Personal Placement Service - decision time!

Personal Placement Service (PPS) is a service offered by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists which takes place at their Midyear Clinical Meeting (MCM).  It allows employers and potential employees to meet face-to-face for a mini-interview at Midyear.  In addition to traditional job opportunities, PPS is also a venue for those interested in pharmacy residencies.  Participation in PPS is not universal so it is important to understand the factors which will predict whether a PGY-1 residency program will participate in PPS.  The programs most likely to participate are:

• Large programs which offer both PGY-1 and PGY-2 positions
• Large employers which may also have multiple job openings as well
• Pharmaceutical industry fellowships
• Programs geographically located close to where the MCM will be held ( this will be Florida in 2013)

Decision time is here because early-bird prices for PPS applicants expire on October 21st (prices go from $70 to $130 for students).  Although the ASHP meeting is not until December, if you are interested in participating in PPS, you should consider getting started now so that you can secure an interview slot at the meeting.  Once you register for PPS, employers and residency directors will be able to find you in searches for PPS participants.  You will also be able to express your interest in participating programs.  Because PPS involves scheduled interview times, not everyone who wants an interview will receive one.  Programs will be looking for your qualifications as well as whether what they are offering matches what you are looking for.  

Although what happens at PPS is an "interview," different programs have different practices.  Some may treat PPS as a pre-screening activity where they will ask tough questions and try to get to know each applicant so that they can decide who moves to the next round.  Others will treat PPS as an opportunity to showcase their program and attract interested applicants.  It will be tough to determine which is which but if you are extended an offer to interview at PPS, it is always a good idea to ask whether there is anything specific you need to do to prepare for the interview.

To best take advantage of the PPS experience, avoid looking at programs which are located in your city.  Programs will want to use that time to look at applicants more geographically distant and you can always work on scheduling a visit with programs in your town when things are less hectic.  Make sure you make that face-to-face connection, however.  It is strange for a program to receive first contact with a local applicant when the application arrives.  You don't want the program to think they are your last choice or back-up program if they are not.

More about PPS will be posted on this web site in November.

Residency candidates and social media

If you are a residency-bound student graduating in 2014, you are probably thinking about the contents of your curriculum vitae (CV) with some frequency.  There are numerous places where you can get feedback on your CV including the USHP CV Review Night (Sept. 23, 2013) and the ACCP CV Review Service.  While you have probably heard all of the stories about typos and irrelevant information which have appeared on "bad" residency candidate CVs, in the grand scheme of things, this is nothing compared to what could potentially be discovered about you via social media.  Consider the possibility that what you might consider typical off-work behavior might be poorly perceived by the workplace environment when an attempt is being made to judge your character or values.  As evidenced through timeline posts, comments, photographs, "likes" of companies/organizations/events, residency program directors might discover explicit language, racist/sexist/ageist remarks, evidence of substance abuse, behavior which is in poor taste, etc.  Consider the following.  In a survey conducted in 2009, 75 - 90% of residency program directors agreed or strongly agreed to the following statements:

• "Information published voluntarily online in social media should be "fair game" for judgments on character, attitudes, and professionalism."
• "Residency candidates should be accountable for unprofessional behavior discovered through social media postings."
• "Professional students should be held to higher standards than other students regarding the image they portray on social media."
• "The attitudes and behaviors displayed (e.g., comments, photos) on social media reflect upon an individual as a health care provider."
• "It is acceptable for a pharmacy residency program director to review a prospective residency candidate's social media profile."
• "If a pharmacy residency program director chooses to review a residency candidate's social media profile, it is acceptable for that information to be used when considering the candidate's suitability."

While social media might seem like a great place to showcase yourself, consider that in the same survey, of the small number residency program directors who viewed pharmacy residency candidates social media information, 52% discovered issues revealing an unprofessional attitude.  This does not mean that pharmacy residency candidates are unprofessional.  It just means that social media allowed a view into people's private or personal lives which reflected on their professional lives.  If you would not like to openly discuss your leisure time activities with an employer, make sure that "conversation" is not happening without your consent via social media.

Cain J, Scott DR, Smith K. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2010;67:1635-9.

Meetings Meetings Everywhere!

Today's blog post is about the wealth of pharmacy meetings which are scheduled between now and residency application deadlines (early January).  Each one offers slightly different professional development and/or residency applicant resources.  Lower student registration prices reflect the costs for members of the organization. Organized by date...

September 14th, 2013 Utah Society of Health-System Pharmacists ($40 for students)
University of Utah Campus (HSEB), Salt Lake City, Utah

• Opportunities to network with local residency preceptors and directors
• Residency "speed dating." Students rotate between stations to learn about PhORCAS, the Match, letters of reference, ASHP Midyear residency showcase, PPS, letters of intent

October 4th - 5th, 2013 Nevada Society of Health-System Pharmacists ($25 - $35)
John Ascuaga's Nugget, Reno, Nevada

• Opportunities to network with local residency preceptors and directors
• Professional development roundtables (details TBA)

October 12th - 16th, 2013 American College of Clinical Pharmacy ($165 - $230)
Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Opportunities to network with residency and fellowship preceptors and directors
• Residency-related programming:  Emerge from the crowd: how to become a standout residency candidate
• Clinical Pharmacy Career Path Roundtables where you can speak with practitioners about 15 different specialties in clinical pharmacy
• Opportunities to meet residency and fellowship preceptors and directors via the Residency and Fellowship Forum
• CV and portfolio development workshop
• Mock residency interviews

October 15th - 18th, 2013 Academy of Managed Care Pharmacists ($120 - $140)
San Antonio, Texas

• Opportunities to meet preceptors and directors via the showcase of managed care residencies and fellowships
• CV review clinic
• Programming on understanding the residency match

October 31st - November 3rd, 2013 California Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Seminar ($225 - $305)
Anaheim, California

• Opportunities to meet preceptors and directors via the residency showcase
• Student programming

December 8 - 12th, 2013 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Meeting ($270 - $375)
Orlando, Florida

• Opportunities to network with residency preceptors and directors
• Residency-related programming (the Match, applications, PhORCAS, interviews, PPS, CVs)
• Opportunities to meet preceptors and directors via the residency showcase
• Opportunities for a mini-interview with some residency programs

Pharmacy Specialties? There may or may not be student or residency-specific programming, but why not go to network? 

• Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists (September 9th, Denver, Colorado)
• Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (September 27th, Chicago, Illinois)
• Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (April 2014)
• College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (April 2014)

Taking the risk on residency

More than any other generation of pharmacy students, you have taken a sizeable gamble in deciding to become a pharmacist.  Most likely you are taking a large financial risk in going to school to study pharmacy and the chances that there won't be a paycheck to help you with those loans is higher than it has been for previous students.  Pursuing a residency position is yet another huge gamble.  What will happen if your time and effort spent networking, working on applications, and completing projects don't pay off? 

Around this time of year, Dr. Sebranek and I talk to a lot of students who are hesitant to take the gamble on a residency position.  They perhaps enjoyed and did well in their first two rotations.  Maybe a recent preceptor told them they would make a good resident.  Maybe they have heard that a residency will best prepare them to compete for the type of pharmacy position they want.  The problem is that they are unsure if the gamble is worth the effort.  Here are some questions you should ask yourself if you are finding yourself in this position.

1. What am I losing by putting time and effort into applying for a residency if I don't get one? How does that time and effort compare to what I've already invested in the profession?
2. What advice have I been given about my "chances?"  Do people (classmates, preceptors, mentors, faculty) seem surprised when I say I want to pursue residency training? Do people seem enthusiastic and encouraging?  What is in my power to change if my chances don't seem favorable in other's eyes?
3. How well informed do I feel about what I will get out of residency training?
4. What do I risk by spending my first (or second) year after graduation in residency training? What are the expectations of my friends and family? What do and don't they understand about the risks vs. benefits of completing a residency?

A recent study published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists reveals the results of a survey of current residents and pharmacy faculty on the factors motivating students to decide to pursue or not pursue residency training.  The most common barriers were as follows: financial obligations (79%), a job was available upon graduation (45%), family obligations (37%), geographical limitations (28%), the belief that grades were not good enough (17%), competition for highly sought after programs (28%), disappointment of not matching (20%). 

I don't know about you, but I think it is a shame that 3 out of the 6 most common reasons have to do with fear and lack of confidence.  As you are thinking about your next steps, evaluate your fears carefully and take a hard look at the "worst case scenarios." 

Residency Interview Structure

The following list describes some of the features of pharmacy residency interviews of which pharmacy residency candidates should be aware.

• Half of all programs ask clinical questions.  They might ask about practice guidelines or drugs of choice, for example.  Five to fifteen percent of programs might ask for a case presentation or preparation of a SOAP note.
• A little less than a third of programs ask the candidate to prepare a short (15 - 30 min.) presentation necessitating the use of slides.
• Most programs involve their current residents in the interview process, including the selection of candidates.
• About half of programs have an interview that is a half-day (5 hours or less) in length.
• Three quarters of programs provide breakfast, lunch, or both.
• Few programs (< 20%) provide any travel accommodations for out-of-state applicants.
• Candidates do not interview with more than one candidate in the room.  Each candidate will usually have multiple one-on-one or small group interviews with each lasting a half-hour to an hour.
• Each candiate might interact with as many as 10 preceptors or staff members throughout the day.

Adapted from Mancuso CE, Paloucek FP. Understanding and preparing for pharmacy practice residency interviews. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2004;61:1686-9 and Mersfelder TL, Bickel RJ. Structure of postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency interviews. 2009 Jun 15;66:1075-6.

Top 20 Residency Interview Questions!

This is based on the results of a study where researchers attempted to collect a list of the most common interview questions with median rankings for importance (5 = most important, 1 = least important). Questions without rankings were provided as open questions by survey participants.

1. Why do you want to do a residency? (100% asking, importance 5/5)
2. Where do you see yourself after a PGY-1 residency?* (97% asking, importance 4/5)
3. What areas of practice most interest you? (93% asking, importance 4/5)
4. What qualities do you possess would make you a good resident? (88% asking, 4/5 importance)
5. What are your worst qualities? (73% asking, 4/5 importance)
6. What was your favorite rotation? (73% asking, 4/5 importance)
7. Describe the most significant contribution you made to a patient's care this past year. (60% asking, 4/5 importance)
8. Are you considering a PGY-2 residency or fellowship?* (59% asking, 3/5 importance)
9. What was your least favorite rotation? (56% asking, 3/5 importance)
10. Describe your most memorable experiences from rotations. (47% asking, 4/5 importance)
11. If I were to ask preceptor X to describe you, what words would he or she use? (37% asking, 4/5 importance)
12. Describe your favorite or most memorable patient. (32% asking, 4/5 importance)
13. What is your definition of pharmaceutical care?* (24% asking, 3/5 importance)
14. Who was your favorite preceptor? (19% asking, 4/5 importance)
15. Why are you interested in our program? (13% asking)
16. Describe or discuss the most interesting medical journal article you have recently read. (13% asking, 3/5 importance)
17. How do you handle conflict? (10% asking)
18. What do you like to do for fun? (8% asking)
19. Describe a conflict with a preceptor or attending physician. (7% asking)
20. Describe your time-management skills. (7% asking)

* Because this study was conducted in 2003, certain terms have been updated or might be phrased differently to reflect current standards and practices.

Be prepared for these questions to include follow-up, especially if the question is closed-ended (ex. Are you considering a PGY-2? vs. Why are you considering a PGY-2?).

Mancuso CE, Paloucek FP. Understanding and preparing for pharmacy practice residency interviews. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2004;61:1686-9.

Gearing up for Midyear!

Step 1: Registration

The base meeting registration fee is $255 for students who are members and $355 for students who are not members of ASHP.  This fee provides you with access to all of the following:

• Keynote presentation (Bill Clinton)
• Educational symposia from Sunday - Thursday (except ambulatory "intensive study")
• The residency showcase
• All poster sessions
• All industry exhibits

There are other activities associated with additional fees which range betwen $80 and $295 each.  Many are courses for pharmacists about how to run a residency program (RLS) and courses for pharmacists needing to recertify for a certain credential (like BCACP).  The only one of these activities targeted towards students is the board prep on Saturday. 

Step 2: Personal Placement Service

This is a separate registration and fee which allows you to interview with employers and/or residency programs at the meeting.  The fee for students is $125.  Not all residency programs participate in PPS and PPS participation does not guarantee you will be granted an interview with your desired site at the meeting.  You need to contact them, provide a copy of your CV and then be invited to interview at PPS.  To check whether a program you are considering is participating in PPS, please check this online list.  This list is expected to change frequently between now and the meeting.  Not all programs listed are recruiting for PGY-1 residencies so it might be advisable to contact them directly.

If you are considering PPS, register early so that potential employers/programs can find you and contact you.  Setting up interviews if you register for PPS on site might be problematic if all of the interview slots have been booked by candidates who registered in advance.

Step 3: Network

Many colleges of pharmacy and large health systems conduct social functions at the Midyear in order to develop new contacts and reconnect with alumni.  Roseman's social function will be held Monday night at the Luxor and is open to all Roseman students registered for the meeting.  For other social events, it is recommended that you wait to be invited rather than spontaneously dropping in on a social event.  If you do attend, make sure you are wearing your most formal business attire.  Students in cocktail attire will stand out in a bad way.

Step 4: Residency Showcase

Start with a list of which programs strongly interest you.  Make sure you have researched each one thoroughly using the ASHP Residency Directory and the program's own web site.  Write down questions that you want to ask each program.  Not all programs should be asked the same questions since each will have different information available in the directory and on their web site.  Visit the Midyear web site to figure out which program will be in the showcase on which day since different programs have booth space on each day.  The showcase will be open on Monday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., on Tuesday from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m., and on Tuesday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.  As of this posting, a list of dates for specific programs was not available; however, in "early November" per the web site, ASHP will provide an Excel file which can be sorted and filtered to help you figure out how to find the programs you are wishing to talk to by booth number.  There will also be an interactive floor plan map which can help you find exactly where on the very large exhibit floor each program will be. 

Pharmacy Practice Philosophy

Last week Dr. Smith emailed the Utah P3 class with information about APhA's Career Pathways Evaluation Program.  If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to complete the pathway to help you determine which factors are most important to you in your future career.  Simply wanting to do a residency is too vague of a short-term career goal.  With the tight economy, many residency programs are flooded with candidates who are applying because the candidates don't know what else to do career-wise or simply want to "gain more clinical experience."  Historically, these students do not fare well with securing residency interviews or matching with residency programs.

A good way to get started on this important skill is to complete a pharmacy practice philosophy.  To learn more about how to do this, visit the Pharmacy Practice Philosophy page on this blog.

These questions are very important as you begin researching residency programs and determining how you envision your residency training to be. Very soon you will be writing letters of intent to residency programs. Your letter should include detailed information regarding the above questions. In addition to evaluating how well of a "fit" you are to the residency program, residency programs will be considering how well their program meets your needs. If you are able to answer the questions in detail, you will stand out as more mature residency candidate with a clearer vision of pharmacy practice.

ACCP Clinical Compass

The clinical compass page of the student section of the ACCP web site has descriptions of and links to useful resources for students in all stages of the process of looking at residencies.  I especially like the links to accreditation information, the list of accredited specialties, and the examples of residency application documents.  There's a small section on fellowships, but there is only a link for pharmaceutical industry fellowship information.  There are also clinical research fellowships available.  If you are considering a non-industry fellowship, let me know and I'll try to get you some additional information.

ACCP Clinical Compass