For UI College of Pharmacy graduate Sidney Vancil, heading to a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) general pharmacy residency at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, is the culmination of years of hard work and a capstone to her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education. 

“It is a dream come true to match,” said Vancil. “To me, it serves as a reflection of all the amazing experiences I've had throughout my time in pharmacy school, as well as all the support I have received from my family, friends, classmates, professors, and mentors.”

Vancil is one of 61 PharmD students from the Class of 2024 who matched for a PGY1 residency. The College had an outstanding 97% match rate, which is within the top 10% in the country. It's the second consecutive year the College exceeded 90%, posting 92% in 2023. 

Advanced Training
Overseen by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) – the accrediting body for all pharmacy residency programs –pharmacy residencies are one- or two-year training programs providing PharmD graduates (pharmacists) hands-on decision making and experience working with other health-care professionals under the supervision of experienced preceptors. Residencies also include focused mentoring, leadership development, research experience, and preparation for advanced pharmacy positions. 

ASHP’s Residency Matching Program lends structure to help graduating pharmacists find residencies. They apply to and interview for positions, then learn on Match Day if and where they were accepted. Most PGY1 residencies are often a comprehensive overview in a health-system based environment, with others concentrated more in areas, such as ambulatory care, community practice, or managed care.

Vancil credits the College with preparing her to take on her new role. 

“The College of Pharmacy has provided me with a solid foundation of clinical knowledge, and I am excited to expand upon that during residency,” she said. “Having the hospital on campus and the opportunities to shadow pharmacists and complete IPPE/APPE rotations there has also helped me learn what it is like to be a pharmacist in this setting, and these learning experiences will definitely help me transition from student to resident.”

Below, learn about six of Vancil's classmates headed to residencies, including where they’re going and what they’re excited about.

Brittany Bullock PGY1 – Community Moose Pharmacy Concord, North Carolina “I started working at an independent pharmacy the summer before pharmacy school and I fell in love with the patient-first practice philosophy. I’m excited to learn from some of the most forward-thinking community pharmacists in the country. Community pharmacy is at a crossroads right now and I am looking forward to continuing to advocate for pharmacists’ scope of practice and the right to be paid fairly for the services we provide.”
Jacob Bulger PGY1 & 2 – Hospital University of Iowa Health Care Iowa City, Iowa “I have a desire to become a more effective leader and eventually help enact policies at a system level to improve patient outcomes. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with and learn from the many amazing pharmacists at UI Health Care that I have developed relationships with over the past four years.”
Sara Carr PGY1 – Acute Care University of Utah Health Salt Lake City, Utah “The PGY1 in acute care will prepare me to pursue my goal of becoming an inpatient oncology pharmacist. I am looking forward to expanding my clinical knowledge and getting to complete rotations in the Huntsman Cancer Institute. I am also very excited to explore Salt Lake City and go skiing and hiking!”
Lauren Duncalf PGY1 – Pharmacy Iowa City VA Health Care System Iowa City, Iowa  “I’m (eager to) interact with everyone in the VA again. I completed one of my APPE rotations there and was really drawn to the supportive community within the pharmacy department. I'm drawn to ambulatory care, specifically, because of the long-term relationships which can be built with patients.”
Spencer Heggen PGY1 – Acute Care  University of Wisconsin (UW) Health Madison, Wisconsin “I enjoy the complexity that comes with caring for patients admitted to the hospital and interacting directly with other health care professionals to provide team-based patient care. I am looking forward to gaining confidence and autonomy as a practicing pharmacist, exploring Madison, and living in a new place.”
Zach Nunemaker PGY1 – Managed Care Providence Health Plan  Beaverton, Oregon “I chose to pursue managed care pharmacy to gain a better understanding of the various forms of health plan coverage and ultimately help make medications more accessible and affordable to everyone. I am looking forward to moving to Beaverton, Oregon, exploring the outdoors, and meeting new people along the way.”

Another five students have received industry fellowships. A pharmacy fellowship is a directed, highly individualized postgraduate program designed to prepare participants to become independent researchers. It is becoming a popular route to obtaining advanced training. A 2022-23 analysis of PharmD industry fellowships by the Industry Pharmacists Organization found a 217% increase in the number of fellows over the previous nine years.