Overview:

The Residency Program in Clinical Pharmacy provides education and training with a primary emphasis on the development of practice skills in specialized pharmacy practice area. Pharmacists completing this program will be highly qualified independent pharmacy practitioners able to provide and be responsible for improved drug therapy outcomes for individualized patients as an integral member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

In addition to clinical pharmacy activities, the residents will also be involved in educational activities which include pharmacy case presentations, journal club discussions and seminar presentations. Other teaching opportunities include co-precepting Pharm.D students who undergo clinical rotations in different wards. The residents will also be encouraged to enhance their research skills through a research project and to participate in international/national/state/local conferences and disseminate their research findings.

A multidisciplinary approach to patient care is highly emphasized in the residency program and the preceptors include several experienced clinical pharmacy practitioners and clinician preceptors. Upon successful completion of the residency, the resident will be able to pursue positions in a variety of clinical practice settings as well as in academics.

Structure of programme

The Residency Program in Clinical Pharmacy shall be of 24 months (two years) duration from the commencement of the academic term. This residency program shall be of annual system that includes ‘Residency Program Year One’ (RPY-1) extending for 12 months from the commencement of academic term which offers more generalized training, providing residents exposure to a broad range of clinical specialties. ‘Residency Program Year Two’ (RPY-2) of 12 months duration commencing from the successful completion of RPY-1 emphasizes specialty clinical pharmacy practice. In order to commence a RPY-2 residency, a RPY-1 program must be completed.

No exemption shall be given from this period of study and training for any other experience gained prior to the admission to the program. The maximum duration for the completion of the course shall be fixed as double the time of the course (48 months) and the residents have to successfully complete within the said period otherwise they have to get fresh admission. However, the stipend will be paid only for the period of 24 months.

Geriatrics Speciality Practice: The Residency Program in Clinical Pharmacy in Geriatrics focuses on the unique medication needs of older adults, typically those aged 60 years and above. Residents are trained in comprehensive geriatric assessment, medication appropriateness evaluation and management of multiple chronic conditions. Emphasis is placed on medication safety, polypharmacy management and fall prevention strategies to enhance the quality of life for geriatric patients. The program also covers age-specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations, medication adherence strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize therapeutic outcomes in the elderly population.