FAQs

When Does the Residency Begin?

The residency officially begins July 1. Past residents have attended orientation prior to this start date, but this is dependent on the individual’s school graduation day and resident preference.

How Many Resident Positions Are Available?

Currently there are two pharmacy resident positions available. 

What is the Resident’s Staffing Obligations?

The resident is responsible to staff one day every two weeks (or every pay period). However, one of the best parts of participating in a residency located in Bellingham is living in Bellingham. We encourage all residents to balance resident obligations while enjoying the wonderful Pacific Northwest.

What are the Residency’s Core Rotations?

Visit our Practice Area Rotations page. 

What Elective Rotations are Available?

An individual resident’s unique interests drive elective course selection. Our program allows residents to participate in established electives, but also gives you the freedom to potentially create new ones.

Below is a sampling of electives residents have completed in the past:

Are There Opportunities for Attending Conferences & Continuing Education?

Residents attend the annual American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Meeting where they are responsible for presenting a poster on their residency project. Full financial support is also available for residents to attend the Western States Conference. 

We provide both time-off and financial support to residents to encourage attendance at other conferences unique to each resident’s interest. Past residents have attended the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) Annual Conference, North Cascades Cardiology Conference, and various Washington State sponsored meetings. 

Additionally, the hospital has regularly scheduled continuing education lectures such as Tumor Board Oncology Grand Rounds, Cardiovascular Grand Rounds, Geriatric Journal Club performed by health professionals within the institution.

What are the Application Requirements?

Visit our Apply page for a complete list of required materials and for application instructions.

Is a Stipend or Benefits Offered?

Visit our Requirements & Benefits page for more information. 

Is an Onsite Interview Required?

Yes, an onsite interview is required for the position.

What is the Application Process Like? Are There Upcoming Deadlines?

Visit our Apply page for more information.

What is the Resident Matching Program & How Do I Apply?

ASHP contracts with the National Matching Service (NMS) to operate a Resident Matching Program for residencies in pharmacy practice. The Resident Matching Program ensures that each pharmacy practice residency program is matched with preferred applicants who have selected their program as an acceptable site in which to train.

To apply for an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency, you must register through the Resident Matching Program. You should also browse the ASHP Residency Directory. In it you'll find descriptions of all accredited residencies, along with important contact information. (Note: To complete a PGY-2 specialized residency you do indeed have to go through the same matching process as the PGY-1 generalized residency, unless you are doing a PGY-1 at a place that has a PGY-2 as well. There are provisions for them to internally select PGY-1 candidates to fill PGY-2 slots without going through the match. This is not too common as most people leave where they finished their PGY-1 to complete a PGY-2 in order to gain a wider exposure in facility/practice.)

After consulting the ASHP Residency Directory and identifying programs of interest, you need to request application forms from individual program directors, not from ASHP. Most programs require you to visit their site to complete the application process; however, application procedures vary by program.

For more information about the Resident Matching Program, contact NMS.

Who Should I Contact for More Information?

Visit our Contact Us/Directions page for a list of contact information.

What fun things are there to do around Bellingham?

There is an abundance of fun activities to participate in around the area! Mount Baker is the area’s winter sports hub and offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding. If you are interested in seeing a show, Bellingham is home to Mount Baker Theatre and the Up Front Theatre. For the outdoor enthusiast, there are world-class running trails, mountain and road biking, as well as kayaking. You can hop on a ferry and explore the amazing San Juan Islands. Seattle and Vancouver, BC, are easily accessible from Bellingham, both offering a variety of entertainment.

Visit our Bellingham page for a detailed overview on our community.