NOTES Residency preparation programming
NOTES
A collaborative approach to residency preparation programming for pharmacy students Shyla K. Rider, Jessica L. Oeder, Trang T. Nguyen, and Jennifer L. Rodis
E
very year the number of postgraduate pharmacy residency applicants continues to rise, causing the demand to exceed the supply of positions available. This competition for residency positions has led applicants to apply to increasing numbers of programs. For the 2013–14 residency year, 4480 applicants participated in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Resident Matching Program (the Match), with 3156 residency positions available; only 2866 of applicants (64%) were matched to a residency position on Match day. After the 2013 Match, there were 1614 unmatched applicants and 290 unfilled positions. 1,2 Unmatched applicants have the opportunity to apply for an unfilled residency position through a process called the “scramble.” Due to the more informal nature of the scramble, the number of unmatched candidates who successfully found a position through the scramble is not publicly available. For many applicants, the decision to pursue a residency position
Purpose. An innovative program to help pharmacy students navigate the residency application and interview process is described, including results of a survey evaluating the program’s impact. Summary. The Ohio State University (OSU) chapter of the Student Society of HealthSystem Pharmacy (SSHP) collaborated with OSU College of Pharmacy faculty members, pharmacists from OSU Wexner Medical Center and surrounding areas, and current pharmacy residents to provide programming to equip pharmacy students with skills to succeed as residency candidates. The programming has four components: Curriculum Vitae (CV ) Critique, Mock Residency Interviews, Residency 101, and Midyear to Match (M-M), a six-part series that provides guidance on the Residency Showcase at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting, Match day (the
and the preparation required of students leading up to Match day can be stressful, time intensive, and confusing. Interested candidates research the type of residency they would like to pursue by navigating various resources and attending local
Shyla K. Rider, Pharm.D., is a 2014 graduate of The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy, Columbus. Jessica L. Oeder, Pharm.D., is Pharmacist, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. Trang T. Nguyen, Pharm.D., is Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Roseman University of Health Sciences, Henderson, NV; at the time of writing, she was Postgraduate Year 1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, OSU. Jennifer L. Rodis, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Associate Professor of Pharmacy, OSU College of Pharmacy. Address correspondence to Dr. Rodis ([email protected]).
950
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
annual matching process coordinated by ASHP), and the post-Match “scramble,” in which unmatched applicants compete for unfilled residency slots. In an online survey conducted by the SSHP chapter after the 2012–13 residency year, 26 of 57 survey respondents indicated they had pursued a residency. Twenty respondents reported success in the Match (a rate 15% higher than the national average), with 9 reporting acceptance by their first-choice residency site. The mock interview program was rated as the most useful (a mean score of 4.8 on a 5-point scale), followed by the M-M series (mean score, 4.6). Conclusion. Collaborative programming coordinated by the OSU chapter of SSHP was offered to pharmacy students to improve preparation for the residency application and interview process. The program was well received by participants. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2014; 71:950-5
and national residency showcases to learn more about available positions. The application process requires the preparation of a curriculum vitae (CV) and letter of intent, the acquisition of letters of recommendation, and effective submission of
Ryan Forrey, Pharm.D., M.S., is acknowledged for his guidance and support of the programming of the OSU chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP). Lindsey Massey, Pharm.D., M.S., is acknowledged for her assistance in implementing the SSHP chapter’s residency preparation programming. The authors have declared no potential conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2014, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved. 1079-2082/14/0601-0950$06.00. DOI 10.2146/ajhp130544
NOTES Residency preparation programming
all necessary documents through ASHP’s Web-based Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). Upon receiving interview invitations, candidates must prepare; after the completion of interviews, candidates must rank the programs and positions they are interested in obtaining. Due to the complicated and competitive process of attaining a pharmacy practice residency position, many colleges of pharmacy provide programming that increases student preparedness and helps them navigate through the residency application and interview process.3 A few colleges of pharmacy have created, coordinated, or facilitated residency education courses and interview-preparation programs, which are primarily led by pharmacy faculty members.4-6 At The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (OSU COP), the approach to residency preparation programming is unique, as it involves collaboration among student pharmacy organizations, faculty members, and current pharmacy residents and residency preceptors from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) as well as other local area institutions. This multimodal approach gives students the opportunity to interact with and receive feedback from clinical pharmacists in various roles working in different health systems such as teaching hospitals, community hospitals, community-based practices, and ambulatory care–focused practice settings. OSU COP student pharmacy organizations, including the OSU chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP), coordinate residency programming events that are facilitated by faculty members and current residents and preceptors from these practice settings. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to describe the collaborative programming offered by OSU COP to prepare students for the residency application and interview
process, and (2) to discuss the success and usefulness of this programming, as determined via a survey of graduating pharmacy students. Program description To better prepare the student body for the residency process, the SSHP chapter at OSU COP hosts a variety of residency preparation programs: CV Critique, Mock Residency Interviews, Residency 101, and the Midyear to Match (M-M) Residency Series. These residency preparation programs are developed, organized, and facilitated by an elected SSHP student executive committee, faculty and resident advisors, and postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residents from institutions in central Ohio. A visual representation of the SSHP programming timeline is shown in Figure 1. Each of the programs is described below. CV Critique. The purpose of the CV Critique program is for experienced pharmacists from multiple Columbus, Ohio–based health systems to provide constructive feedback on student pharmacists’ CVs before the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (MCM). At the beginning of the fall semester, faculty members at an SSHP meeting facilitate a CV workshop on the framework and essential components of a CV. Students are encouraged to reach out to advisors, mentors, and faculty at the college as they prepare their CV. SSHP recruits pharmacist volunteers from across central Ohio, including staff and clinical pharmacists, managers, and pharmacy residents; distributes the students’ CVs to the pharmacist reviewers; and ensures that students receive feedback in a timely manner, at least four weeks before the MCM. This timeline allows students time to review the feedback and make any CV revisions prior to the ASHP MCM Residency Showcase and their submission of residency applications. The program is conducted electronically, thus allowing the practitioners
to review the CVs as their schedules permit. SSHP received permission from ASHP to use the organization’s electronic CV critique form, which is used for the ASHP CV Review Program conducted for students biannually. In addition to receiving constructive feedback, this program allows students to network with health-system pharmacists in the area. Mock Residency Interviews. The purpose of the Mock Residency Interviews program is for students to learn appropriate interview etiquette, receive constructive feedback on their interview skills, and increase their confidence in navigating interview situations. The planning, organization, and execution of this event are led by the SSHP presidentelect and a faculty member. The faculty member assumes the responsibilities of contacting and recruiting local-area PGY1 and PGY2 residents, pharmacists, and other faculty members to serve as mock interviewers; determining interview questions; and assisting with the logistics of the event. The president-elect works with the faculty member to coordinate the date of the event so that it works well for all parties and plans the logistics of the event. This event is purposefully scheduled before the MCM so that students planning to participate in ASHP Personnel Placement Service and residency interviews can practice, reflect on feedback received at the event, and work to prepare and improve prior to the meeting. During the event, a faculty member involved in the candidate interview and selection process for a local residency program gives a formal presentation highlighting the stages in residency recruitment, potential interview styles, and general characteristics evaluated by interviewers. After the presentation, the faculty advisor facilitates a question-andanswer session for the students. Students are then placed in groups of two or three and rotate through at
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
951
952
Residency 101
May March
April
M-M Session 6. Post-Match P4 Discussion
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
CVs due for CV Critique
Mock Residency Interviews
CVs returned to students CV workshop
October September August 2012
M-M Session 1. Introduction to Residency and Midyear Clinical Meeting
November
December
January 2013
M-M Session 4. Preparing for Residency Interviews
February
M-M Session 5. Match Logistics and Surviving the Scramble M-M Session 3. PhORCAS Review and Demo M-M Session 2. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Preparation and Reasons to Attend
Figure 1. Timeline for residency preparation programming provided by The Ohio State University chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy during the 2012–13 residency year. M-M = Midyear to Match program, CV = curriculum vitae, PhORCAS = Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service, P4 = student in final year of Pharm.D. degree program.
NOTES Residency preparation programming
least 10 interviewing stations at 7- to 10-minute intervals. Each interviewing station is staffed by a resident or faculty member who serves as a mock interviewer and presents an interview question, allows one student to respond, and then provides immediate feedback. This fast-paced style forces students to think quickly, allowing them to realize their strengths and areas for improvement. Students alternate in answering questions, fostering interactive learning through observation and the exchange of constructive feedback among peers. Residency 101. The purpose of the Residency 101 program is to provide an overview of residency training opportunities, reasons for completing a residency, and advice on the application and interview process. This program is divided into three parts (provided by current students, residents, and faculty, respectively) and is particularly useful for earlycareer students interested in pursuing a residency. The more senior students describe their experiences at the MCM and provide advice regarding successful navigation of the MCM Residency Showcase. Students in the final year of the Pharm.D. degree program (P4s) who either were successfully matched or were unsuccessful and joined the scramble present their unique perspectives and give advice for scramble preparation. Residents provide a brief presentation to describe the types of residency programs available and their current residency experiences and are also involved in a residency panel question-and-answer session. Faculty members involved in the local residency program applicant selection process offer tips on professionalism and how to make a positive impression during interviews. M-M Residency Series. The M-M Residency Series program comprises a series of interactive sessions addressing every detail of the residency application process—from reasons for pursuing a residency to what to
NOTES Residency preparation programming
expect at the MCM and the logistics of the Match. In addition, to prepare students for the possibility of entering the scramble, a session is dedicated to providing resources such as tips from past students who succeeded in the scramble, contact information for faculty willing to assist students interested in the scramble, and general advice for scramble preparation. SSHP and OSU COP work together to summarize scramble information for students in a “scramble survival packet” distributed to students before the Match. These sessions are a
unique collaborative effort between SSHP executive committee members, OSU COP faculty, and residents from the college and OSUWMC, all of whom offer their insights through short informational presentations and interactive discussions. The main goal of the M-M Residency Series program is to allow students to obtain important information for residency applications and learn firsthand from current and past residents about how to establish themselves as competitive residency candidates. The success of the program
is highly dependent on the faculty and residents who offer insights on their personal experiences with the residency application process. The idea for the M-M Residency Series was brought to our chapter from an SSHP coadvisor from Kansas University, and the program has grown to include six installments (Table 1). Experience with the program The impact of this residency preparation programming was evaluated through an online survey conducted with graduating student pharma-
Table 1.
Description of Midyear to Match Program Offered by The Ohio State University (OSU) Chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP)a 1. Introduction to Residency and Midyear Clinical Meeting
2. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Preparation and Reasons to Attend
3. PhORCAS Review and Demo
4. Preparing for Residency Interviews
5. Match Logistics and Surviving the Scramble
6. Post-Match P4 Discussion
• Target audience: first- and second-year students and students unfamiliar with residency opportunities or benefits of ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (MCM) attendance • Provides information on the types of residencies available, application timeline, reasons to complete a residency, what MCM is, and programming provided at MCM • Presentation is given by residents or college faculty, followed by question-and-answer session with student audience • Target audience: students considering residency or interested in networking at ASHP MCM • SSHP advisor and president work together to provide an overview of the student programming offered and Residency Showcase details • A panel of 3–5 residents leads a question-and-answer session to address common concerns such as appropriate dress, what to expect, how to prepare, and appropriate questions to ask at the Residency Showcase • Target audience: fourth-year students applying for a residency • Through an interactive webinar presentation, students are shown in a step-by-step manner how to use ASHP’s Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) • Allows for students to become comfortable with the centralized application process, stressing the importance of early application and organization • Target audience: third-year students planning to apply for a residency and fourth-year students in the process of applying for a residency • A panel of pharmacy residents from OSU College of Pharmacy and OSU Wexner Medical Center explain their residency interview experiences, give interview preparation advice, recommend helpful resources, share difficult situations encountered, and review appropriate interview etiquette before, during, and after the interview • Discussion and questions are encouraged throughout the session • Target audience: third-year students planning to apply for a residency and fourth-year students in the process of applying for a residency • Pharmacist or pharmacy resident explains logistics of ASHP Residency Match Program and reviews possible scenarios based on rankings of candidates and sites • After discussion of the Match, an overview of the post-Match “scramble,” how it works, and ways to prepare is presented • Target audience: all pharmacy students • Fourth-year students who succeeded or did not succeed in the Match or participated successfully or unsuccessfully in the post-Match scramble talk about their experiences and offer advice to future applicants
ASHP = American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, P4 = student in final year of Pharm.D. degree program.
a
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
953
NOTES Residency preparation programming
cists at OSU COP. In May 2013, the SSHP chapter’s board conducted a survey to evaluate the preparedness and success of OSU COP graduating pharmacy students in obtaining a residency. This survey asked questions on issues including the location, number, and type of residency programs applied to; the numbers of interviews offered and accepted; and the number of programs ranked. Free-response survey questions solicited feedback on specific SSHP residency preparation events hosted at the college. If a student indicated that he or she was successful in the Match, additional questions targeted information about the residency program, such as accreditation status, number of programs ranked, and the program’s size, location, and type. For students who did not succeed on Match day, the survey asked questions regarding the scramble. In addition to quantifying the success of students, this survey invited students to provide constructive feedback on residency preparation events and resources provided by the college and SSHP. To conduct this anonymous,
institutional review board–exempted survey, class e-mail addresses were accessed through the class listserver created and maintained by OSU COP and available to all faculty, staff, and students within the pharmacy network. The survey tool Qualtrics was used (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) for survey dissemination and data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data collected through Qualtrics. This survey was sent to 127 finalyear (P4) pharmacy students from the class of 2013. Fifty-seven students completed the survey, for a response rate of 45%. More than half of the students completing the survey (30 of 57) applied for a residency. Overall, 20 of 26 students (77%) seeking a residency obtained a position; 9 respondents reported matching with their first choice of residency sites, with 3 and 5 respondents matching with their second- and third-choice sites, respectively. Among the 6 students who did not succeed in the Match, 3 indicated that they participated in the scramble, and all 3 reached out to OSU COP faculty for
Table 2.
Summary Results of Survey Conducted by The Ohio State University Chapter of SSHP on 2012–13 Residency Preparation Programsa Program CV Critique Mock Residency Interviews Residency 101 Midyear to Match Residency Series (overall) Session: 1. Introduction to Residency and Midyear Clinical Meeting 2. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Preparation and Reasons to Attend 3. PhORCAS Review and Demo 4. Preparing for Residency Interviews 5. Match Logistics and Surviving the Scramble 6. Post-Match P4 Discussion
Scoreb 3.6 4.8 4.4 4.6
3.9 4.2 4.0 4.5 4.2 4.4
a SSHP = Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy, ASHP = American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, CV = curriculum vitae, PhORCAS = Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service, P4 = student in final year of Pharm.D. degree program. b Mean scores (n = 57) on five-point scale, with scoring as follows: 1 = unsatisfied/unhelpful, 3 = neutral, 5 = excellent/valuable.
954
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
scramble help; however, none succeeded in obtaining a position. Respondents were asked to rank their satisfaction with each of the SSHP programs on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (Table 2), with scoring as follows: 1 = unsatisfied/unhelpful, 3 = neutral, 5 = excellent/valuable. Students were also given the opportunity to provide open-ended comments about each program. The Mock Residency Interviews received the highest ranking by students, closely followed by Residency 101 and the M-M Residency Series. Free-response questions invited students to comment on what programs or information provided by SSHP were helpful and what the college and SSHP can do differently to better assist students throughout the Match and the scramble process; this part of the survey also solicited suggestions for future programming. Students provided consistent comments on the Mock Residency Interviews program, expressing how they like the “real-life” atmosphere and instant feedback from the pharmacist interviewers. To expand on existing programming, students suggested hosting a workshop on writing a letter of intent, in-person CV reviews by a clinical pharmacist, and a resident mentor program. General comments indicated students’ satisfaction and gratitude for the work done by SSHP, faculty members, and residents to provide residency preparation opportunities and information. Common suggestions for improvement included (1) establishing an efficient follow-up system for the CV critique to ensure that all students receive their CV back from the reviewer with useful, clear revisions and (2) clarifying the target audiences for various SSHP programming (some programs are targeted to first- and second-year students versus third- and fourthyear students and vice versa). Discussion Students graduating from OSU
NOTES Residency preparation programming
COP in 2013 who responded to the SSHP chapter survey had a match rate almost 15% higher than the National Matching Service’s national average of 64%.2 All programs offered through this endeavor were viewed favorably by students responding to the survey, with the Mock Residency Interviews program ranking highest. Other colleges have reported residency application preparation programs as having a positive impact when delivered in a variety of formats. Prescott5 described a program involving the use of a one-hour educational forum, an informational packet, and an onsite faculty liaison to prepare pharmacy students for the MCM. This program engaged faculty, pharmacy residents, and students on a speaker panel; core faculty and residency directors provided CV and interview feedback, and a faculty liaison was onsite during the MCM to meet with participating students. Surveyed students indicated the program was useful. Koenigsfeld et al.6 reported that approximately 92% of students participating in a faculty-led mock interview session agreed or strongly agreed (on a five-point Likert scale) that the program helped them in the residency interview process. For both of these programs, the rate of success in the Match among program participants was slightly above the national average for pharmacy residencies. Bruce and Burkiewicz7 also described a curriculum-based program involving activities similar to those of the OSU COP program, including informational sessions as well as CV re-
views. While the OSU COP program is similar to these other programs, with similar student perceptions of usefulness, the OSU COP program is distinct in that it is coordinated primarily through the student professional association affiliated with ASHP, is offered longitudinally (i.e., during the entire course of the academic year), and integrates a variety of activities, with each activity involving input and participation by faculty, pharmacy practice residents, students, and pharmacy residency preceptors. Limitations of the design of the OSU COP program include the time commitment involved in coordinating, scheduling, and organizing the many events. The need for numerous faculty, residents, and preceptors to engage with the large numbers of students participating in this program challenges event and activity coordinators. Enlisting the aid of pharmacy practice residents and preceptors who are not only affiliated with OSU COP and OSUWMC but also based in the central Ohio area has been a strength of the program in that it brings a variety of perspectives and also increases the resource pool. As for the survey conducted in 2013, limitations included the relatively low response rate and the selfreporting of residency placement. While only 45% of the class responded to the survey, it is suspected that many students who were not members of SSHP or did not apply for a residency (or both) may have elected to not participate in the survey, thus suggesting a response bias that may
have significantly influenced the results. With regard to self-reported residency placements, it is possible that some students were not truthful about their future plans. SSHP and its collaborators respond to survey feedback each year to enhance individual events and improve the entire program. Conclusion Collaborative programming coordinated by the OSU chapter of SSHP was offered to pharmacy students to improve preparation for the residency application and interview process. The program was well received by participants. References 1. National Matching Services Inc. Summary of programs and positions offered and filled for the 2013 Match. www.natmatch.com/ ashpr mp/stats/2013summp os.ht ml (accessed 2013 Jul 17). 2. National Matching Services Inc. Summary results of the Match for positions beginning in 2013. www.natmatch.com/ ashprmp/stats/2013applstats.html (accessed 2013 Jul 17). 3. Dunn BL, Ragucci KR, Garner S, Spencer A. Survey of colleges of pharmacy to assess preparation for and promotion of residency training. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010; 74(3):article 43. 4. Caballero J, Benavides S, Steinberg JG. Development of a residency interviewing preparatory seminar. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2012; 69:400-4. 5. Prescott WA. Program to prepare pharmacy students for their postgraduate training search. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010; 74(1):article 9. 6. Koenigsfeld CF, Wall GC, Miesner AR. A faculty-led mock residency interview exercise for fourth-year doctor of pharmacy students. J Pharm Pract. 2012; 25:101-7. 7. Bruce SP, Burkiewicz JS. Program for guiding pharmacy students through residency selection. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2005; 62:1488.
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
955
Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of American Society of Health System Pharmacists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
NOTES
A collaborative approach to residency preparation programming for pharmacy students Shyla K. Rider, Jessica L. Oeder, Trang T. Nguyen, and Jennifer L. Rodis
E
very year the number of postgraduate pharmacy residency applicants continues to rise, causing the demand to exceed the supply of positions available. This competition for residency positions has led applicants to apply to increasing numbers of programs. For the 2013–14 residency year, 4480 applicants participated in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Resident Matching Program (the Match), with 3156 residency positions available; only 2866 of applicants (64%) were matched to a residency position on Match day. After the 2013 Match, there were 1614 unmatched applicants and 290 unfilled positions. 1,2 Unmatched applicants have the opportunity to apply for an unfilled residency position through a process called the “scramble.” Due to the more informal nature of the scramble, the number of unmatched candidates who successfully found a position through the scramble is not publicly available. For many applicants, the decision to pursue a residency position
Purpose. An innovative program to help pharmacy students navigate the residency application and interview process is described, including results of a survey evaluating the program’s impact. Summary. The Ohio State University (OSU) chapter of the Student Society of HealthSystem Pharmacy (SSHP) collaborated with OSU College of Pharmacy faculty members, pharmacists from OSU Wexner Medical Center and surrounding areas, and current pharmacy residents to provide programming to equip pharmacy students with skills to succeed as residency candidates. The programming has four components: Curriculum Vitae (CV ) Critique, Mock Residency Interviews, Residency 101, and Midyear to Match (M-M), a six-part series that provides guidance on the Residency Showcase at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting, Match day (the
and the preparation required of students leading up to Match day can be stressful, time intensive, and confusing. Interested candidates research the type of residency they would like to pursue by navigating various resources and attending local
Shyla K. Rider, Pharm.D., is a 2014 graduate of The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy, Columbus. Jessica L. Oeder, Pharm.D., is Pharmacist, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. Trang T. Nguyen, Pharm.D., is Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Roseman University of Health Sciences, Henderson, NV; at the time of writing, she was Postgraduate Year 1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, OSU. Jennifer L. Rodis, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Associate Professor of Pharmacy, OSU College of Pharmacy. Address correspondence to Dr. Rodis ([email protected]).
950
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
annual matching process coordinated by ASHP), and the post-Match “scramble,” in which unmatched applicants compete for unfilled residency slots. In an online survey conducted by the SSHP chapter after the 2012–13 residency year, 26 of 57 survey respondents indicated they had pursued a residency. Twenty respondents reported success in the Match (a rate 15% higher than the national average), with 9 reporting acceptance by their first-choice residency site. The mock interview program was rated as the most useful (a mean score of 4.8 on a 5-point scale), followed by the M-M series (mean score, 4.6). Conclusion. Collaborative programming coordinated by the OSU chapter of SSHP was offered to pharmacy students to improve preparation for the residency application and interview process. The program was well received by participants. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2014; 71:950-5
and national residency showcases to learn more about available positions. The application process requires the preparation of a curriculum vitae (CV) and letter of intent, the acquisition of letters of recommendation, and effective submission of
Ryan Forrey, Pharm.D., M.S., is acknowledged for his guidance and support of the programming of the OSU chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP). Lindsey Massey, Pharm.D., M.S., is acknowledged for her assistance in implementing the SSHP chapter’s residency preparation programming. The authors have declared no potential conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2014, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved. 1079-2082/14/0601-0950$06.00. DOI 10.2146/ajhp130544
NOTES Residency preparation programming
all necessary documents through ASHP’s Web-based Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). Upon receiving interview invitations, candidates must prepare; after the completion of interviews, candidates must rank the programs and positions they are interested in obtaining. Due to the complicated and competitive process of attaining a pharmacy practice residency position, many colleges of pharmacy provide programming that increases student preparedness and helps them navigate through the residency application and interview process.3 A few colleges of pharmacy have created, coordinated, or facilitated residency education courses and interview-preparation programs, which are primarily led by pharmacy faculty members.4-6 At The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (OSU COP), the approach to residency preparation programming is unique, as it involves collaboration among student pharmacy organizations, faculty members, and current pharmacy residents and residency preceptors from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) as well as other local area institutions. This multimodal approach gives students the opportunity to interact with and receive feedback from clinical pharmacists in various roles working in different health systems such as teaching hospitals, community hospitals, community-based practices, and ambulatory care–focused practice settings. OSU COP student pharmacy organizations, including the OSU chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP), coordinate residency programming events that are facilitated by faculty members and current residents and preceptors from these practice settings. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to describe the collaborative programming offered by OSU COP to prepare students for the residency application and interview
process, and (2) to discuss the success and usefulness of this programming, as determined via a survey of graduating pharmacy students. Program description To better prepare the student body for the residency process, the SSHP chapter at OSU COP hosts a variety of residency preparation programs: CV Critique, Mock Residency Interviews, Residency 101, and the Midyear to Match (M-M) Residency Series. These residency preparation programs are developed, organized, and facilitated by an elected SSHP student executive committee, faculty and resident advisors, and postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residents from institutions in central Ohio. A visual representation of the SSHP programming timeline is shown in Figure 1. Each of the programs is described below. CV Critique. The purpose of the CV Critique program is for experienced pharmacists from multiple Columbus, Ohio–based health systems to provide constructive feedback on student pharmacists’ CVs before the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (MCM). At the beginning of the fall semester, faculty members at an SSHP meeting facilitate a CV workshop on the framework and essential components of a CV. Students are encouraged to reach out to advisors, mentors, and faculty at the college as they prepare their CV. SSHP recruits pharmacist volunteers from across central Ohio, including staff and clinical pharmacists, managers, and pharmacy residents; distributes the students’ CVs to the pharmacist reviewers; and ensures that students receive feedback in a timely manner, at least four weeks before the MCM. This timeline allows students time to review the feedback and make any CV revisions prior to the ASHP MCM Residency Showcase and their submission of residency applications. The program is conducted electronically, thus allowing the practitioners
to review the CVs as their schedules permit. SSHP received permission from ASHP to use the organization’s electronic CV critique form, which is used for the ASHP CV Review Program conducted for students biannually. In addition to receiving constructive feedback, this program allows students to network with health-system pharmacists in the area. Mock Residency Interviews. The purpose of the Mock Residency Interviews program is for students to learn appropriate interview etiquette, receive constructive feedback on their interview skills, and increase their confidence in navigating interview situations. The planning, organization, and execution of this event are led by the SSHP presidentelect and a faculty member. The faculty member assumes the responsibilities of contacting and recruiting local-area PGY1 and PGY2 residents, pharmacists, and other faculty members to serve as mock interviewers; determining interview questions; and assisting with the logistics of the event. The president-elect works with the faculty member to coordinate the date of the event so that it works well for all parties and plans the logistics of the event. This event is purposefully scheduled before the MCM so that students planning to participate in ASHP Personnel Placement Service and residency interviews can practice, reflect on feedback received at the event, and work to prepare and improve prior to the meeting. During the event, a faculty member involved in the candidate interview and selection process for a local residency program gives a formal presentation highlighting the stages in residency recruitment, potential interview styles, and general characteristics evaluated by interviewers. After the presentation, the faculty advisor facilitates a question-andanswer session for the students. Students are then placed in groups of two or three and rotate through at
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
951
952
Residency 101
May March
April
M-M Session 6. Post-Match P4 Discussion
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
CVs due for CV Critique
Mock Residency Interviews
CVs returned to students CV workshop
October September August 2012
M-M Session 1. Introduction to Residency and Midyear Clinical Meeting
November
December
January 2013
M-M Session 4. Preparing for Residency Interviews
February
M-M Session 5. Match Logistics and Surviving the Scramble M-M Session 3. PhORCAS Review and Demo M-M Session 2. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Preparation and Reasons to Attend
Figure 1. Timeline for residency preparation programming provided by The Ohio State University chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy during the 2012–13 residency year. M-M = Midyear to Match program, CV = curriculum vitae, PhORCAS = Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service, P4 = student in final year of Pharm.D. degree program.
NOTES Residency preparation programming
least 10 interviewing stations at 7- to 10-minute intervals. Each interviewing station is staffed by a resident or faculty member who serves as a mock interviewer and presents an interview question, allows one student to respond, and then provides immediate feedback. This fast-paced style forces students to think quickly, allowing them to realize their strengths and areas for improvement. Students alternate in answering questions, fostering interactive learning through observation and the exchange of constructive feedback among peers. Residency 101. The purpose of the Residency 101 program is to provide an overview of residency training opportunities, reasons for completing a residency, and advice on the application and interview process. This program is divided into three parts (provided by current students, residents, and faculty, respectively) and is particularly useful for earlycareer students interested in pursuing a residency. The more senior students describe their experiences at the MCM and provide advice regarding successful navigation of the MCM Residency Showcase. Students in the final year of the Pharm.D. degree program (P4s) who either were successfully matched or were unsuccessful and joined the scramble present their unique perspectives and give advice for scramble preparation. Residents provide a brief presentation to describe the types of residency programs available and their current residency experiences and are also involved in a residency panel question-and-answer session. Faculty members involved in the local residency program applicant selection process offer tips on professionalism and how to make a positive impression during interviews. M-M Residency Series. The M-M Residency Series program comprises a series of interactive sessions addressing every detail of the residency application process—from reasons for pursuing a residency to what to
NOTES Residency preparation programming
expect at the MCM and the logistics of the Match. In addition, to prepare students for the possibility of entering the scramble, a session is dedicated to providing resources such as tips from past students who succeeded in the scramble, contact information for faculty willing to assist students interested in the scramble, and general advice for scramble preparation. SSHP and OSU COP work together to summarize scramble information for students in a “scramble survival packet” distributed to students before the Match. These sessions are a
unique collaborative effort between SSHP executive committee members, OSU COP faculty, and residents from the college and OSUWMC, all of whom offer their insights through short informational presentations and interactive discussions. The main goal of the M-M Residency Series program is to allow students to obtain important information for residency applications and learn firsthand from current and past residents about how to establish themselves as competitive residency candidates. The success of the program
is highly dependent on the faculty and residents who offer insights on their personal experiences with the residency application process. The idea for the M-M Residency Series was brought to our chapter from an SSHP coadvisor from Kansas University, and the program has grown to include six installments (Table 1). Experience with the program The impact of this residency preparation programming was evaluated through an online survey conducted with graduating student pharma-
Table 1.
Description of Midyear to Match Program Offered by The Ohio State University (OSU) Chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP)a 1. Introduction to Residency and Midyear Clinical Meeting
2. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Preparation and Reasons to Attend
3. PhORCAS Review and Demo
4. Preparing for Residency Interviews
5. Match Logistics and Surviving the Scramble
6. Post-Match P4 Discussion
• Target audience: first- and second-year students and students unfamiliar with residency opportunities or benefits of ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (MCM) attendance • Provides information on the types of residencies available, application timeline, reasons to complete a residency, what MCM is, and programming provided at MCM • Presentation is given by residents or college faculty, followed by question-and-answer session with student audience • Target audience: students considering residency or interested in networking at ASHP MCM • SSHP advisor and president work together to provide an overview of the student programming offered and Residency Showcase details • A panel of 3–5 residents leads a question-and-answer session to address common concerns such as appropriate dress, what to expect, how to prepare, and appropriate questions to ask at the Residency Showcase • Target audience: fourth-year students applying for a residency • Through an interactive webinar presentation, students are shown in a step-by-step manner how to use ASHP’s Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) • Allows for students to become comfortable with the centralized application process, stressing the importance of early application and organization • Target audience: third-year students planning to apply for a residency and fourth-year students in the process of applying for a residency • A panel of pharmacy residents from OSU College of Pharmacy and OSU Wexner Medical Center explain their residency interview experiences, give interview preparation advice, recommend helpful resources, share difficult situations encountered, and review appropriate interview etiquette before, during, and after the interview • Discussion and questions are encouraged throughout the session • Target audience: third-year students planning to apply for a residency and fourth-year students in the process of applying for a residency • Pharmacist or pharmacy resident explains logistics of ASHP Residency Match Program and reviews possible scenarios based on rankings of candidates and sites • After discussion of the Match, an overview of the post-Match “scramble,” how it works, and ways to prepare is presented • Target audience: all pharmacy students • Fourth-year students who succeeded or did not succeed in the Match or participated successfully or unsuccessfully in the post-Match scramble talk about their experiences and offer advice to future applicants
ASHP = American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, P4 = student in final year of Pharm.D. degree program.
a
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
953
NOTES Residency preparation programming
cists at OSU COP. In May 2013, the SSHP chapter’s board conducted a survey to evaluate the preparedness and success of OSU COP graduating pharmacy students in obtaining a residency. This survey asked questions on issues including the location, number, and type of residency programs applied to; the numbers of interviews offered and accepted; and the number of programs ranked. Free-response survey questions solicited feedback on specific SSHP residency preparation events hosted at the college. If a student indicated that he or she was successful in the Match, additional questions targeted information about the residency program, such as accreditation status, number of programs ranked, and the program’s size, location, and type. For students who did not succeed on Match day, the survey asked questions regarding the scramble. In addition to quantifying the success of students, this survey invited students to provide constructive feedback on residency preparation events and resources provided by the college and SSHP. To conduct this anonymous,
institutional review board–exempted survey, class e-mail addresses were accessed through the class listserver created and maintained by OSU COP and available to all faculty, staff, and students within the pharmacy network. The survey tool Qualtrics was used (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) for survey dissemination and data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data collected through Qualtrics. This survey was sent to 127 finalyear (P4) pharmacy students from the class of 2013. Fifty-seven students completed the survey, for a response rate of 45%. More than half of the students completing the survey (30 of 57) applied for a residency. Overall, 20 of 26 students (77%) seeking a residency obtained a position; 9 respondents reported matching with their first choice of residency sites, with 3 and 5 respondents matching with their second- and third-choice sites, respectively. Among the 6 students who did not succeed in the Match, 3 indicated that they participated in the scramble, and all 3 reached out to OSU COP faculty for
Table 2.
Summary Results of Survey Conducted by The Ohio State University Chapter of SSHP on 2012–13 Residency Preparation Programsa Program CV Critique Mock Residency Interviews Residency 101 Midyear to Match Residency Series (overall) Session: 1. Introduction to Residency and Midyear Clinical Meeting 2. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Preparation and Reasons to Attend 3. PhORCAS Review and Demo 4. Preparing for Residency Interviews 5. Match Logistics and Surviving the Scramble 6. Post-Match P4 Discussion
Scoreb 3.6 4.8 4.4 4.6
3.9 4.2 4.0 4.5 4.2 4.4
a SSHP = Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy, ASHP = American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, CV = curriculum vitae, PhORCAS = Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service, P4 = student in final year of Pharm.D. degree program. b Mean scores (n = 57) on five-point scale, with scoring as follows: 1 = unsatisfied/unhelpful, 3 = neutral, 5 = excellent/valuable.
954
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
scramble help; however, none succeeded in obtaining a position. Respondents were asked to rank their satisfaction with each of the SSHP programs on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (Table 2), with scoring as follows: 1 = unsatisfied/unhelpful, 3 = neutral, 5 = excellent/valuable. Students were also given the opportunity to provide open-ended comments about each program. The Mock Residency Interviews received the highest ranking by students, closely followed by Residency 101 and the M-M Residency Series. Free-response questions invited students to comment on what programs or information provided by SSHP were helpful and what the college and SSHP can do differently to better assist students throughout the Match and the scramble process; this part of the survey also solicited suggestions for future programming. Students provided consistent comments on the Mock Residency Interviews program, expressing how they like the “real-life” atmosphere and instant feedback from the pharmacist interviewers. To expand on existing programming, students suggested hosting a workshop on writing a letter of intent, in-person CV reviews by a clinical pharmacist, and a resident mentor program. General comments indicated students’ satisfaction and gratitude for the work done by SSHP, faculty members, and residents to provide residency preparation opportunities and information. Common suggestions for improvement included (1) establishing an efficient follow-up system for the CV critique to ensure that all students receive their CV back from the reviewer with useful, clear revisions and (2) clarifying the target audiences for various SSHP programming (some programs are targeted to first- and second-year students versus third- and fourthyear students and vice versa). Discussion Students graduating from OSU
NOTES Residency preparation programming
COP in 2013 who responded to the SSHP chapter survey had a match rate almost 15% higher than the National Matching Service’s national average of 64%.2 All programs offered through this endeavor were viewed favorably by students responding to the survey, with the Mock Residency Interviews program ranking highest. Other colleges have reported residency application preparation programs as having a positive impact when delivered in a variety of formats. Prescott5 described a program involving the use of a one-hour educational forum, an informational packet, and an onsite faculty liaison to prepare pharmacy students for the MCM. This program engaged faculty, pharmacy residents, and students on a speaker panel; core faculty and residency directors provided CV and interview feedback, and a faculty liaison was onsite during the MCM to meet with participating students. Surveyed students indicated the program was useful. Koenigsfeld et al.6 reported that approximately 92% of students participating in a faculty-led mock interview session agreed or strongly agreed (on a five-point Likert scale) that the program helped them in the residency interview process. For both of these programs, the rate of success in the Match among program participants was slightly above the national average for pharmacy residencies. Bruce and Burkiewicz7 also described a curriculum-based program involving activities similar to those of the OSU COP program, including informational sessions as well as CV re-
views. While the OSU COP program is similar to these other programs, with similar student perceptions of usefulness, the OSU COP program is distinct in that it is coordinated primarily through the student professional association affiliated with ASHP, is offered longitudinally (i.e., during the entire course of the academic year), and integrates a variety of activities, with each activity involving input and participation by faculty, pharmacy practice residents, students, and pharmacy residency preceptors. Limitations of the design of the OSU COP program include the time commitment involved in coordinating, scheduling, and organizing the many events. The need for numerous faculty, residents, and preceptors to engage with the large numbers of students participating in this program challenges event and activity coordinators. Enlisting the aid of pharmacy practice residents and preceptors who are not only affiliated with OSU COP and OSUWMC but also based in the central Ohio area has been a strength of the program in that it brings a variety of perspectives and also increases the resource pool. As for the survey conducted in 2013, limitations included the relatively low response rate and the selfreporting of residency placement. While only 45% of the class responded to the survey, it is suspected that many students who were not members of SSHP or did not apply for a residency (or both) may have elected to not participate in the survey, thus suggesting a response bias that may
have significantly influenced the results. With regard to self-reported residency placements, it is possible that some students were not truthful about their future plans. SSHP and its collaborators respond to survey feedback each year to enhance individual events and improve the entire program. Conclusion Collaborative programming coordinated by the OSU chapter of SSHP was offered to pharmacy students to improve preparation for the residency application and interview process. The program was well received by participants. References 1. National Matching Services Inc. Summary of programs and positions offered and filled for the 2013 Match. www.natmatch.com/ ashpr mp/stats/2013summp os.ht ml (accessed 2013 Jul 17). 2. National Matching Services Inc. Summary results of the Match for positions beginning in 2013. www.natmatch.com/ ashprmp/stats/2013applstats.html (accessed 2013 Jul 17). 3. Dunn BL, Ragucci KR, Garner S, Spencer A. Survey of colleges of pharmacy to assess preparation for and promotion of residency training. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010; 74(3):article 43. 4. Caballero J, Benavides S, Steinberg JG. Development of a residency interviewing preparatory seminar. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2012; 69:400-4. 5. Prescott WA. Program to prepare pharmacy students for their postgraduate training search. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010; 74(1):article 9. 6. Koenigsfeld CF, Wall GC, Miesner AR. A faculty-led mock residency interview exercise for fourth-year doctor of pharmacy students. J Pharm Pract. 2012; 25:101-7. 7. Bruce SP, Burkiewicz JS. Program for guiding pharmacy students through residency selection. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2005; 62:1488.
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
955
Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of American Society of Health System Pharmacists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
