Chief resident in pharmacy residency programs

Abstract

Purpose: The frequency of chief resident positions in pharmacy residency programs and the roles and responsibilities of such chief residents are described.

Methods: A Web-based questionnaire was developed to determine the current state and interest of residency program directors (RPDs) in chief residency programs within pharmacy residency training. RPDs were identified through directories of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Results: Of the 892 surveys distributed, 34 were returned as undeliverable and 335 responses were received (effective response rate, 39.0%). Over one quarter of respondents (28.4%) had a chief resident, resident-in-charge, or other leadership position for residents at their institution. Institutions with existing chief resident programs had larger programs. Common duties of the chief resident included serving as a liaison between residents and the RPD (91.4%), coordinating resident meetings (87.1%), coordinating educational programming (45.2%), and managing residents' schedules (44.1%). RPDs indicated interest in training programs designed to develop management skills and enhance leadership potential (72.7%). Of those RPDs whose institutions did not off er a chief resident position, 22% expressed interest in developing such a position. Programs with four or more residents were more likely to be interested in developing a chief residency program than those with smaller programs (34.3% versus 13.2%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The majority of RPDs stated that their residency programs do not currently have a chief resident position. Programs with a greater number of pharmacy residents were more likely to have a current chief resident position or interest in establishing a chief resident position.