Record Number of Pharmacists Entering Residencies

3/27/2009

A record number of pharmacists will participate in rigorous postgraduate training following a competitive 2009 ASHP Resident Matching Program.

A total of 1,948 individuals were matched with residencies, an 11 percent increase from 2008. Participants seeking postgraduate year one and two (PGY1 and PGY2) residencies jumped nearly 20 percent to 2,892 in 2009. The positions available in the match program grew 7 percent, to 2,253 in 2009.

The rise in PGY1 and PGY2 matches this year adds to a more than decade-long trend of double-digit growth in postgraduate pharmacy residency training.

ASHP advocates that by the year 2020, all new college of pharmacy graduates who will provide direct patient care will be required to complete an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency.

Administered by National Matching Services, Inc., which also conducts matching services for medical and dental residencies, applicants are matched with residency programs based on the highest preference of both the applicant and the training site.

For more information about ASHP-accredited pharmacy residency programs, visit www.ashp.org/accreditation/.