Pharmacy Residencies and Dual Degrees as Complementary or Competitive Advanced Training Opportunities

Abstract

The impact of pharmacy practice has been enhanced through additional graduate training opportunities, such as pharmacy residencies and dual-degree programs. This article compares and contrasts key aspects of pharmacy residencies and dual-degree programs, as well as examines the efforts of US colleges and schools of pharmacy in promoting these advanced training opportunities on their Web sites. Pharmacy residencies and dual-degree programs are complementary opportunities that allow student pharmacists to gain advanced knowledge and specialized skills beyond the traditional Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. The combination of these credentials can be highly advantageous in a variety of practice settings. As pharmacists collaborate with healthcare providers and professionals from other disciplines, more support is needed to expand the availability and use of these cross-profession, advanced training opportunities to enhance the future of the pharmacy profession.

Pharmacy students' perspectives on a PharmD/MPH dual degree program at a large metropolitan school of pharmacy

“…In fact, Shannon et al reported that among the 120 accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy in 2011, forty-three percent offered dual degree programs including the PharmD/MPH degree 11. A recent analysis of the prevalance and characteristics of PharmD/MPH dual degree programs in the United States conducted by Gortney et al revealed that twenty-one percent of the 110 schools of pharmacy responding to the survey reported having a combined PharmD/MPH dual degree program 12.…”

“…Published data documenting outcomes of these programs specifically relating to broader career opportunities, increased marketability, and salary differentials post-graduation are limited. However, data describing the curricula in these programs suggest that students will likely participate in inter-professional education and training and gain exposure in non-traditional areas of pharmacy practice relating to health policy, systems management, preventive care and outcomes research 11,13,141…”

The Prevalence and Characteristics of Dual PharmD/MPH Programs Offered at US Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy

“…In addition, students interested in enrolling in such programs probably want to decrease their educational cost and time spent in obtaining the dual degree as the majority of programs took 1 additional year or 2 additional semesters to complete. 21 Another consideration is that they may be interested in the secondary degree as an alternative career pathway. As seen in other pharmacy dual-degrees programs (such as the PharmD/MBA, PharmD/PhD), the majority of students enrolled in our PharmD/MPH program are higher academic achievers than single-degree students and tend to have a higher level of satisfaction with the student experience.…”

An Academic Multihealth System PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program

“…2,3 However, as of 2008, the number of postgraduate year (PGY) 1 positions available would only allow 16% of graduates to complete a PGY1 residency immediately after graduation. 1 This statistic has improved recently: for the year 2012-2013, a total of 13,551 students received their doctor of pharmacy degree, 4 and 2691 PGY1 positions were available, 5 which would allow 19.9% of graduates to complete a PGY1 residency. Not all pharmacy residency programs are accredited by ASHP, so this number may be an underestimation.…”

“…1 The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (ASHP) House of Delegates recommended that by 2020 all pharmacists who provide direct patient care should be required to complete a residency. 2,3 However, as of 2008, the number of postgraduate year (PGY) 1 positions available would only allow 16% of graduates to complete a PGY1 residency immediately after graduation.…”