PGY1 Pharmacy San Diego, California

In San Diego, Kaiser Permanente has built a strong legacy of excellence in pharmacy practice and education, proudly continuing a 30-year tradition of developing clinical leaders through our PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program. Guided by standards from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the program offers comprehensive and flexible training that prepares residents for the evolving demands of clinical pharmacy practice. Our approach emphasizes not only rigorous clinical education but also professional service and life balance, all within the beautiful surroundings of San Diego, known for its beaches, parks, and year-round temperate climate. Our mission is to provide affordable, high-quality health care services and to improve the health of our members and communities, while our vision is to lead the market as the health care system of choice.

The Kaiser Permanente San Diego service area includes three major medical centers—Zion, San Diego Medical Center (SDMC), and San Marcos—which together offer approximately 450 inpatient beds and serve a diverse patient population across the region. Pharmacy residents rotating through these facilities gain hands-on experience with diverse pharmacy operations and patient care models. This rich exposure helps develop well-rounded clinicians capable of managing the multifaceted challenges of modern hospital pharmacy practice.

In addition to acute care services, Kaiser Permanente San Diego is home to more than 20 ambulatory care clinics where pharmacists practice at the top of their license. These highly skilled pharmacists provide direct patient care and lead chronic disease management services, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and anticoagulation, among others. The ambulatory care model is fully integrated within the care teams, allowing pharmacists to make independent therapeutic decisions, adjust medications, and improve health outcomes in collaboration with physicians and other providers. Kaiser Permanente San Diego is also a regional leader in clinical innovation. The service area coordinates all oncology research activities for the Southern California region, demonstrating its central role in advancing cancer care. Furthermore, San Diego is spearheading the implementation of pharmacogenomics into routine clinical practice, with pharmacists playing a key role in interpreting genetic data and optimizing medication therapy based on individual genetic profiles. These initiatives reflect our commitment to staying at the forefront of precision medicine and integrated care.

Pharmacy residents benefit from a robust and immersive learning experience that spans hospital operations, regulatory compliance, leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration within a fully integrated health care system. Rotating across three acute care hospitals and multiple ambulatory care settings, residents gain exposure to a variety of pharmacy environments and practice models, helping them build a strong foundation in clinical practice and systems-based care. The program emphasizes active engagement through hands-on patient care, participation in system-level initiatives, involvement in interdisciplinary committees, and one-on-one mentorship from experienced preceptors. As a result, graduates of the program emerge as confident, competent, and collaborative practitioners, ready to meet the complex challenges of modern pharmacy practice in a diverse and evolving health care landscape.

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Pharmacy Services

The pharmacy department at Kaiser Permanente San Diego has 17 outpatient pharmacies, 3 inpatient pharmacies, 1 home infusion pharmacy, 2 Oncology pharmacies, drug utilization management and 20 ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services. The department’s mission is to provide the highest quality personalized pharmaceutical care to every patient. The vision is to be leaders in innovative and integrated pharmaceutical care. The department employs over 600 pharmacists and supportive personnel in Inpatient, Outpatient, Ambulatory Care, Home Infusion, Drug Use Management, and Administration settings.

With over 600 pharmacists and supportive personnel in Inpatient, Outpatient, Ambulatory Care, Home Infusion, Drug Use Management, and Administration settings. Our teams are an integral part of the Kaiser Permanente care delivery system for our members. Staying at the forefront of clinical pharmacy practice, we continue to innovate and respond to the changing needs in healthcare. In addition to providing clinical and dispensing services, we take an active role in interdisciplinary committees, including Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, Medication Safety Committee (MSC), Medication Treatment Appropriateness Committee (MedTAC), Clinic Administered Medications Oversight Committee, and Quality Management. Our pharmacists work closely with physicians and nurses on these committees and in providing care to our patients.

Program Details

Kaiser Permanente San Diego PGY- Pharmacy Residency Program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and uses the ASHP Residency Program Design and Content model to design and deliver training.

Statement of Purpose

The Kaiser Permanente San Diego PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program builds on the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

Program Description

Our mission is to graduate highly competent, compassionate and skilled pharmacists who will serve and contribute to their communities. Our experienced and talented faculty are committed to the personal growth and professional development of each resident. With formal teaching and hands-on experience in a team-based care environment, our residents practice in a comprehensive, integrated system, using the nation’s largest and state-of-the-art electronic health record. Our graduates have the flexibility to practice in any setting and are prepared to provide care to diverse patient populations.

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Area Information

San Diego is California’s second largest city and the United States’ eighth largest. San Diego County encompasses 18 incorporated cities and numerous neighborhoods and communities, including downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Hillcrest, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad. Known for its 70 miles of pristine beaches, luxury resorts and Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego is also popular for the world-famous San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California. For more information about the communities we serve please visit these websites:

• San Diego Tourism Authority: www.sandiego.org
• San Diego International Airport: www.san.org

San Diego At A Glance

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Learning Experiences

Required Learning Experiences

• Orientation
• Outpatient Pharmacy Practice
• Hospital Practice
• Drug Utilization Management
• Internal Medicine
• Infectious Disease
• Acute Care Specialties

Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences

• Pharmacy Administration
• Inpatient Pharmacy
• Medication Safety
• Residency Project
• Education

Elective Learning Experiences

Resident will choose 3 rotations

• Home Infusion
• Inflammatory Diseases
• Complete Care Management
• HIV / Infectious Diseases
• Nephrology
• Transitions of Care
• Medication Therapy Management
• Oncology (IV Oncology or Oral Oncology)
• Oral Anticoagulation

*Other elective learning experiences may be developed based on residents’ interest and preceptor availability

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Requirements for Acceptance

• Must be licensed as an Intern Pharmacist in the state of California by the first day of residency program.
• Resident must be a licensed California pharmacist within 120 days from the program start date. Residents who are not licensed as a pharmacist within 120 days from the program start date will have their term of appointment extended by the number of days the resident is without licensure past the 120-day deadline up to a maximum of 45 days. Failure to obtain a California state pharmacist license within 165 days from the program start date will result in the resident being dismissed from the program and employment will be terminated.
• To be eligible for pharmacist licensure, candidates must be graduates or candidates for graduation from an ACPE accredited degree program (or one in the process of pursuing accreditation) or have a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certificate from the NABP.
• For more information regarding licensing in California, please visit www.pharmacy.ca.gov
• Certifications (If applicable): BLS, ACLS
• Candidates must be registered in the National Matching Services, Inc. (NMS).
• Candidates must participate in the ASHP Matching Program.
• Program NMS Code: 130813 and ASHP Program Code: 92170

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Application Requirements

• Statement of Interest/Letter of Intent
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official Pharmacy School transcripts, sent directly from the applicant’s college or school of pharmacy
• Three letters of references/recommendations utilizing the form in PhORCAS
• Application Deadline: January 2, 2026 

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Interview Details

• On-Site or Virtual Interview : February 2026
• Click here to link to the Virtual Information Sessions:
  • October 23, 2025 – 12p.m. – 1p.m. PST
  • November 11, 2025 – 12p.m. – 1p.m. PST
  • November 12, 2025 – 12p.m. – 1p.m. PST (canceled)

**This residency agrees that no person at this residency will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any residency applicant**

 

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