Objectives and strengths

Program objectives

Resident activities are varied in scope, depending on each individual’s background and areas of interest. However, each resident will obtain a higher level of competency in each of the following areas:

  • Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, evaluate, optimize and manage the medication use process using technology, automation, workflow design, application and optimal skill mix.
  • Thoroughly understands the components of an integrated health system and the role of pharmacy across the continuum of care.
  • Displays knowledge and expertise in the development and coordination of medication use policy to standardize practice, provide optimal patient care and impact the financial performance of the organization.
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage the supply chain, including inventory analysis, contract negotiation, purchasing and drug shortage management.
  • Comprehends medication safety principles to ensure safe medication practices.
  • Effectively monitors the financial performance of the pharmacy department, including knowledge of budgeting concepts, reporting of variances and revenue cycle optimization.
  • Understands the principles of human resource management, including recruitment, interviewing, hiring, performance management, discipline and effective day-to-day supervision.
  • Demonstrates personal leadership qualities essential to operate effectively within a health system and advance the profession of pharmacy.

Program strengths

The UW Health Department of Pharmacy is not only a leader in the profession, but also a leader within the hospital in the areas of technology assessment, new business development, information technology, patient safety, resource utilization and regulatory compliance. In 2006, this residency program proudly accepted the inaugural ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Residency Program Excellence Award for producing leaders across the profession.

  • Extensive management experience in all aspects of an integrated health care system: In addition to core inpatient and clinic services, the department manages 12 retail pharmacies (including a specialty pharmacy and two remote dispensing location), full PBM managed care services, an inpatient and in-home hospice pharmacy program and a medication therapy management mail service program.
  • Flexibility in tailoring the program to the strengths and interests of the resident: Because it is a large academic health system, UW Health provides significant opportunity to participate in a wide variety of clinical and administration rotations.
  • Leaders in technology and patient safety: UW Health uses automation and health information technology at every phase of the medication use process and oversees these systems with an integrated pharmacy informatics team.
  • Clinical and administrative responsibilities as part of a management team: Administrative residents have both direct patient care and operational staffing responsibilities, in addition to administrative responsibilities throughout the department. Residents are full participants of the patient care team. Understanding the de-central pharmacist role and the obstacles they face from a “hands-on” perspective is a valuable asset to a manager.
  • Multidisciplinary management coursework is divided evenly throughout the two-year residency: This format allows for real-time application of the topics covered in coursework.
  • Flexibility in coursework across the graduate schools of business, industrial engineering, population health and pharmacy: Residents have required and optional coursework in areas of pharmacy administration, human resources management, operations and technology management, negotiations and dispute settlement, human factors engineering, financial management, ergonomics and change management.
  • PBM and other Managed Care components: Residents have the opportunity to gain experience in managing a PBM that provides service to more than 340,000 covered lives.
  • Experience and discussion regarding professional organizations: In addition to ASHP, the resident gains experience working with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) and Vizient leadership teams.
  • Involvement in teaching and precepting students. Residents gain teaching and precepting experience with students through teaching assistant roles, lecturing and student project coordinator opportunities in Pharm.D. curriculum.