Residencies

All PGY2 residents receive the same benefits regardless of individual program. These include: Health Care, Professional Development Funds and paid resident time off. Please refer to the “Time Off” information below for additional details.

Time off for vacations, professional meetings, interviews, sick time, or other reasons is given to each resident in a “bank” called the RTO. The following is available to each resident:

1. On a pro-rated monthly basis, according to university policy and procedures, PGY2 residents accrue 22 vacation days and 15 sick days yearly. Any time away from the residency program, including vacation, interviewing, and conference attendance, must come out of the 22 accrued vacation days.
2. Eleven holidays (e.g., July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Memorial) are provided to PGY2 residents.
3. To comply with ASHP residency accreditation standards, residents may not be away from the residency program for more than 37 days throughout the 12-month training period. Time away from the residency program includes vacation time, sick time, and holidays. Any unused vacation days will be paid out to the PGY2 resident upon completion of the 12-month training period.
4. Residents may use no more than five vacation days in one month without prior approval from the RPD and preceptor for extenuating circumstances. For residents with 3-month or longitudinal learning experiences, vacation days within each quarter must not exceed 25% for the same scheduled learning experience. Also, to maintain that this is a 12-month program, PGY2 residents must not take vacation for the last day of work (June 30th, or the last Friday in June). Per University of Colorado policy, vacation and sick time is not available during the first month of starting the program because it is accrued monthly. However, vacation time during the first month may be granted under exceptional circumstances after consultation with, and approval by, the RPD. Such requests must be made well in advance, i.e., at least four weeks before starting the program. Residents should also keep in mind that any days off taken during the first month of the program may be considered leave without pay. In addition, residents will be required to use vacation days to be accrued in the future for any delay in starting the residency program after July 1.
5. Vacation days must be used for any days during attendance of an off-site professional conference (e.g., ASHP, Residency Conference) that fall during the normal business week.
6. Additional guidelines regarding the use of time off with respect to institutional service (i.e., staffing), vacation and holidays are developed at the discretion of the RPD and can be found in the Program Design/Overview document for that specific program.

PGY2 residents provide many types of service to UCH and the CU School of Pharmacy. Specific requirements and opportunities vary somewhat between programs, but generally include clinical service, staffing (see FAQ below), support of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and participation on other committees and working groups, provider education, patient education, precepting of pharmacy students and PGY1 residents, classroom-based teaching and facilitating in the school’s PharmD program, participation in quality improvement initiatives, and conduct of research projects that add new knowledge regarding the optimal care of patients.

• Individual PGY2 programs may be a bit different regarding specific selection processes and screening or evaluation tools. However, submitted applications are generally reviewed by program-specific groups consisting of the residency director, residency coordinator, preceptors, and current PGY2 residents. The selection groups review the application materials (letter of intent, curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation) in order to select candidates for on-site interviews. Following the interviews, these same groups evaluate candidates and determine rankings for the ASHP PGY2 match.
• PGY2 programs may participate in Early Commitment when suitable candidates are identified from among PGY1 residents participating in UCHealth residency programs. Our Early Commitment policies are in accordance with procedures and timelines required by ASHP and the National Match Service.
• The University of Colorado and UCHealth are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers. No applicant shall be discriminated against because of the individual’s race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic.

The traditional interview format is a one-day onsite experience. Many programs have more than one candidate on-site for the interview day where you have the opportunity to meet current residents, preceptors, and visit the clinical site(s). Most programs also require a presentation (please contact the individual program for more details). We will monitor the pandemic situation and make a choice that is right for everyone. When we have had to transition to virtual interviews we have maintained a similar interview template. An on-site, in-person interview is preferred, however, virtual interview requests will be considered.

Many of our PGY2 programs will be participating in the 2022 PPS in Las Vegas. Please consult the position listings available to registered applicants through PPS, or email the Residency Program Director of the specific program to determine whether they will be participating this year.

Each program is a bit different. However, each PGY2 resident line that is fully funded through the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) has a 320-hour service commitment. Typically half of this is accomplished through clinical projects that support UCH and the other half is traditional staffing related to the specialty area. For the programs that have more than one PGY2 resident, the staffing model is different because funding is obtained through resources outside of UCH. Please ask the program director for more specific answers.

We encourage all of our PGY2 residents to complete the Colorado Pharmacy Residency Teaching Certificate Program (CPRTC), which is delivered by the CU School of Pharmacy faculty. Many PGY2 residents will have already completed a teaching certificate program during their PGY1 residency; in this case the PGY2 resident is not required to complete the CPRTC but may still participate if they choose. Additional information is available on our website. We are proud of this program which is of high quality and has a long history of success.

Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor visas for international residents. Visas cost the programs significant fees for which we are not allocated funding. Applications are welcome from non-U.S. citizens with a green card or current visa that will be valid throughout the residency year. Applicants must have graduated with a PharmD degree from an AACP-accredited college of pharmacy.