Overview
UConn Health is a health care system, hospital, and branch of the University of Connecticut that encompasses clinical care, advanced research, and academic education. The primary location of UConn Health is John Dempsey Hospital (JDH) in Farmington, Connecticut. JDH is a 234-bed academic medical center affiliated with the UConn School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine.
The PGY1 pharmacy residency program at JDH began in 1974 and earned full accreditation status in 2013. The hospital has a strong affiliation with the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in Storrs, Connecticut, through its many preceptors located on-site, its teaching certificate program for residents and preceptors, and its co-precepting opportunities for pharmacy students.
Rotation Components
Required Rotations
- Orientation
- Administration
- Critical Care/ICU
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
- Medication Safety
- Oncology/Infusion Pharmacy
Elective Rotations
- Ambulatory Care II with clinical focus
- Ambulatory Oncology Clinic
- Critical Care II
- Emergency Medicine
- Internal Medicine II
- Primary Care II with academia focus
- Specialty Pharmacy
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Cardiology
- Geriatric Clinic
- Informatics
- Medication Safety II
- Pain/Palliative Care
- Psychiatry
Staffing Requirements
- Every fourth weekend (8-hour shift)
- 1 evening per week (6-hour shift)
- Rotating Friday evening every fourth week (6-hour shift)
- 2 holiday shifts
Longitudinal Components
- Staffing
- Medication Use Policy and Formulary Management
- Primary Care Clinic
- Anticoagulation Clinic
- Leadership/Personal and Professional Development
- Research and Scholarship
- Teaching and Learning Certificate
Presentations
Residents will be expected to complete multiple clinical pearls/in-service education presentations, 1 preceptor development presentation, and 1 knowledge-based continuing education presentation or didactic lecture.
Committee Involvement
Residents are expected to attend monthly pharmacy and therapeutics committee meetings, monthly Residency Advisory Committee meetings, and quarterly Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee meetings together with other committees as they pertain to relevant rotations.
Research
Each resident is required to complete a research project and write a report that is suitable for publication. Research involves the collection and analysis of either prospective or retrospective patient data and culminates in a final presentation given at the Eastern States Conference. UConn Health uses a flipped research model, where current residents at the end of their tenure initiate a project and ensure institutional review board approval before handing off the project to the incoming resident class.
Teaching/Precepting
Together with the required completion of a teaching and learning certificate throughout the residency year, residents will participate as co-preceptors to pharmacy students during many of their residency blocks. Precepting opportunities may include didactic lectures/presentations, modeling, coaching, and evaluation.
Why UConn Health?
UConn Health is a unique blend of a larger health system’s opportunities and experiences, with the cozy feeling of a smaller institution. Staff across the system appreciate and engage with the pharmacy department in a wide variety of experiences and involvement. In this academic medical center, learners of various disciplines across the spectrum are present and encouraged in virtually all activities.
I chose UConn Health largely because of the wide variety of learning experiences available, the welcoming environment, and the encouraging preceptors of all disciplines. UConn Health has a wonderful residency program, and I hope you consider this program as you do your research! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Social Media
Instagram: @UConnHealthRx
Twitter/X: @UConnHealthRx
Training Program Video: https://youtu.be/LphcC31dYpI
Website: https://health.uconn.edu/pharmacy/residency
Program Director: Gillian Kuszewski, Pharm.D., BCPS, University Director of Pharmacy Residency Programs, [email protected]
Submitted by: Molly Csere, PGY1 Pharmacy Resident at UConn Health, [email protected]