical pharmacists practice under a collaborative practice agreement, allowing them to order inpatient medications and labs.  We also have a number of per pharmacy protocols, including vancomycin and renal dose adjustment.  Under these protocols, our inpatient and clinical pharmacists are able to initiate and dose vancomycin based on drug levels and renal function.

The pharmacy department at the hospital is known for its high productivity and collaborative approach, although there may be some traditional tensions between different disciplines. Once relationships are built, they are very strong. Pharmacy has a significant influence within the structure of the hospital's committees and core clinical services, including the ED, ICU, Infectious Diseases, and Family and General Medicine services. Pharmacists also have presence in hospital and system-wide committees.

Pharmacists in the ambulatory care clinics are well respected and fully integrated into the care team in order to collaboratively care for patients. Providers and other care team members refer patients to pharmacist visits, and pharmacists have their own schedules which are often completely full. 

It's worth noting that over the past 10 years, the Consultant of the Year Award, typically given to a physician, has been awarded to three of our pharmacists for their exceptional work in their respective areas: Kristin Harter (Women's Health), Ed Lor (Pain), and Christina Wang (Cardiology/Anticoagulation). Curt Geier (Emergency Medicine) has been honored with the San Francisco Emergency Medical Services Hospital Provider award.  Additionally, Anusha McNamara has received the “Excellence in Primary Care” Award for her achievement in ambulatory care.  These recognitions showcase only a fraction of the significant contributions and impact of pharmacists within the hospital and clinic’s healthcare teams.  

With the expansion of pharmacy services in our new acute care facility, which opened in May 2016, we have implemented a system that efficiently caters to our patients’ needs.  Our distribution model includes a large centralized inpatient pharmacy, ensuring prompt and accurate medication dispensing, preparation, and delivery for our hospitalized patients.  Additionally, we have established pharmacy satellites in the Emergency Department (ED) and Operating/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (OR/PACU) areas. 

For pharmacy practice residents, there will be a learning experience in the centralized inpatient pharmacy. Ambulatory care residents, on the other hand, will have a learning experience in the outpatient pharmacy. Each resident will be assigned an experienced preceptor who will guide them through this process and provide valuable feedback.

At the beginning of their training, residents will work collaboratively with a pharmacist to ensure a smooth transition and create a supportive learning environment. As they progress and obtain their pharmacist license, they will gradually take on independent staffing responsibilities. This training approach prepares them to handle pharmacy operations efficiently and effectively.

Our hospital holds a unique position as the exclusive Level 1 Trauma Center for San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. What makes us distinct is the diverse range of patients we serve, including those with significant psychiatric and substance abuse issues, indigent patients, and a considerable HIV population. Additionally, we take pride in having the sole psychiatric emergency center in San Francisco.

In 2019, the ZSFG hospital and clinics successfully implemented EPIC as its electronic health record (EHR) system.

Pharmacy residents have chosen to live in various neighborhoods in San Francisco, including those close to the hospital, such as the Mission, Potrero Hill, Noe Valley, and Mission Bay. Some residents have opted to live near a UCSF shuttle stop, in neighborhoods, such as the Inner Sunset.

The cost of rent varies depending on factors like having a roommate or not. San Francisco's diverse neighborhoods offer a range of living options, each with its unique character and amenities.

Ultimately, where residents decide to live depends on their preferences and needs, as well as their desired proximity to the hospital and convenience in accessing other parts of the city. The variety of neighborhoods allows each resident to find a living situation that aligns with their lifestyle and preferences.

Learn more about parking options here. The closest BART station is on 24th and Mission, and it's a 20 minute walk to the hospital or there is a shuttle. There are also several bus routes, and San Francisco is very bikeable.