Mental Health and Substance Use (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency Program

Program

Type: Mental Health and Substance Use

Focus: Acute Care

Positions Available: 2

Stipend/Benefits: $55,000 + benefits

Vacation: 10 paid days

Start Date: September

Program Duration: 52 weeks

Application Deadline & Eligibility Requirements: Y2 Admissions

Program Overview

The LMPS Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency in Mental Health and Substance Use is a 52-week specialty training program.  The Mental Health and Substance Use Advanced Year 2 Pharmacy Residency program aims to further develop candidates into advanced pharmacy practitioners with an emphasis on developing expertise in mental health and addiction.  Residents will have the opportunity to be exposed to mental health, substance use and vulnerable populations in a variety of practice settings and will have the option to further explore their area(s) of interest via elective choices.   Year 2 programs also emphasize clinical leadership in the specialty area, advanced teaching skills and research skills.  The program builds upon the competencies established through completion of an accredited year one pharmacy residency and/or a post-graduate clinical pharmacy degree. Ultimately, graduates from the Y2 MHSU program are anticipated to be future leaders in clinical pharmacy practice, education and research. The program is designed to comply with the accreditation standards of the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board for Advanced (Year 2) Residency programs.

The Year 2 program in Mental Health and Substance Use is offered through Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services and draws on our nearly 50 years of experience providing residency training.  Residents in the program will have access to a large group of highly experienced preceptors who possess advanced training and who are recognized leaders in pharmacy practice. Four of the required rotations will occur at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver a site known for innovation in the management of patients with substance use disorders and in the care of vulnerable populations.  Other rotations are hosted by expert preceptors in diverse range of practice settings aimed at providing the resident with broad experiences in mental health and substance use management and longitudinal care.

To learn more about our training sites:  LMPS Training Sites

The LMPS Advanced (Year 2) Pharmacy Residency in Mental Health and Substance Use will seek CPRB Accreditation in Fall 2024/Spring 2025.  Program accreditation is retroactive to prior program graduates and all successful graduates may use the ACPR2 designation.

Candidates for the Mental Health and Substance Use Advanced (Year 2) Residency program must be highly motivated learners and committed to clinical leadership, leading the profession as advanced practitioners within the health care system.

Required RotationS

  • Program Orientation (1 week)

  • 4 week learning experiences:

    • Acute Psychiatry I

    • Acute Psychiatry II - final "capstone rotation"

    • Addiction Medicine Consult Team

    • Urban Health Unit - Addiction and Complex Medicine

    • Tertiary Mental Health and Substance Use

    • Outpatient Psychiatry

    • Redfish Healing Centre (concurrent disorders)

Elective Rotations

  • Select 2 (4 week learning experiences)

    • Pediatric/Adolescent Psychiatry

    • Opioid Stewardship

    • Maternal/Obstetric Substance Use Inpatient Unit

    • Rapid Access Addiction Clinic

    • Geriatric Psychiatry

    • A range of other outpatient addiction clinic options

    • Vulnerable populations in primary care

    • Academic/Research rotation

    • Acute care rotation (max 1) - medicine, cardiology, or AMS

These are examples of potential elective rotations available. Additional electives are available based on the resident’s interest.

LONGITUDINAl Rotations/Experiences

These are rotations and activities scheduled over the course of the residency year.

  • Research Project

  • Critical Appraisal, Research Methods & Medical Statistics

  • Quality Improvement & Medication Safety

  • Leadership in Professional Practice

  • Formal Teaching (University) opportunities

  • Professional Conference attendance

  • Motivational interviewing

  • Indigenous Cultural Safety

For additional information, please contact:

Program Director:

Michael Legal, B.Sc. (Pharm.), ACPR, Pharm.D., FCSHP

Director, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services

mlegal@providencehealth.bc.ca

 

Advanced (Year 2) Residency Adult Programs Coordinator:

Cindy Luo, B.Sc. (Pharm.), Pharm.D., ACPR, BCPS

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Solid Organ Transplant, Vancouver General Hospital

Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services

cindy.luo@vch.ca