Year 2 Frequently Asked Questions
Why do an Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program?
Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Programs aim to prepare graduates for advanced clinical practice roles and allow for further training/specialization. In BC advanced clinical training (such as a Y2 residency) is a required qualification for health authority based Clinical Pharmacy Specialist positions. The Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program will help the residents advance their skills in the areas of complex patient care (including additional exposure to the practice area of choice, patient assessment, and advanced pharmacokinetics), research design and execution, critical appraisal, and teaching. Through multiple rotations in the specialty area of choice, the resident will gain knowledge and confidence to work in that practice area, but through other general rotations and courses they will also gain the advanced skills that can be translated to a variety of other practice areas they may work in the future.
How does an Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program compare to other existing programs?
With the change in Canadian universities moving from a B.Sc. Pharm to entry-level-PharmD, and the elimination of traditional post-graduate Doctor of Pharmacy programs Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Programs represent an important pathway to developing advanced pharmacy practitioners. Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Programs are typically done after a candidate has completed a Year 1 general residency and/or other post-graduate clinical pharmacy training. Year 2 residencies are administered by the hospitals or health authorities rather than Universities. Our LMPS programs offer a core focus with a site based approach as well as opportunities to obtain practice experience at various sites across LMPS.
What Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Programs does LMPS offer?
Critical Care
Internal Medicine
Mental Health and Substance Use
Pediatrics
What are current or past residents saying about the LMPS Advanced (Year 2) Residency Programs?
Listen to a testimonial from a past resident HERE.
Is the LMPS residency program now 2 years long?
No, the applications, learning outcomes and end goals of the Year 1 program and the Year 2 programs are not the same and are not continuous in nature.
Admission to the Year 1 program does not constitute admission to the Year 2 program. These two programs are both administered by LMPS but are separate and distinct programs.
The Year 1 program is a general residency that is designed to train new graduates of undergraduate B.Sc. (Pharm.) and entry-to-practice PharmD programs in institutional pharmacy practice.
The Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program offers advanced pharmacy training targeted towards practitioners who have completed the Year 1 residency program or other post-graduate clinical pharmacy training and have additional years of clinical pharmacy experience.
Are the Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Programs accredited?
The Advanced (Year 2) Critical Care Program is accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board as of 2020.
The Advanced (Year 2) Internal Medicine and Pediatric Programs are accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board as of 2021.
Graduates of CPRB accredited programs may use the ACPR2 designation.
What is the admission requirements and selection process?
For further details regarding admission requirements, please visit our admissions criteria page.
Applicants will be screened and ranked by a panel based on: academic performance, work experience (including precepting, research, and and clinical practice), volunteer/leadership involvement, letter of intent, and letters of reference.
Based on the score received during the screening process, select applicants will be offered an interview.
What is the interview process?
Our interviews occurs in Vancouver, BC. The interviews will be a panel style, with a duration between 45 minutes-1 hour. Virtual (Zoom) interviews may be an option.
Will my prior credits count towards my residency?
Prior credit for rotations completed will be considered based on the criteria outlined by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board. Prior credit will only be considered for experiential rotations successfully completed as a part of a CPRB accredited Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency program within the preceding 24 months. All applications for prior credit will be reviewed and approved by the program director, program coordinator, and members of the residency advisory committee.
Is there a stipend for the Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program?
Yes, a stipend and benefits package will be provided. It will be approximately $30,000.
Is there a service agreement?
There is no service requirement upon completing the program.
How is the Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program structured?
The Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program is a mix of structured, experiential clinical rotations, research and teaching. The main focus of this program is clinical rotation experience under the guidance of Clinical Pharmacy Specialists practicing within LMPS. The series of 4-week clinical rotations are enhanced by a longitudinal academic, leadership, and research curriculum designed to augment the clinical skill set.
Who can I contact if I have more questions about the Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Programs?
You can contact Dr. Mike Legal (mlegal@providencehealth.bc.ca) for more information regarding the programs.
You can also contact Dr. Cindy Luo (cindy.luo@vch.ca) for additional information regarding the Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Mental Health and Substance Use programs or Dr. Roxane Carr (rcarr2@cw.bc.ca) for additional information regarding the Pediatrics program.