The PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency program conducted by Denver Health in Denver, Colorado is accredited by ASHP.
The PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that is designed to provide a structured learning environment and foster an in-depth learning opportunity for a resident to develop into a successful clinical pharmacy specialist. Denver Health is an integrated, efficient, academic health care system serving as a model for other safety-net institutions across the nation. Denver Health is home to the Rocky Mountain Regional Level 1 Trauma Center for adults and Level II Trauma Center for Children, Rocky Mountain Regional Poison Center, as well as residency and fellowship training site for the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. Denver Health has also been designated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence. The PGY2 Infectious Diseases resident will have the opportunity for teaching throughout their residency year, including co-precepting and mentoring PGY1 residents and APPE students. Opportunities to deliver infectious diseases-related lectures will be made available to the PGY2 resident. A weekend staffing component will be required as well as a major research project with the intent to publish in a peer-reviewed journal. The resident may participate in additional activities, including penicillin allergy testing, ED culture call back, pre-approval of restricted antimicrobials, participation in hospital committees including Antimicrobial Subcommittee, Infection Prevention Committee, and Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, and attendance and participation in local and national meetings.
The purpose of the PGY2 pharmacy residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) 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 a PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.
Residency Program Structure
The program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that is designed to provide a structured learning environment and to foster an in-depth learning opportunity for a resident to develop into a successful clinical pharmacy specialist. The program includes a mix of required and elective learning experiences (2-6 weeks in length) as well as several required longitudinal experiences.
Required Learning Experiences
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)
- AMS Teaching
- AMS / ID Consult
- ID Consult
- Orthopedic ID Consult
- Transplant ID Consult (at UCHealth)
- Medical ICU
- Denver Public Health
- Microbiology
Elective Learning Experiences
- Pediatric ID (at Children’s Hospital Colorado)
- Research Design and Methodology
- ID Consult 2
- Academia (at University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy)
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Major research project and medication use evaluations
- Leadership and Clinical Practice Management
- This includes clinical staffing every third weekend (Additional moonlighting shifts may be made available to the resident dependent on resident progress and department staffing needs)
- Fellow’s Clinic
Application Information and Requirements for Applicants
Applicants must be a PharmD graduate or candidate for graduation of an Accredited Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited degree program, completed or in progress of completing an ASHP accredited or candidate status PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. Per ASHP Standards, residents must be licensed no later than 120 days from the start of the residency program. If not licensed by 120 days after the start of the residency program, the resident will be terminated from the program as per documentation in the acceptance letter.
Denver Health participates in the ASHP National Matching System. Applications should be submitted electronically through PhORCAS. Necessary application materials include:
- Letter of intent (maximum of 1 page) highlighting the following:
- Your goals and reason for doing an advanced PGY2 specialty residency in infectious diseases
- Why you chose to apply for the Denver Health residency program
- Your short- and long-term goals in pharmacy practice
- Your strengths and weaknesses at this point in your career and how a PGY2 residency in infectious diseases will help you develop and achieve your goals
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of reference using the PhORCAS Standardized Reference Template with at least one from a preceptor who can speak to ability and/or interest in infectious diseases
- Official college of pharmacy transcript
Current PGY1 Residents at Denver Health Medical Center may early commit to a Denver Health Medical Center PGY2 Residency Program.
Resident applicants are responsible for submitting all required materials online through PhORCAS.
ASHP Code: 82033
NMS#: 794055
Current PGY2 Infectious Diseases Resident: Suki Zhan (2025-2026)
Contact
Kati Shihadeh, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases
PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency Program Director
Co-Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Email: katherine.shihadeh@dhha.org Telephone: 303-602-6986
