Pharmacy

Education and Professional Development

The University Health Network (UHN) Pharmacy Department collaborates with the University of Toronto Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, other faculties of pharmacy, and pharmacy technician colleges. We provide exceptional education programs for pharmacy residents, pharmacy students and pharmacy technician students.

Our staff are committed to teaching and developing future leaders in hospital pharmacy. Many UHN pharmacists are cross-appointed with the University of Toronto and have extensive teaching experiences. Education is a central pillar of the department. Pharmacy staff members participate in a variety of teaching activities, including course coordination, clinical instructors for pharmacotherapy and medication-therapy management courses, and inter-professional education. The department maintains an extensive continuing education calendar with participation from pharmacists, pharmacy residents and students, pharmacy technicians and external speakers.

Undergraduate Pharmacy Student Experiences

Our department offers a variety of educational opportunities in clinical units and in the areas of research, education, leadership and operational management. Direct patient care (DPC) and non-direct patient care (NDPC) rotations are available in a wide range of inpatient and ambulatory areas at each UHN clinical site. A variety of different teaching models may be used in many of the rotations.

For University of Toronto students, rotations are organized in conjunction with the Office of Experiential Education (OEE) at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Affiliation agreements with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and other pharmacy schools enable these students to complete rotations at UHN as well.

Pharmacy Technician Student Experiences

UHN Pharmacy maintains active affiliation agreements with several pharmacy technician colleges in the province of Ontario. Placements are arranged through the experiential coordinators at each college in collaboration with pharmacy technician supervisors at each UHN site.

Pharmacy Residency Programs

We are proud to offer six residency positions annually for pharmacy graduates. Our residency programs are affiliated with the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto and accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB). Residency programs offer the opportunity to gain patient care, teaching and research experiences in an academic health sciences centre. Three of the programs are Year 1 programs, and one is an advanced practice Year 2 program.

Our Year 1 programs are in the areas of general hospital practice, oncology-focused practice and primary care practice. These programs are open to those who have completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited pharmacy school.

More information on each of the programs is provided:

• General Hospital Pharmacy Residency (3 positions)
• Primary Care Pharmacy Residency (1 position)
• Oncology Pharmacy Residency (1-2 positions)

Residency application deadlines are typically in October for programs starting the following year. Please note that UHN only accepts applications via the process defined by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy (CSHP). Interested applicants should visit the CSHP website for further information on application procedures and yearly deadlines. Emailed resumes and applications are not accepted.

Interested candidates are invited to attend our annual open house to learn more about the residency programs. This event allows you the opportunity to speak with our current and past residents, residency coordinator(s), director(s), preceptors and mentors. The open house is hosted in the fall prior to the application deadline. Contact the pharmacy education coordinators for more information on this year's open house.

We also offer an advanced practice Year 2 residency in the area of HIV. This is a joint program between UHN Pharmacy Department and McGill University Health Centre in Montreal in conjunction with the University of Toronto Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Applicants should have a pharmacy degree (BScPhm, MScPhm or PharmD) and should have completed a Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) accredited general Year 1 residency program (or equivalent). More information and key dates are available on the HIV Pharmacy Specialty Residency webpage.

• Frequently Asked Questions about UHN Residencies

Inter-professional Education and Collaboration

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are highly integrated and contribute to interprofessional patient care, education, and research teams at UHN. Pharmacists actively participate in interprofessional education (IPE) activities in collaboration with all health professions at UHN and the University of Toronto. This includes teaching and learning activities associated with clinical topics, such as pain management and medication safety, as well as on-site IPE placement facilitation.

Volunteering

Periodically, UHN Pharmacy offers volunteer opportunities for pharmacy students who wish to gain hospital pharmacy experience. When available, these volunteer opportunities are circulated to students through their pharmacy school, along with application instructions.

International Learners

There are opportunities for individuals who have a passion for health care to learn and share knowledge through direct observation of pharmacists at UHN. International learners can apply to the International Centre for Education (ICE) to arrange observerships for a predefined period depending on the availability of sponsors. For more information on the different types of observerships and how to apply, please visit the ICE website. Applications are submitted through ICE and then reviewed by the pharmacy education coordinator(s).

Research

Members of the UHN pharmacy team actively contribute to pharmacy research at all UHN sites. Some pharmacists are appointed to the UHN Research Institutes. We collaborate with interprofessional teams to advance knowledge and clinical practice. Every year, we have pharmacist-led research projects that continue to advance our understanding of medication management, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to the field of pharmacy through innovative solutions and evidence-based practices. Many pharmacist-led research studies have been integrated into local and national practices.