PGY1 & PGY2 Combined Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency Program with Masters

Residency mission statement

The mission of the specialized HSPAL residency program is to train competent, confident and independent practitioners of specialized pharmacy practice in a pediatric health-system setting. Through education, multidisciplinary teamwork and research the resident will obtain skills necessary to provide quality pharmaceutical care and function as a pharmacy leader to improve the medication use processes, quality assurance and improvement, pharmacy operations, and clinical services.

Program overview

A PGY2 health-system pharmacy administration residency builds upon PGY1 residency graduates’ competence in the delivery of patient-centered care and in pharmacy operational services to prepare residents who can assume high level managerial, supervisory, and leadership responsibilities. Areas of competence emphasized during the program include safe and effective medication-use systems, quality assurance, the management of human resources, the management of financial resources, use of technology, and advanced leadership. The residency lays the foundation for continued growth in management and leadership skills.

PGY1 program purpose

PGY1 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

PGY2 program purpose

PGY2 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions, and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

The goals of the PGY2 residency program in HSPAL are:

• To train competent pharmacists and innovative practitioners who can provide comprehensive pharmacy services in a dynamic and challenging environment
• To develop excellent written and verbal communication skills
• To train practitioners who can develop and implement drug policies, utilizing rational, safe and cost-effective drug therapy
• To educate health care professionals, students, patients and the community about appropriate medication use and safety
• To train professionals to become leaders within the profession

Program structure

Our philosophy of residency training is to offer practical experiences in diverse, multidisciplinary environments in pediatrics. Our approach in the provision of pharmaceutical care is to provide comprehensive, patient-oriented services. The combined residency program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

The practice model integrates distribution and clinical activities at the patient care level, and is supported by centralized drug distribution, support functions and management systems. Residents participate in various activities, including collection of data for medication utilization evaluations (MUEs), in-services to the staff, quality improvement projects, and management of finance, pharmacy operations, and human resources. Pharmacy residents regularly participate hospital wide committees including, but not limited to, the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, Safe Medication Practices Committee, Medication Management Steering Committee, Utilization Review Committee, and more. PGY2 residents also serve as preceptors to pharmacy students and PGY1 residents.

Year one

The first year of the program is the same as our PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. During year one, residents are engaged in dynamic learning and staffing experiences designed to foster professional growth and expertise. They receive comprehensive training across diverse patient care areas, engage in research projects, and refine their teaching skills through mentorship and academic roles with pharmacy students and healthcare practitioners. Additionally, residents are involved in pharmacy operations, including medication dispensing and distribution, inventory management, and automation technologies, while also contributing to process improvement and safety initiatives.

For information on the PGY1 program structure and requirements, please refer: PGY1 Pharmacy Page

Year two

Building on the foundational success of the first year, the second year offers residents expansive exposure to diverse managerial and leadership roles within the department. This includes in-depth experiences in finance, business operations, medication safety, clinical and operational management, compliance, quality, executive leadership, and more. Residents work closely with our director and leadership team, where they are able to gain valuable insights into strategic initiatives within pharmacy practice.

Master of Science degree program

Our program includes an elective benefit to pursue a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, with specialization in Health-System Pharmacy Administration, in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This comprehensive two-year Master’s degree program runs concurrently with the PGY1/PGY2 Combined HSPAL Program and tuition covered by the residency program. For more detailed information regarding the curriculum, please refer to the MS in Health System Pharmacy Administration page.

Stipends and benefits

Estimated stipend:

• PGY 1: $68,000
• PGY2: $89,000

Residents receive a competitive annual stipend with full benefits including an excellent healthcare benefits package, voluntary tax-deferred annuity plan and 10 days of paid time off (PTO). Please refer to our ASHP listing for more information.

Residents receive educational leave and a stipend to attend and participate in clinical presentations at a minimum of 2 conferences, which may include:

• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Leaders Conference
• ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting
• Pediatric Pharmacy Association Annual Meeting

How to apply

The application deadline for the PGY2 HSPAL Program is Monday, January 5, 2026. No applications will be accepted beyond this date.

Applicant requirements

Applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Graduate from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited PharmD degree program
2. Possess a California pharmacy intern license
3. Eligible for pharmacist licensure in the state of California http://pharmacy.ca.gov

Submitting an application

Interested applicants must complete ALL of the following:

1. Enrollment in the ASHP Resident Matching Program
2. Submit the following required documents through PhORCAS
   1. Personal statement/letter of intent - outlining career goals, areas of interest, and reasons for applying to the residency program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
   2. Curriculum vitae
   3. Official school of pharmacy transcript
   4. Three letters of recommendation submitted directly to PhORCAS
   5. Writing sample to assess quality and written communication (e.g., drug information response, case report, drug monograph, drug utilization review, manuscript, etc. PowerPoint presentations are not accepted)

Interview

After review of application materials by the residency committee, applicants will be contacted for an interview, which will take place in February. Candidates will be required to give a presentation as part of the interview process.

ASHP Resident Matching Program: This residency agrees that no person at this residency will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any residency applicant.