Children's Hospital Colorado
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Pharmacy Services

Pharmacy Residency Program

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we treat the big things, the small things and everything in between.

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Our pharmacy residency programs prepare pharmacists to become skilled clinical practitioners within a supportive environment that encourages educational growth, respect and transparent communication. 

Our integrative clinical approach to patient care goes beyond drug procurement and dispensing. We pride ourselves in developing qualified pharmaceutical practitioners who provide effective, patient-centered care within the diverse areas of clinical and operational pediatric pharmacy practice.

We aim to cultivate and develop our residents’ leadership skills, so they will go on to conduct their practice with a high level of expertise and maturity, allowing them to excel and assume leadership roles in various pediatric healthcare settings.

When you work at Children’s Colorado, you’re joining a multidisciplinary team that’s dedicated to improving the health of children in our community and beyond. Children’s Colorado is recognized as one of the best hospitals in the country, and ranked number one in both the region and the state. Learn about our hospital awards and recognitions and what it’s like to work at Children’s Colorado.

About our pharmacy residency programs

Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY-1) Pharmacy Residency Program

The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Children's Colorado is a 12-month program that trains residents to be confident, highly skilled clinical pharmacy experts. Our residency provides valuable training in the various aspects of pharmacotherapy and pediatrics through a customizable program. 

The PGY1 Residency Program builds upon the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals and objectives. Residents who successfully complete our program will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS) and pursue advanced education and training opportunities, including postgraduate year two (PGY-2) residencies. 

Our diverse program provides residents with an unparalleled educational experience, transforming them into authoritative resources and experts in the application, administration, research and innovation of pharmacotherapy.

The PGY-1 residency program is offered at our hospitals on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and in Colorado Springs. Individual applications are required for each program.

Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY-2) Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program

PGY-2 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals and objectives for advanced practice areas.

Residents who successfully complete PGY-2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

Our PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and highly flexible to accommodate each resident’s unique interests.

This program takes place at our hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Pharmacy residency programs eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the pharmacy residency programs at Children's Colorado, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Hold a degree from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Must be eligible for pharmacy licensure in the state of Colorado
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or independently able to obtain a work visa; CHCO is not able to sponsor work visas
  • PGY-2 only: Must be a graduate of an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency program; experience in pediatric pharmacy practice is preferred, but not required

Service commitment

Pharmacy residents at Children's Colorado are valuable members of the pharmacy team. The program’s practice experience requires residents to develop problem-solving skills, utilize effective communication techniques, hone supervisory skills and exercise strict attention to detail.

Residents gain valuable experience by staffing as a licensed pharmacist every other weekend as a PGY-1 or every third weekend as a PGY-2. Shifts generally vary and will alternate between days and evenings, with residents staffing operational or clinical shifts according to their experience.

Throughout rotations, residents will participate in multidisciplinary rounds and progress toward independently rounding with the team. During each rotation, residents will occasionally staff "clinical staffing days," where they independently staff in place of their preceptor, acting as the clinical pharmacist for the unit that they’re on rotation for. In this experience, our residents play a key role in helping the department function and succeed in achieving our goals.

Major project

Residents must successfully complete a major project to fulfill the requirements of both the PGY-1 and PGY-2 residency programs. These projects focus on pediatric issues pertinent to clinical practice and quality improvement at Children's Colorado.

The emphasis of each resident’s major project allows for them to contribute a valuable service to the hospital’s pharmacy department. This process allows the residents to develop their skills in medical literature review, technical writing, data collection and assessment, manuscript preparation, general organizational skills and leadership skills.

Residents are required to present all major projects at the Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA) annual meeting, and they are encouraged to pursue publication of their major project, if applicable.

How to apply for the Children's Colorado’s pharmacy residency programs

Submit your application through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) before January 1. Residency programs begin on July 1.

For more information, contact the respective residency program director:

Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado Springs Campus