WSU PharmD students topped previous year’s accredited residency match rate at 71 percent up from 67 percent the previous year, according to the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP), which coordinates the official match process for pharmacy schools nationwide. This year, 34 WSU PharmD students out of 48 matched.
Residencies are post-graduate training programs which allow new pharmacists to perform as a licensed practitioner to train under the supervision of an experienced preceptor. Residencies are highly sought-after positions to help pharmacists gain experience, leadership skills, advance their growth of clinical judgement, and hone their skills as a practicing pharmacist.
Following graduation this May, Shannon Patterson will be entering residency at the University of North Carolina Hospitals specializing in hospital administration and leadership.
“Absolute shock,” was how Patterson described her reaction when she learned that she had matched. “The residency application process is overwhelming, unpredictable, and joyful. Throughout the process I kept a completely open mind and ranked to my core values.”
“WSU does a great job of training their student pharmacists to be well-rounded individuals in addition to the clinical training. They emphasize leadership, communication, resiliency, and other soft skills that many people don’t learn until they are working out in the real world,” said Trevor Schultz, who matched with Multicare Good Samaritan in Puyallup, Washington. “WSU also focuses heavily on growth mindset and lifelong learning. I have had several preceptors comment on the positive differences they notice between WSU students and students from other programs.”
The college has seen consistent growth in residency matches each year. Ambulatory care, acute care, hospital administration and leadership, are just some of the areas of specialization that WSU PharmD graduates will focus on in their residencies this year.
“Our student pharmacists continue to set residency match records, and it’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and quality of care that is instilled in them as future care providers,” said Associate Dean for Professional Education Jennifer Robinson.
WSU pharmacy students not only found success in residency matches this year, but many have also gone on to start community pharmacy positions directly after graduation. The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a launching pad for student pharmacists with many of them interning and volunteering to administer COVID-19 vaccines and administer tests starting their second year in the program.