PGY1 & PGY2 Combined Investigational Drugs & Research Pharmacy Residency
Description of Program
This two-year specialty residency training program in Investigational Drugs & Research Pharmacy is designed to provide the resident with a wide array of experiences in clinical drug research while affording opportunities for collaboration with renowned clinicians and world class experts in research, education, and population health.
The program is designed to provide a strong clinical foundation while developing analytical, leadership, teaching, and writing skills. It will also provide experiences in clinical trial research and research pharmacy staffing experiences.
The first year is aligned with the PGY1 pharmacy program, with elective and longitudinal experiences available in research-related areas. The PGY2 year provides specialized experiences in clinical research. Upon completion of the program, the resident will be prepared to secure a specialized pharmacist position in a variety of clinical research, regulatory, and drug development settings, including industry, academia, and research pharmacy practice.
Yihan Sun, PharmD, BCPS
Caitlyn Young, PharmD
- University of Michigan Health Virtual Residency Showcase (VIRTUAL) November 20, 2025, 7:00-8:00 PM EST
- Candidates must pre-register on or before November 20th.
- ASHP Midyear Residency Showcase; December 8th, 1:00-4:00 PM Booth #4010
Please see the PGY1/PGY2 IDRP Graduation Requirements Checklist for a complete list of all graduation requirements and deliverables.
Separate certificates will be issued upon successful completion of each year. Residents must successfully complete the PGY1 program as a pre-requisite to starting the PGY2 residency program.
Required and Elective Learning Experiences for PGY1 Year
Required Learning Experiences for PGY2 Year
Learning experiences are defined as units equal to 20 rotation days to allow flexibility in scheduling. Experiences are scheduled as blocks (7-8 weeks) or as longitudinal experiences across multiple months (5 or 10 months).
Required Block Learning Experiences
- MICHR IND/IDE Assistance Program (1 unit)
- Orientation: IRB and On-line training and on-boarding (2 Units)
- Outpatient Research Clinic (1 unit)
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Human Subject Protection and IRBMED (1 unit)
- Practice Management I: Managing a Research Pharmacy Team (0.5 unit)
- Practice Management II: Leading a Research Pharmacy Service (1 unit)
- Quality and Safety I: Foundations and Principles (0.5 unit)
- Quality and Safety II: Applications to Research Pharmacy Practice (0.5 unit)
- Research Pharmacy Services: Operations (1 unit)
- Study Management I: The Role of the Lead Pharmacist (0.5 unit)
- Study Management II: Advanced Topics (0.5 unit)
- Writing project and CE (0.5 unit)
- Research or Quality Project (0.5 unit)
- Teaching Rotation for Residents (0.25 unit)
Elective Block Learning Experiences for PGY2 Year (residents select 2)
- Protocol Review Committee - Scientific Merit (1 unit)
- Compounding Compliance Management (1 unit)
- Infusion Pharmacy Research Operations (1 unit)
- Senior/Executive Leadership: Research Enterprise (1 unit)
- Expanded Access Support (1 unit)
Additional opportunities for electives can be considered/explored based on resident interest and alignment with residency goals and objectives. Any new electives must be developed and approved by IDRP RAC
Staffing Requirements:
- PGY1: per PGY1 Pharmacy residency program
- PGY2: Staffing is an average of one research pharmacy (RP) dispensing shift per week beginning in August. These are 5-hour weekday shifts that occur during the prevailing research pharmacy hours of operation.
- The PGY2 resident will also staff the holiday block during their on-call major and minor holiday weeks, and two gap days between Christmas and New Year holidays, depending on the needs of the service. The major and minor holidays and gaps days are as defined previously in the manual. Holiday blocks staffed include up to five RP 5-hour dispensing shifts and may occur during the RP business days before or after the holiday.
On-Call Requirement
PGY2: Residents participate in the Research Pharmacy on-call rotation, which is comprised of 1-week on call assignments. Residents provide an average of 6 weeks per year, which must include weeks with at least one major and one minor holiday as defined previously in the manual.
Through the research and writing requirements of the program, the resident has the potential to produce at least two manuscripts suitable for peer-reviewed publication by the end of each year of the residency. In the PGY2, the resident will participate in the development and implementation of a research study protocol of interest, relevant to investigational drugs and clinical research. Experience in protocol writing, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation and publication will be provided.
Development of writing and presentation skills is available through writing review articles and research papers, providing written communication to other healthcare professionals, as well as presentations to the Department of Pharmacy personnel and at local, regional and national meetings.
- Yihan Sun, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Research Pharmacy
Residency Program Director - PGY1/2 Investigational Drugs and Research Pharmacy
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor - University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Email: [email protected] - Caitlyn Young, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Allergy Clinic and Research Pharmacy
Residency Program Coordinator - PGY1/2 Investigational Drugs and Research Pharmacy
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor - University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Email: [email protected]
- Please check out the F.A.Q. for application information & deadlines.
