Embarking on a career in pharmacy within the dynamic landscape of managed care requires specialized training and experience. For Doctor of Pharmacy graduates aspiring to excel in this field, Managed Care Residency Programs offer an invaluable pathway. Blue Shield of California’s PGY1 Managed Care Pharmacy Residency Program stands out as a robust and meticulously designed program aimed at cultivating the next generation of managed care pharmacy leaders. This program is dedicated to equipping residents with proficient clinical acumen, adept project management capabilities, sharp analytical skills, and effective leadership qualities, all tailored to meet each resident’s unique professional aspirations. Graduates from this esteemed program are exceptionally well-prepared to assume diverse clinical pharmacist roles, contributing significantly to areas such as drug utilization review, quality assurance and enhancement, drug information dissemination, and formulary management within today’s evolving healthcare ecosystem.
About the PGY1 Managed Care Residency Program
The PGY1 Managed Care Residency Program at Blue Shield of California offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to immerse residents in both direct and indirect patient care activities. Through a variety of clinical initiatives, residents gain hands-on experience in crucial areas:
- Direct and Indirect Patient Care: Engage in comprehensive medication reviews, perform drug utilization reviews to optimize patient outcomes, and implement quality improvement interventions that directly impact patient care.
- Data-Driven Program Development: Analyze extensive pharmacy claims data to identify trends and opportunities for developing targeted drug therapy and disease-management programs, enhancing population health.
- Evidence-Based Decision Making: Critically evaluate drug information literature to make informed, evidence-based clinical decisions and effectively communicate recommendations to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee.
- Formulary Expertise: Participate in formulary maintenance, contributing to the development of clear medication policies and coverage criteria that ensure appropriate and cost-effective medication access.
- Medication Utilization Management: Conduct prior authorization reviews, gaining expertise in ensuring the appropriate and judicious utilization of medications within managed care settings.
- Pharmacy Benefit Design and Claims Processing: Master claims processing systems and gain a deep understanding of pharmacy benefit design, crucial for effective pharmacy benefit management.
- Trend Analysis and Client Engagement: Evaluate pharmacy trends, develop insights, and contribute to client presentations, showcasing the value of pharmacy services in managed care.
- Strategic Product Implementation: Play a key role in the end-to-end implementation and evaluation of both novel and existing pharmacy product strategies, driving innovation in pharmacy benefits.
- Accountable Care Collaboration: Partner with Blue Shield’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO) partners to collaboratively improve clinical quality outcomes, fostering integrated healthcare delivery.
- Professional Growth and Networking: Attend leading professional conferences and networking events, expanding professional horizons and building valuable connections within the industry.
- Research and Publication: Undertake a high-quality residency research project, culminating in a publishable manuscript, contributing to the body of knowledge in managed care pharmacy.
- Preceptorship and Mentorship: Serve as a primary preceptor and mentor for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students, honing teaching and leadership skills.
These diverse experiences are structured through key learning modules to provide a well-rounded residency:
- Orientation: A thorough introduction to Blue Shield of California and the residency program structure.
- Clinical Programs – Direct Patient Care: Immersive experiences in direct patient care settings, applying clinical pharmacy skills.
- Formulary Management: In-depth training in formulary development, maintenance, and management.
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T): Active participation in P&T committee activities, influencing formulary decisions and medication policies.
- Drug Utilization Review: Specialized training in conducting and applying drug utilization reviews to improve medication use and patient safety.
- Pharmacy Accounts and Sales/Product Strategy: Exposure to the business aspects of managed care pharmacy, including account management and product strategy development.
- Provider Partnerships/Accountable Care Organizations (ACO): Collaborative experiences with provider partners and ACOs, focusing on integrated care models.
- Student Precepting: Opportunities to develop precepting skills by mentoring pharmacy students.
- Analytics and Residency Project: Dedicated time and resources for analytics training and completion of the residency research project.
- Professional Development: Structured activities focused on enhancing professional skills and career advancement.
Application and Additional Information
Requirements for Acceptance
To be considered for this competitive managed care residency program, applicants must meet the following stringent requirements:
- Doctor of Pharmacy Degree: Possess a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited school of pharmacy.
- California Licensure Eligibility: Be eligible for California pharmacist licensure. Crucially, residents must obtain full pharmacist licensure from the California State Board of Pharmacy within 90 days of the program’s commencement. Failure to secure licensure by December 31st of the residency year may lead to dismissal from the program.
- Letters of Recommendation: Submit three strong letters of recommendation. While the PDF of the PhORCAS Recommendation Form is preferred for standardization, it is not mandatory.
- Letter of Intent: A compelling letter of intent outlining your interest in managed care pharmacy and the Blue Shield of California program.
- Curriculum Vitae: A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting your academic achievements, pharmacy experience, and relevant skills.
- Official Transcript: An official transcript directly from your school of pharmacy.
- Interview Process: Selected candidates will undergo a preliminary telephone interview followed by an onsite interview at Blue Shield of California’s Oakland headquarters.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit all required application materials electronically to [email protected].
Please instruct letter writers to send their letters of recommendation directly to this secure email address. While there is no mandatory template, the PhORCAS Recommendation Form PDF is favored if readily available. Official transcripts can be emailed directly by the school or by the applicant to the secure email provided.
Benefits
Blue Shield of California is committed to supporting resident well-being and professional growth by offering a comprehensive benefits package:
- Competitive Salary: A competitive annual salary.
- Comprehensive Health Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
- Generous Paid Time Off: 20 days of paid time off (PTO) to ensure work-life balance.
- Paid Holidays: Ten paid holidays annually.
- Health Day: One dedicated health day off.
- Professional Development Support: Paid professional leave for attendance at conferences, including travel allowances, fostering continuous learning.
- Community Engagement: 24 hours of paid community service time, encouraging civic responsibility.
- Retirement Savings Plan: A 401k program with company matching contributions to help secure your financial future.
Duration of Program
This is a 12-month, full-time residency program, running from July 2025 to June 2026.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the upcoming residency year is January 5th, 2025. Prospective applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of this date.
For any further inquiries or to request more detailed information about the Managed Care Residency Program, please contact the Residency Program Director:
Autumn Cronin, PharmD
Residency Program Director
Blue Shield of California
601 12th Street, 21-47D
Oakland, CA 94607
Email: [email protected]
About Blue Shield of California
Mission: To ensure every Californian has access to high-quality healthcare at an affordable price.
Overview: Blue Shield of California, a distinguished independent member of the Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health plan passionately dedicated to providing Californians with access to high-quality, affordable healthcare services. Headquartered in Oakland, our organization comprises over 7,100 dedicated employees working across multiple offices throughout the state. We are committed to delivering quality care at competitive rates. Blue Shield of California proudly serves 4.8 million members, offering a diverse array of affordable health plans and one of California’s largest networks of healthcare providers, encompassing physicians, hospitals, allied health professionals, and pharmacies. We provide comprehensive coverage solutions across Commercial, Exchange, Medicare, and Medi-Cal populations.
Pharmacy Services: Our pharmacy services division is driven by the mission to deliver both quality and affordability in pharmacy benefits. We are uniquely positioned to achieve this by leveraging integrated pharmacy and medical data. This integration ensures effective coordination of healthcare services for individual patients and across diverse patient populations, optimizing medication therapy and health outcomes.
Blue Shield of California Achievements and Recognitions:
- Proven Residency Program Success: Established in 2002, Blue Shield of California’s PGY1 Managed Care Pharmacy Residency boasts a long and successful history of developing exceptional managed care pharmacists. A key program objective is resident retention, and notably, 7 of our past 21 residents remain valued employees within the company today, a testament to the program’s quality and the company culture.
- Great Place to Work® Certified: Blue Shield of California’s commitment to its employees is reflected in its certification as a Great Place to Work® in 2020, with recertifications achieved consecutively in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
- World’s Most Ethical Companies® Recognition: In 2024, Blue Shield of California was honored as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the 12th time, underscoring our unwavering commitment to ethical business practices.
- Community-Minded Leadership: In 2024, Blue Shield of California was also recognized as one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the United States, highlighting our dedication to community engagement and social responsibility.
About Blue Shield of California’s Oakland Headquarters:
Our state-of-the-art headquarters, located at 601 12th Street in Oakland, was built in 2019 and is a landmark achievement. This LEED-certified building incorporates numerous modern details and amenities meticulously designed to enhance the employee experience, promote work-life balance, and reinforce our reputation as an exceptional place to work.
About Oakland:
Oakland, incorporated in 1852, is California’s eighth-largest city, a vibrant urban center with a population of approximately 410,000, rich resources, and diverse opportunities. Situated on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, Oakland is ideally located, bordered by 19 miles of scenic coastline to the west and rolling hills to the east, offering breathtaking views of the Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
