After two phases of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) match process, which matches pharmacy students and pharmacy residency programs across the country, the School of Pharmacy at Loma Linda University is celebrating its highest match rate since 2018. Seventy-one percent of its students and alumni seeking residency matched with health-care systems nationwide.
“Matching” is no easy accomplishment. Unlike graduates from schools of medicine, not all graduates from PharmD programs pursue additional years of training. Matching to residency programs is highly competitive, especially as the number of applicants in the pool have increased over the years.
“Our students continue to be highly sought after for post-graduate opportunities,” says Dean Michael Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP. “This is a testament to the excellence of our clinical program and preparation of our students as part of a comprehensive health-sciences institution.”
In addition to its outstanding overall match rate, the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy (LLUSP) is proud of its more specific Pharmacy Program Year 1 (PGY-1) and Pharmacy Program Year-2 (PGY-2) match rates. Seventy-one percent of graduating students who sought PGY-1 residencies matched successfully, while 83% of LLUSP alumni who applied for PGY-2 residencies also matched.
While three LLUSP applicants matched to the Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) system, most graduates and alumni will move in July to healthcare systems around Southern California and nine other states. Over the next year, they will gain additional experience in specific areas of pharmacy in various pharmacy settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and community pharmacies.