PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

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.

Requirements

A registered California pharmacist license is required for this residency program.
Each resident may be required to staff all services provided by the department.

Curriculum

The curriculum of City of Hope’s PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program involves three components: Required learning experiences, Elective learning experiences and Project based activities.

Required Learning Experiences

The PGY1 resident has a mix of concentrated and longitudinal required learning experiences, with two three-week blocks reserved for electives that will be determined based on the resident's interests and preceptor availability.

Orientation (4-5 weeks)
Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (3 weeks)
Infectious Disease (6 weeks)
Internal Medicine (4 weeks)
Anticoagulation Clinic (2 weeks)
Medical Surgery (4 weeks)
Inpatient Care Units Operation (4-5 weeks)
Critical Care (4 weeks)
Hematology I (Leukemia) (3 weeks)
Hematology II (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) (3 weeks)
Pediatrics (3 weeks)
Teaching Skills Professional Development Program (longitudinal, 46 weeks)*
Clinical Pharmacy Staffing (longitudinal, 36-39 weeks)*
Research Project (longitudinal, 46 weeks)*
Administrative and Medication Safety (longitudinal, 46 weeks)*

* For longitudinal learning experiences, residents will be evaluated quarterly basis (roughly about 90 days from the start of the learning experience)

Elective Learning Experiences (all three weeks)

Administration II (Special Project)
Ambulatory Care Clinic- Hematology
Ambulatory Care Clinic- Medical Oncology
Hematology III (IEC/Lymphoma/Myeloma Service)
Investigational Drug Service
Supportive Care

Additional Resident Activities

ACPE Accredited CE Lecture
Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
Safe Medication Committee
Medication Monograph and Formulary Review
Adverse Drug Reaction and Pharmacy Intervention Review
Pharmacy Professional Enrichment Series (Seminar)
Western States Conference Resident Project Presentation and Manuscript
Medication Utilization Evaluation
Various Residency Projects

Program Contacts

Mohsen Shamai, Pharm.D., BCPS
Residency Program Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
[email protected]

Ishmum Hasan, Pharm.D.
Residency Program Coordinator, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
[email protected]

PGY1 Open House

The Open House sessions are available for all resident candidates to learn more about the program and meet current residents and clinical staff.

We will be holding an in-person Open House on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm. If you are interested in attending, please use the link below to sign up for updates. We look forward to meeting you!