PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency

About Our Program

The PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Infectious Diseases at BIDMC is designed to transition PGY1 residency graduates from generalist practice to specialized practice focused on the care of patients with infectious diseases.

Upon successful completion of the program, residents will have achieved the following required educational outcomes, goals, and objectives for the PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Infectious Diseases:

Promote health improvement, wellness, and the prevention of infectious diseases

Optimize the outcomes of individuals with an infectious disease by providing evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy as an integral member of an interdisciplinary team or as an independent clinician

Manage and improve anti-infective-use processes

Demonstrate excellence in the provision of educational activities for health care professionals and health care professionals in training centering on optimizing anti-infective pharmacotherapy

Serve as an authoritative resource on the optimal use of medications used to treat individuals with an infectious disease

Demonstrate leadership and practice management skills

Conduct infectious diseases pharmacy practice research

Frequently Asked Questions

Our team of Residency Program Directors, Preceptors and Pharmacy Staff is committed to working with our residents during their training at BIDMC. We have listed answers to questions that have frequently been asked about our Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency Program. We hope that this information is helpful in getting to know us and the residency opportunities at BIDMC.

How many residents are recruited each year at BIDMC?

There are two PGY2 Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship residency positions.

What career paths have BIDMC PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residents selected following the residency program?

Program residents and alumni are practicing as Infectious Diseases Coordinators/Managers/Specialists in inpatient and outpatient care settings of medical institutions across the country or abroad, most with affiliations as full or adjunct faculty.

Must I attend ASHP MidYear to be considered as a candidate for the program?

No. While we are registered for the Midyear professional placement services (PPS) program, we don’t always have representation for the ID program at the meeting. Residents will be booked for virtual platform information sessions instead. Selections for interviews will be based on our review of the submitted applications through PHORCAS.

How are candidates selected for an interview?

Completed applications are reviewed by members of the Residency Advisory Committee to determine candidates who most closely match the BIDMC program goals and opportunities with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Your letter of intent, CV, PGY1 rotations and letters of recommendation weigh heavily in the review process. We also consider work experience, career goals, leadership activities, teaching experience and involvement in professional activities as important factors in our selection process.

What should I expect during an interview?

Interviews will be offered virtually or in person, the latter to get a better sense of the hospital and the city. If in person, prospective residents are responsible for travel and lodging costs for the interview at BIDMC. The interview process entails a full day (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) of meetings with the Residency Director, clinical preceptors, administrative staff and the current residents. A tour of the pharmacy and hospital is also included. Each applicant will be asked to present a 15-minute clinical case during the interview day. Virtual requirements are similar.

What is the salary?

The salary for the residency program is $63,000 plus full benefits.

What are the service requirements?

Stewardship pager coverage 5 hours weekly and every third weekend, plus a once weekly day/night coverage of a virtual pager for clinical questions.

Do I need to be licensed in the State of Massachusetts (MA) at the start of residency?

Residents must be licensed or eligible for licensure (reciprocity or examination) at the start of the residency and fully licensed in Massachusetts within 90 days of the start of the residency.

What orientation will I receive prior to starting the residency?

Each resident will attend a general one-day hospital orientation and a 3-day residency-specific orientation during the first week of the residency. This is followed by a general orientation and training program. Additional ID/Stewardship training is scheduled longitudinally during individual clinical practice rotations. This training will prepare the resident for the service component of the residency as well as provide insight into the operational workflow, policies, and procedures of the pharmacy and medical center. Orientation to the College of Pharmacy will be coordinated in August.

How will the program address a customized approach to the residency experience?

Required “core” rotations provide the resident with a broad experience in providing care to hospitalized/clinic patients. A range of elective rotations allows the residents to customize their program to match their interests. Active participation by the residents in designing their program is encouraged.

What teaching experiences are available for the residents?

BIDMC’s affiliation with MCPHS University provides the resident with a number of teaching opportunities/training. In the Spring, the resident will be assigned as a teaching assistant for the Antibiotic/Virology pharmacology course with mentoring in course coordination and syllabus development. Additional opportunities for layered learning with students on APPE rotation with preceptors and with PGY1 residents are abundant.