The first four weeks of the residency is orientation during which the residents rotate through different areas of the hospital, learn the pharmacy's computer systems, explore potential research projects, understand medication usage evaluations (MUEs), and obtain BLS/ACLS certifications. Clinical rotations are based on calendar months and last throughout the year.

The applicant should submit college of pharmacy transcripts.

Once properly trained, residents will staff every other weekend in various clinical and operational roles. Residents will be required to cover one major and one minor holiday.

During the residency, some residents discover new areas of interest. The program is flexible in adapting the residency experience to accommodate the resident's interest and goals. Elective rotations may be available off-site if the desired experience is not available at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. 

The resident is provided with a list of goals and objectives for each rotation. The preceptor provides frequent verbal feedback and completes a midpoint and final evaluation of the resident. On a quarterly basis, the residency program director provides the resident with an evaluation of his or her progress. The objective of the frequent evaluations is to provide constructive feedback to the resident on their progress to maximize the opportunity for learning.

On each monthly rotation, the residents are required to do a formal and informal presentations to the clinical pharmacy staff, nursing staff, and/or medical staff. Other presentations may be required as determined by the preceptor, physicians, or nursing staff. Additional opportunities to present include system and hospital committee meetings (i.e. P&T meetings, medication safety meetings, among others).

Each PGY2 program offers the opportunity for early commitment. The resident must communicate this intention to the respective residency program director (RPD) and submit their written letter of intent in person by October 31st. Pursuant to the receipt of the application, the RPD will conduct an interview of the candidate and follow ASHP Residency Matching Program guidelines. Candidates not choosing to early commit or those who are not offered early commitment by the PGY2 program may still apply to the PGY2 program but are required to participate in the ASHP Match.

Residents have opportunities to assist in the teaching of pharmacy students from several colleges of pharmacy (University of Houston, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Incarnate Word, Texas Southern University). A teaching certificate program is offered through the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. 

Support is available for required meetings such as ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Midwest Pharmacy Residents Conference. Support to attend additional meetings is determined on an individual basis.

Residents have access to The Houston Methodist Library electronic resources, including over 12,000 journals, 3,000 e-books and 40 subscription databases and applications. A few of the popular databases are: Micromedex, Clinical Pharmacology, Lexi-Comp, Natural Medicine, DynaMed, Clinical Key and Up-To-Date, which are available from the hospital, as well as remotely through an application or the hospital’s VPN.