PGY1/PGY2/MS Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership
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We appreciate you taking the time to learn about our two-year combined MS/Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (MS/HSPAL) residency program. We are excited about our program and hope you can observe the breadth of our experiences.
UNC Medical Center recruits four applicants into the two-year MS/HSPAL residency program every year. Interviews will only be conducted virtually.
Program Purpose
PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes 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.
PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.
Year One
The first year of the UNC Medical Center MS/HSPAL program is the same as our PGY1 Pharmacy Residency – Acute Care Track. Residents will receive strong training in all patient care areas, including pediatrics, medicine, surgery, critical care, oncology, and ambulatory care. Mixed into these rotations will be three administration experiences with our managers. This first year provides residents with a solid clinical foundation and prepares them to successfully complete the BCPS exam, an excellent way for future administrators to demonstrate their clinical knowledge and expertise.
Year Two
The second year builds upon the foundation established during PGY1, offering residents expanded exposure to departmental leaders in areas such as finance, medication safety, operations, and clinical management, as well as time with the director and leadership team. Although the program is rigorous, UNC Medical Center provides an incredibly supportive environment. Residents come from across the country, and we foster a close-knit, family atmosphere within the department. With multiple administrative residents on site, you will have opportunities to learn from one another and form lasting professional relationships.
Our managers are among the best in the nation, bringing diverse training backgrounds and perspectives to solving today’s challenges. The PGY2 year focuses on developing strong managers and leaders across all areas of health-system pharmacy. Residents participate in departmental operations at every level and apply the clinical skills gained during PGY1 to become effective leaders in practice, education, and research. With guidance from preceptors, residents will refine their leadership vision, strengthen team-building and conflict-resolution skills, and explore projects tailored to their professional interests.
Our Practice Model
Beyond the people who make up our program, we take pride in a strong practice model for both training and patient care. Our layered learning practice model earned the ASHP Best Practice Award in Health-System Pharmacy in 2011, and we have continued that tradition of excellence with additional awards in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024. In 2017, we also received the ASHP Foundation Excellence in Medication Safety Award. Most recently, in October 2025, our Program Director, Dr. Stephen Eckel, was honored with the ASHP John W. Webb Lecture Award for his outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing pharmacy management and practice.
Together, these achievements exemplify the UNC Medical Center's commitment to innovation, continually updating its facilities and technology to advance learning and patient care. Our goal is to equip residents with a translatable skill set that ensures success wherever their career leads. But no matter the location, residents will always be a part of the Carolina family.
Follow us on Social Media!
Instagram: @uncrxhspal
LinkedIn: UNC Medical Center HSPAL Program
