Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Outside of rotations, what types of experiences can be gained from residency?

  A: We offer varied experiences for our residents including:

  LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

  • Each resident will serve a 3 month term as the chief resident with many discussions/activities focused on promoting leadership
  • All residents are active members of the P&T committee
  • The residents will work as a group on a project with an administrative leadership focus
  • The residents will attend and participate in the weekly managers meetings to interface with departmental leadership

  PRESENTATION SKILLS

  • CE program(s)
  • Didactic lectures to pharmacy students and medical residents
  • Multiple presentations throughout the year to the pharmacy and medical staff
  • Formal journal clubs
  • Completion of a teaching certificate

  PRECEPTING ABILITIES

  • Our residents are expected to co-precept fourth year pharmacy students on several core rotations
• Q: What types of projects do residents complete?

  A: At Vidant Medical Center, we help our residents identify projects that are not only interesting to them, but ones that are relevant and pertinent to our department. To do this, we seek regular input from our pharmacy staff for project ideas and solicit ideas from the new residents. During the residents' orientation month, the Research Committee works with the residents to select projects that are mutually beneficial. In addition to those projects required by ASHP, residents also have the opportunity to complete Medication Use Evaluations (MUE), longitudinal projects in pharmacy management and other non-traditional projects, such as those involving informatics. View previous residency projects.

• Q: What are the staffing requirements of the residency?

  A: The staffing portion of the residency requires that each resident staff an average of 32 hours per month (1 shift per week). We evaluate the staffing component each year to provide the most beneficial practice opportunities for our residents

• Q: What have previous residents done post-residency?

  A: Previous Vidant Medical Center residents have gone on to further their training through PGY2 programs or fellowships, while others have obtained positions in academia or entered straight into clinical practice.

• Q: What are you looking for in a potential candidate?

  A: An ideal Vidant Medical Center residency candidate is self-motivated, possesses high academic standing and demonstrates commitment and ambition in their endeavors outside of the classroom. Successful candidates exude a positive attitude and proactively seek opportunities to grow through constructive feedback and challenging rotational experiences.

• Q: How are residents selected?

  A: Due to COVID-19 plans related to on site versus virtual interviews will be made in December/January.
  
  All potential candidates are required to submit an application packet through PhORCAS by the deadline date. Upon review by the Residency Advisory Committee, on-site interviews are granted to approximately 24 candidates and are conducted during the month of February. A team of residency preceptors, departmental administrators, current residents and clinical/staff pharmacists interview each residency candidate. Once the interviews are complete, each candidate is evaluated and ranked by the entire interview committee. Final rankings are submitted to the ASHP Resident Matching Program.

• Q: How is the resident's year organized?

  A: The resident's year is organized based on the requirements set forth by ASHP. The year is divided into two major components: 6 months of required experiences (which include an orientation month and a research month) and 6 months of elective experiences. Most rotations are approximately four weeks in duration with the November/December rotation being an extended 6 week experience. There is the option to repeat a previous experience if the resident wishes to gain additional knowledge in a specific area.

• Q: How are your residents evaluated?

  A: Residents are formally evaluated after each clinical experience (required and elective) through the use of an online tool called PharmAcademic that was created for use by ASHP. Residents are also evaluated quarterly by the RPD for overall progress towards the goals set forth at the beginning of residency. In addition to these formal evaluations, residents receive informal feedback throughout the year.

• Q: What is the cost of living in Greenville?

  A: Greenville boasts a very affordable cost of living and has an abundance of safe and economical apartment complexes strategically located near the medical center. Average monthly rentals range from $500 to $1000 per month. Utilities can vary depending on the housing arrangement but usually the cost does not exceed $200 to $400 per month. Professional real estate assistance is available for those residents that choose to purchase a home.

• Q: What additional resources are available to residents?

  A: Vidant Medical Center residents are provided private office space located in the pharmacy administration suite. Each resident is supplied with a monogrammed lab coat, desktop and laptop computer and pager for use during the residency year. In addition, residents have easy access to office supplies, printer, copier, and fax machine as needed. Vidant Medical Center provides parking at no charge and all meals from the hospital cafeteria are discounted for employees.

• Q: What happens during orientation?

  A: Vidant Medical Center orientation takes place in two parts. The first part is a general orientation for all new employees that describes the values and the mission of the health-system as well as orients employees to the rules and regulations of the hospital. This is also the time at which new employees enroll in their benefits package. The second part of the orientation process relates specifically to the operation of the pharmacy department. During the month of July, residents interact with a variety of pharmacy staff in centralized and decentralized locations. Extensive time is spent on the operation and functionality of our integrated CPOE system. Resident orientation generally focuses on positioning the residents to successfully navigate the department while staffing. Interspersed throughout the month are multiple meetings regarding projects, committees and the general "meet and greet" of all preceptors.