QUESTION
How to become an infectious diseases pharmacist?
ANSWER
There are a variety of ways to become an infectious diseases (ID) pharmacist. None of them are easy or quick. Three of the most common ways to qualify for an ID pharmacist job are briefly reviewed here…
- Complete a post-graduate year 2 infectious diseases pharmacy residency
- Following pharmacy school pharmacists can complete post-graduate training. Doing a post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy practice residency followed by a PGY2 ID pharmacy residency is one of the most common ways to qualify for ID pharmacist jobs. There are over 100 PGY2 ID pharmacy residencies in the United States. You can explore them via the ASHP online residency directory here.
- Complete an infectious diseases pharmacy fellowship
- Pharmacy fellowships are usually 2 years in duration and it is fairly common for pharmacists to complete a PGY1 prior to fellowship. Fellowships are more academic and research-focused than residencies. There are only a handful of ID fellowships. You can explore them via the ACCP online fellowship directory here and via the SIDP ID fellowship listings page here. Fellowships are arguably the best way to become a pharmacy faculty member focused in ID.
- Clinical Practice Experience +/- a post-graduate year 1 pharmacy practice residency
- With on the job experience a pharmacist can become an ID pharmacist. This is typically a long path of 5 or more years during which the pharmacist gains substantial pharmacy practice experience in the area of ID. Some pharmacists will complete PGY1 residencies that are focused in ID and that plus experience can be another path to qualify for an ID pharmacist job.
READINGS / RESOURCES
- ASHP Pharmacy Residency Directory
- ACCP Pharmacy Fellowships Directory
- SIDP ID Pharmacy Fellowships Page
- Reality Versus Expectation: Being a PGY2 ID Pharmacy Resident
- Reality Versus Expectation: Completing an ID Pharmacy Fellowship
- Reality Versus Expectation: Being an ID Pharmacist
- Is a Pharmacy Residency or Fellowship Right for you?
- Postgraduate Training and Career Opportunities in Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
- Recommendations for Training and Certification for Pharmacists Practicing, Mentoring, and Educating in Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy
ANSWERED BY
Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS-AQ ID
Q&A DISCLAIMER
The ID PharmD Q&A pages attempt to answer common pharmacy questions by providing the perspective and opinion of a trained expert with substantial experience relevant to the question. That noted, these answers are not provided as all-inclusive comprehensive responses.
For more…
