Application and Selection Process | Program Responsibilities| Program Benefits
Application and Selection Process
Program Responsibilities
Program Benefits
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Application and Selection Process
Q: How do I apply for an NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) residency?
A: The application process includes a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, reference letter waiver, curriculum vitae, and professional school academic transcripts to Wendy Hui. You must also register for the ASHP Residency Matching Program and schedule an interview.
Q: How many students apply to your residency and how many do you accept each year?
A: We receive approximately 3-8 applications for 1 position.
Q: Do I have to go to the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting to apply to your program?
A: Attendance at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting is not a requirement of the application process. Instead, it is an opportunity to meet with representatives from our program, ask questions, and get a broader perspective of what we offer.
Q: How do I schedule a site visit and interview?
A: Once you have submitted the required application paperwork, you will be contacted by the residency program director to schedule an interview. Interviews are conducted starting the middle of January through the end of February.
Q: Since I am attending the residency showcase at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, is it necessary to have an on-site interview?
A: Yes, an on-site interview is required because:
Interviews for the pharmacy residency program are also NOT conducted at the Midyear Clinical Meeting because it would detract from other educational opportunities.
Q: If I do go to the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, does that increase my chances of getting the residency?
A: Each application is reviewed against the same set of criteria. Attendance at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting is not part of those criteria.>
Q: Do you prefer in-state students or those who have had a rotation at NorthShore?
A: We require that our residents be eligible for licensure or already licensed in the state of Illinois. No preference is given to candidates based on prior rotations, ethnic background, religion, pharmacy school, state of birth or any other demographic data.>
Q: What are you looking for in a potential candidate?
A: The pharmacy residency program at NorthShore would like to hire pharmacists with high academic standing and favorable recommendations that have demonstrated commitment and ambition in their previous positions. We also consider work experience, career goals, and communication skills as important factors in our selection process.
Q: When will the selection process for residencies occur?
A: The results of The Residency Matching Program are usually available at the end of March. Applicants will be sent a letter of agreement from the residency program director, which must be signed and returned as acknowledgement of acceptance.
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Program Responsibilities
Q: How would you describe the residency?
A: The PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency is a collaborative approach to learning. Resident work closely with their preceptors, physicians and nurses to fully explore the focus area in an effort to maximize the experience.
Q: What are you training the resident for?
A: The PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency trains pharmacists to practice in oncology in primarily the ambulatory setting. Post-residency it is expected that our candidates will be qualified to sit for the BCOP exam.
Q: What rotations are required? How are rotations scheduled?
A: Each residency includes required rotations and elective rotations. Each rotation is scheduled in conjunction with the preceptor based on the availability of a slot and a preceptor in each area. Scheduling is flexible and non-competitive.
Q: What is a "project"?
A: A project may include any of several different activities including writing a newsletter article, developing a clinical pathway, presenting at journal club, evaluating drug utilization, presenting at P&T, staffing drug information, or presenting case studies. A “major” project is required and must be presented at the Great Lakes Residency Conference. The major project is guided by an advisor and generally takes several months to complete. The major project must be completed and written in a format suitable for publication in order to receive a residency certificate.
Q: Is there project time scheduled?
A: Each resident is given office time to work on their projects. The time allocation is flexible and appropriate for each project. It is up to the discretion of each preceptor as to when a resident has project time during each rotation.
Q: What types of presentations are required?
A: The major project presentation will take place at the Great Lakes Residency Conference. Other presentations may include, but are not limited to, journal club, case studies, and P&T reviews.
Q: How is resident performance evaluated?
A: Residents are evaluated by the preceptor during, and at the end of each rotation. A computerized evaluations system allows the resident to read comments prior to a discussion with the reviewer.
Q: What are the staffing/service requirements?
A: PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy residents work in the cancer clinics and are expected to provide comprehensive clinical services working closely with the medical staff to ensure appropriate drug therapy. There is no weekend or on-call rotation.
Q: How much interaction do the residents have with their preceptors?
A: Daily interaction occurs between residents and their preceptors although the department maintains an open door policy that allows residents access to their preceptors at any time necessary.
Q: How much interaction do the residents have with the program director?
A: The program director will review and provide constructive feedback on research and other projects on an almost daily basis. While the program director is available to the residents if needed, most interactions occur between the resident and their preceptors.
Q: Is the residency affiliated with any university, pharmacy school, or PharmD Program?
A: NorthShore is an academic health system affiliated with University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. Although there are several pharmacy schools in the Chicagoland area, our program has no direct affiliation.
Q: What teaching opportunities do the residents have?
A: Residents have the opportunity to mentor pharmacy students that are on rotation during pharmacy school. The hospital usually has 2 to 3 students on rotation at all times during the school year.
Q: What is the resident's obligation to the hospital after completing a residency?
A: We like to keep in touch with past residents to follow their successes, but pharmacy residents have no obligation to the hospital after completing their residency.
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Program Benefits
Q: Where will I work after completing my residency?
A: Completion of a pharmacy residency program opens the door to many different employment opportunities. We will work with our residents to help find the opportunity that best suits their interests and skills. Past residents have found positions that use their residency training to it’s fullest. More than half of them have stayed at NorthShore and are working in our oncology service.
Q: What opportunities are available at NorthShore?
A: NorthShore employs over 65 pharmacists and managers in a variety of roles. Residents have access to employment opportunities before the search is taken to the public and can apply for an open position in the final month of their residency.
Q: What is the salary?
A: The salary is competitive and adjusted annually.
Q: What are the benefits?
A: Benefits include Healthcare, Tax deferred Annuity, CE funding and more.
Q: What resources are available for residents to attend professional meetings?
A: The program pays for your attendance at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and the Great Lakes Residency Conference and visit other hospitals/health systems.
Q: Do residents have a library and other resources available?
A: Residents are provided with a computer with access to e-mail, Intranet, Internet, Lexi-Comp (drug information), Ovid (electronic library), and Epic (electronic health records). In addition to the computer resources, NorthShore has a full service library and provides lab coats, malpractice insurance, pagers, and a mail slot for each resident.
Q: Do residents have any work space?
A: A special office space, located adjacent to the clinical pharmacists office, is allocated for use by the residents. Each resident has their own computer, work space and file drawers.
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