Residency Purpose Statement
The PGY2 Pharmacy Informatics Residency builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency experience to the develop advanced clinical pharmacists with specialized expertise in informatics. This program prepares residents to independently apply informatics knowledge and principles to optimize medication use systems, enhance patient safety, and support clinical decision making across diverse healthcare settings.
Graduates of this accredited PGY2 Pharmacy Informatics residency will be equipped for informatics-focused roles in health systems, academia, or industry, and will be eligible for board certification where applicable. The residency fosters leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the evolving field of pharmacy informatics.
Watch a brief video on careers in pharmacy informatics here.
Informatics Mission Statement
The mission of the PGY2 Pharmacy Informatics Residency is to prepare pharmacists to lead and innovate in the application of health information technology to improve medication use and patient care. Through immersive training, residents gain hands-on experience in optimizing clinical workflows, enhancing safety through decision support, and collaborating across disciplines to implement informatics solutions.
Residents will work closely with pharmacy operations, clinical teams, and technology vendors to design, evaluate, and maintain systems that support the safe and effective use of medications. The program emphasizes real-world informatics practice through clinical rotations, project work, and staffing responsibilities, ensuring graduates are ready to contribute meaningfully in informatics roles across healthcare settings.
Watch a brief video overview of Why Informatics?
Program Overview
The PGY2 Pharmacy Informatics Residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is offered through the Vanderbilt Health IT Pharmacy Portfolio, in close collaboration with Vanderbilt Pharmaceutical Services. This program is designed to prepare residents for impactful careers in pharmacy informatics by providing a robust foundation in clinical systems, medication-use technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Residents will engage in diverse, high-impact projects tailored to their interests and aligned with the evolving needs of VUMC. The program emphasizes experiential learning through rotations, informatics initiatives, and leadership development. In addition to core informatics training, residents will participate in:
- Topic presentations and continuing education
- A teaching certificate program
- A longitudinal research project
- Automation and technology-focused initiatives
- Conference attendance and professional networking
- Pharmacy staffing responsibilities
The residency follows ASHP guidelines and offers flexibility to explore areas such as clinical decision support, EHR optimization, and vendor system integration. Graduates will be well-positioned to lead informatics efforts.
Background
The Pharmacy Portfolio team within Vanderbilt Health IT are responsible for designing and maintaining informatics solutions that support medication use across inpatient and outpatient settings at VUMC. These teams ensure that care providers can safely and efficiently prescribe, dispense, and monitor medications using integrated technology platforms.
The Pharmacy Portfolio manages a variety of vendor-based systems that connect seamlessly with clinical tools, supporting workflows from medication ordering to dispensing and documentation. Data analytics tools are also leveraged to measure the clinical impact of medication therapies and inform continuous improvement.
As part of the Clinical Care Group (CCG) — the largest division within Health IT — the Pharmacy Portfolio collaborates on:
- Application updates and maintenance
- Implementation of new technologies
- Customization of vendor solutions
- Strategic upgrades to existing systems
Residents will gain exposure to a wide range of informatics initiatives, including EHR optimization, clinical decision support, and automation technologies across a multi-hospital academic medical center.
Watch this brief video about the Pharmacy Portfolio team.
Goals of Residency
The PGY2 Pharmacy Informatics Residency at Vanderbilt is designed to cultivate the skills, knowledge, and leadership qualities needed to excel in pharmacy informatics. Residents will gain hands-on experience in clinical systems, data analytics, and technology integration while contributing to meaningful improvements in patient care.
By the end of the residency, the resident will be able to:
- Demonstrate how informatics enhances patient safety and clinical outcomes
- Evaluate and implement technology solutions within clinical workflows
- Analyze the impact of informatics systems on provider efficiency and care delivery
- Collaborate on business initiatives that support pharmacy and informatics goals
- Communicate effectively with clinical, technical, and administrative stakeholders
- Lead and contribute to informatics project design, execution, and evaluation
- Achieve Epic Willow Inpatient proficiency and contribute to EHR optimization (video)
- Develop leadership skills in system development, maintenance, and governance
- Navigate relationships between healthcare organizations and software vendors
- Understand the lifecycle of vendor product development and implementation
- Exhibit proficiency in Microsoft Office and other informatics tools
Hear from a previous resident, Kyle, about his experience in the Vanderbilt PGY2 Informatics Residency.
Presentations
Presentation requirements include:
- A one-hour Therapeutic Exchange Continuing Education (CE) session on a pharmacy informatics topic, open to VUMC pharmacy staff
- At least two topic presentations during the residency year, focused on informatics-related innovations, clinical decision support, or technology integration
Teaching
Participation in a structured Teaching Certificate Program is optional, providing residents with foundational skills in instructional design, feedback delivery, and learner engagement. This experience helps residents become confident educators and effective preceptors, while also serving as an introduction to informatics for pharmacy students.
Residents will have opportunities to:
- Precept students and residents on informatics rotations and projects
- Deliver informal and formal teaching sessions
- Participate in interdisciplinary education efforts
- Develop teaching materials and contribute to curriculum design
This focus on teaching supports the development of well-rounded informatics professionals who can lead, educate, and inspire within their organizations.
Research
Residents will complete a longitudinal informatics research project addressing a real-world challenge at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The project includes designing the study, analyzing data, and preparing a manuscript suitable for publication.
Residents are encouraged to present their findings at professional conferences such as ASHP Midyear or Summer Meeting, and to pursue additional scholarly opportunities throughout the year.
Conferences
Residents are expected to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and the ASHP Summer Meeting (or equivalent). Additional conference attendance may be required if the resident is presenting research or project work.
Participation will be tailored to available formats (virtual or in-person), and residents are encouraged to engage in networking and professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Staffing/On Call
Pharmacy practice is a key component of the residency experience. PGY2 residents typically staff every fourth weekend in an operational role at Vanderbilt’s Adult Hospital, focusing on order processing, sterile product preparation, and medication dispensing.
Holiday staffing will be discussed during interviews. Residents also participate in rotational informatics on-call duties to support clinical systems and respond to urgent technology-related issues.
Watch a brief video overview of staffing and on-call responsibilities.
How to apply
Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program, be a licensed pharmacist in any state with reciprocation to Tennessee and completed an accredited PGY1 residency program.
Submit the following materials for Pharmacy Informatics Residency before January 2 application deadline.
- Cover Letter/Letter of Intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- Pharmacy School transcripts
- Virtual Interview that will include a fifteen-minute presentation
- Application submitted via PhORCAS
Additional Links & Program Information
Application Information
Number of Positions: One residency position
Estimated salary: $67,000
Requirements:
- Doctor of Pharmacy or PharmD degree
- Ability to obtain TN licensure with 120 days of start date
- Proof of residency certificate from ACPE accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency program within 30 days of start date
Note: VUMC pharmacy residency program is NOT able to sponsor visas for pharmacy residents
Submit application PhORCAS with required documents:
- Letter of intent
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Transcripts
Contact Information
Scott Nelson, PharmD, MS, FAMIA, ACHIP
Residency Program Director, PGY2 Pharmacy Informatics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Health IT
3401 West End Avenue Suite 500 | Nashville, TN 37203
Institutional Information
Private non-profit hospital/clinic | Teaching/Tertiary Model | Total Beds 1741
Professional Staff 450 | Non-professional staff 586
