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City of Hope-Chapman Pharmacy Practice Residency
PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at City of Hope-Chapman

»PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at City of Hope-Chapman

The Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency at City of Hope is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

This program builds upon 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 PGY1 residency programs 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 (PGY2) residencies.

 The residency program starts on June 30 of each year.

A general overview of the residency is available for download here. 

This residency is a partnership between Chapman University and City of Hope under the leadership of Dr. Jelena Lewis, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, and Dr. Suchi Gunasekaran, who serves as the Residency Program Coordinator at City of Hope.


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Admission & Application Information

The resident for the City of Hope-Chapman Pharmacy Practice Residency program is selected on a nationally competitive basis.

Requirements for Acceptance:

  • Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited school of pharmacy
  • Must be eligible for pharmacist licensure in the state of California
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Letter of intent
  • Official transcripts sent directly from the school of pharmacy to PhORCAS
  • Current curriculum vitae

How to Apply:

Why Choose the City of Hope-Chapman Pharmacy Practice Residency?

This year-long program provides the resident with a deep understanding of a multitude of pharmacy environments by engaging in more than ten sectors of healthcare through required rotations. These rotations include hematology, infectious disease, and medical surgery, and complement the Teaching Certificate program simultaneously obtained through Chapman University. The integrated and interprofessional training provided by this program will help the resident develop a strong knowledge foundation in all hospital settings that pharmacists influence.

Compensations and Benefits

  • Hourly stipend
  • Medical and dental insurance
  • Vision plan (optional)
  • BCLS certification 
  • Assistance for continuing education and professional meetings
  • Free Parking
  • Wellness incentives
  • Employee discounts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the residency ASHP accredited?

The Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency at City of Hope is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

What is the structure of the residency?

The PGY1 residency is comprised of numerous required and elective rotations. The rotations vary in length from 2 weeks to 6 weeks in length and will occur at both the Duarte and Irvine (Lennar Foundation Cancer Center) locations.

What types of elective learning experiences does the residency offer?

Elective experiences include specialty pharmacy, research, and 340B. Additional experiences may be offered in the future.   

Is participation in the teaching certificate program mandatory?

Yes, our residents are required to participate in the CUSP Teaching Certificate program and successfully accomplish all the requirements by the end of their program.

Do I have to conduct a research project?

Yes. The resident is expected to conduct a yearlong research project and present at the Western States Conference.

How is the research project topic selected?

At the beginning of the year, the residents will be provided a set of research opportunities as determined by the Residency Program Director and Residency Coordinators. The resident will have an opportunity to meet the preceptors offering the research project at the beginning of the residency year to discuss research interests. The research topic can be tailored to residents’ interests as long as it aligns with the needs of City of Hope.

 

Can I attend conferences during my residency?

The residency offers compensation for travel to CSHP and ASHP conferences each year.

To whom should my Letter of Intent & Letters of Recommendation be addressed?

Please address letters of intent and letters of recommendation to the Residency Selection Committee.

Additional Contact Information

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Brian Chu, PharmD, BCOP

Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Program

bchu@coh.org

 

Suchi Gunasekaran, PharmD, BCOP

PGY1 Residency Program Coordinator

sgunasekaran@coh.org

 

Ishmum Hasan, PharmD

PGY1 Residency Program Coordinator

ihasan@coh.org

photo of Pollyanna Leung, PharmD

Pollyanna Leung, PharmD

PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at City of Hope-Chapman Resident
Pollyanna Leung, Pharm.D., received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy. As a PGY1 resident at City of Hope, she is looking forward to strengthening her foundation in an acute care setting. She is currently interested in the areas of hematology and oncology.
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Dr. Suchi Gunasekaran
Residency Program Coordinator