The University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy Community Pharmacy Residency (U.P.R.-CPRP) is a 12-month program which promotes the continued development and enhancement of the pharmacists’ direct patient care, teaching, and research skills, contributing at the same time to the evolution and progress of the pharmacy profession in Puerto Rico. U.P.R.-CPRP is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

U.P.R.-CPRP was developed with the contribution of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation (NACDS Foundation) through its CPRP Expansion Project 2012-13 and agreements between four companies and the U.P.R. School of Pharmacy. Walgreens, Farmacias Caridad, Farmacia San José-Lares and Hospital General Castañer-Lares made it possible to provide structured training to 4 community pharmacy residents until residency year 2017-18. The program was accredited in 2014 after graduating the first 2 residents. The accreditation was continuously extended until 2023. The program paused in residency year 2021. U.P.R.-CPRP reinitiated for the residency year 2024-25 with 2 residents. The ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) acknowledged the Accreditation Candidate Status on August 29, 2024 and is currently in the evaluation process to grant the Accredited Status.

U.P.R.-CPRP provides opportunities to two residents in partnership with Farmacia Santa Cruz Pharma Care in San Juan, P.R. and Farmacia Sagrado Corazon Express in Sabana Grande, P.R. The program is financially supported by both pharmacies, and academically affiliated, and financially supported, in part, by the University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy. The residency provides a postgraduate training opportunity for pharmacists to enhance their skill set in the community pharmacy setting. The residency will allow the pharmacist to build on their professional skills by providing a variety of patient care services. Pharmacists in this setting will have a direct influence on patient outcomes through participation in medication reconciliation, transition of care, patient counseling, immunization services, compounding pharmacy services,  medication therapy management with a specific emphasis on patient adherence and disease management, among others. Residents will also work to develop collaborations with other health care providers to improve the health care in our communities. The residency program graduates will be leaders within the pharmacy profession and will have an active role in advancing community pharmacy practice.

Residents are required to fulfill 4 Competencies following a planned structure of goals, and objectives. Residents have a variety of supervised opportunities in medication distribution and management, patient care, teaching, and research to encourage and contribute to their continued enhancement of their capabilities to the optimal level. Graduated Residents are expected to become leaders within the pharmacy profession and to continue expanding community pharmacy services around the island of Puerto Rico.

Residency Purpose Statement

PGY1 Programs Purpose is to build upon the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY-2) residencies.

The U.P.R. Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program graduates are able to provide clinical pharmacy services and collaborate with researchers in the community pharmacy setting and contribute to the academic needs of the faculty of a school of pharmacy.

The U.P.R. Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program trains Residents to:

  1. Become leaders who are capable to apply their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop and enhance direct patient care services, and health promotion and disease prevention services at the community pharmacy;
  2. Contribute to the education and development of pharmacy students, and other colleagues and professionals;
  3. Integrate clinical research into the community pharmacy.

Program Competencies

  1. Patient Care
  2. Practice Advancement
  3. Leadership
  4. Teaching and Education

Learning Experiences and Residents’ Responsibilities

Community Pharmacy

Pharmacy services development and enhancement.

  • Development or optimization of new patient services to contribute to your community health needs.
  • Collaboration with and contribution to the services already established at the pharmacy.
  • Pharmacy staffing (includes 16 hours of nights and weekends shifts).
  • Development or enhancement of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services.
  • Development or enhancement of Immunization Services.
  • Chronic disease education and monitoring services development or enhancement (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, anticoagulation, HIV, among others).
  • Health promotion and disease prevention community services coordination.
  • Administrative activities.
  • Special population services development and enhancement.
  • Pharmacy staff drug information teaching (In-Services).
  • Pharmacy related publishing.

Academia

Academic Certificate Program completion upon resident interests.

  • Contribution to Pharmacists and the Pharmacy Profession continued development.
  • Pharm. D. Candidates teaching, supervision, and modeling.
  • Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Physicians and other health care providers’ professional education.
  • Patient education.

Research

  • Research development directed to the population served.
  • Clinical services research development and performance.
  • Research presentation at national meetings.
  • Publishing of research results.
  • Business plan development directed to develop a new service or enhance an established service.

U.P.R. School of Pharmacy Faculty Support

U.P.R. Residency Director and Preceptors.

  • Research supervision and development advising by the U.P.R.
  • Drug information and research support.
  • Business Plan development support.
  • Academic Certificate Program Phase I and II

Benefits

Stipend: $41,200.00 (plus benefits).

  • 22 accrued leave time: 10 personal days, 7 sick leave & 5 holidays.
  • Administrative leave: Pharmacy and Law Boards, Research Presentation.

Candidate Requirements

Professional degree in Pharmacy from a college or school of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)

  • Pharmacist license within 90 days of starting the residency program to be able to complete 2/3 of the residency training with the required pharmacy license to practice in Puerto Rico.
  • Completed application
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Three professional letters of recommendation
  • Official College or School of Pharmacy transcripts
  • Letter of intent

Certificate

An ASHP/APhA accredited Residency Certificate is awarded to the residents who successfully complete all residency program requirements.

For more information or specific questions about the U.P.R. Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program, please, do not hesitate to contact:

Francisco Javier Jiménez, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDCES
Professor / Residency Program Director
Department of Pharmacy Practice
U.P.R. Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program
PO Box 365067
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067

Phone: (787) 758-2525 x 5300
Mobile: (787) 382-1383

Emails: CommunityPharmacyResidency.RCM@upr.edu