Press Release

ASHP Foundation Awards Grant to Study Residents' Program Experiences and Completion

The ASHP Foundation, with support from the Daniel M. Ashby Fund for Excellence in Pharmacy Residency Training, has issued a grant to the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy to conduct research that includes a survey of residency programs directors and residents in ASHP-accredited residency programs to identify challenges in residency training and needs to support residents, preceptors, and residency program directors.

Pharmacists who have completed residency training are exposed to a wide range of patients across many healthcare settings, informing perspectives and honing skills that are a key part of any healthcare team. However, according to national match data, the number of postgraduate year one (PGY1) residents who do not complete their residency year has increased, which may further contribute to the overall decline in postgraduate year two (PGY2) residency completion. Additional downstream effects of this trend on the overall pharmacy workforce are imminent.

This research project will identify factors and barriers for current PGY1 pharmacy residents to transition to PGY2 residency programs and factors impacting residency program completion.

“Given the immediate challenges faced by those in the pharmacy workforce, it is vital that we take action to remove barriers that impede the completion of advanced training,” said Samuel V. Calabrese, vice president of ASHP’s accreditation services office. “Identifying the factors impacting residents’ ability to complete their PGY1 training and pursue PGY2 residencies will assist ASHP and residency programs in creating plans and resources that speak to challenges that prevent residents from completing their training programs.”

This important research is made possible through individual contributions to the Daniel M. Ashby Fund for Excellence in Pharmacy Residency Training.

“Pharmacists who have completed residency training are essential to our healthcare system,” said Ashby, who previously served as ASHP president. “Projects such as this can provide valuable insights that allow residency programs to maximize retention and thoughtfully plan for the future.”

For more information about the survey, contact Barbara Nussbaum, vice president for research and education for the ASHP Foundation.

To support the Daniel M. Ashby Fund for Excellence in Pharmacy Residency Training, go to ashpfoundation.org/donate and select “Daniel M. Ashby Pharmacy Residency Training” from the drop-down menu.