Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program in
Mental Health and Substance Use
Program
Type: Mental Health and Substance Use
Focus: Acute Care
Positions Available: 2
Stipend/Benefits: Per Memorandum of Agreement with Health Sciences Association (HSA) union
Vacation: 10 paid days
Start Date: September
Program Duration: 52 weeks
Application Deadline & Eligibility Requirements: Y2 Admissions
Program Overview
The LMPS Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency in Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) is a 52-week specialty training program. The Year 2 MHSU program aims to further develop candidates into advanced pharmacy practitioners with an emphasis on developing expertise in mental health and addiction. Residents will have the opportunity to be exposed to mental health, substance use and vulnerable populations in a variety of practice settings and will have the option to further explore their area(s) of interest via elective choices. Year 2 MHSU program also emphasizes clinical leadership in the specialty area, advanced teaching skills and research skills. The program builds upon the competencies established through completion of an accredited Year 1 pharmacy residency and/or a post-graduate clinical pharmacy degree. Ultimately, graduates from the Year 2 MHSU program are anticipated to be future leaders in clinical pharmacy practice, education and research. The program is designed to comply with the accreditation standards of the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) for Advanced (Year 2) Residency programs.
The Year 2 MHSU program is offered through Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services and draws on our nearly 50 years of experience providing residency training. Residents in the program will have access to a large group of highly experienced preceptors who possess advanced training and who are recognized leaders in pharmacy practice. Four of the required rotations will occur at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver, a site known for innovation in the management of patients with substance use disorders and in the care of vulnerable populations. Other rotations are hosted by expert preceptors in diverse range of practice settings aimed at providing the resident with broad experiences in mental health and substance use management and longitudinal care.
To learn more about our training sites: LMPS Training Sites
The LMPS Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency in Mental Health and Substance Use has been accredited by the CPRB since Fall 2024. Program accreditation is retroactive to prior program graduates and all successful graduates may use the ACPR2 designation.
Candidates for the Advanced (Year 2) Residency in Mental Health and Substance Use must be highly motivated learners and committed to clinical leadership, leading the profession as advanced practitioners within the health care system.
Required Rotations
Program Orientation (1 week)
4 week learning experiences:
MHSU I
MHSU II
MHSU III - final “capstone rotation”
Addiction Medicine
Urban Health Unit - Addiction and Complex Medicine
Outpatient Psychiatry
Redfish Healing Centre (concurrent disorders)
Elective Rotations
Select TWO (4 week learning experiences)
Pediatric/Adolescent Psychiatry
Opioid Stewardship
Perinatal Substance Use/Perinatal Addictions Service
Concurrent disorders
A range of other outpatient addiction clinic options
Vulnerable populations in primary care
Academic/Research rotation
Acute care rotation (max 1) - medicine, cardiology, or antimicrobial stewardship
These are examples of potential elective rotations available. Additional electives are available based on the resident’s interest.
Longitudinal Curriculum/Experiences
These activities are scheduled over the course of the residency year:
Research Project
Critical Appraisal, Research Methods & Medical Statistics
Quality Improvement & Medication Safety
Leadership in Professional Practice
Formal Teaching (University) opportunities
Professional Conference attendance
Motivational interviewing
Indigenous Cultural Safety
For additional information, please contact:
Program Director:
Michael Legal, B.Sc. (Pharm.), ACPR, Pharm.D., FCSHP
Director, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services
Advanced (Year 2) Residency Adult Programs Interim Coordinator:
Renée Dagenais, B.Sc. (Pharm.), ACPR, Pharm.D.
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Adult Cystic Fibrosis, St. Paul’s Hospital
Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services
rdagenais1@providencehealth.bc.ca