Description of Drug Information Residency Program The Drug Information Residency is co-sponsored by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. This residency was established in July 1996. The program begins on July 1 of each year and is 12 months in length. The resident’s responsibilities and time are allocated between Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Mercer University. In addition, a five week longitudinal clinical rotation with a health maintenance organization is offered to provide experience with formulary management, medication usage evaluations, adverse drug reaction reporting, and patient-focused drug information services. Goals of Drug Information Residency Program Following the completion of the twelve-month specialty residency in drug information practice, the resident should: Be able to develop quality written custom as well as standard medical response letters for inquiries from healthcare professionals. Have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Use an organized system for staying current with literature pertinent to a drug information specialty practice. Be competent in using a systematic approach to answering drug information inquiries and know how to prioritize calls in order of urgency and difficulty. Be able to precept pharmacy students, delegate assignments, provide guidance and evaluate performance. Be able to design, conduct, and report original research. Understand the integral roles played by pharmacists within various areas of pharmaceutical industry including Medical Information, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical R&D, and Medical Liaison Services. Be capable of creating the following properly referenced documents in support of activities of a Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee: medication usage evaluations, adverse drug reactions reporting, drug outcomes evaluation, single entity drug monographs, as well as therapeutic class reviews. Be competent to manage a drug information center with respect to documentation, database selection and application and operations budget development. Be able to assess outcomes literature. Have exposure to investigational drug programs. Be able to develop and present teaching materials on disease state topics to Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives as well as deliver academic lectures to Doctor of Pharmacy students related to drug information practice. Criteria for Selecting Residents Applicants must be a graduate of a college or school of pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. Completion of a postgraduate level one residency is preferred but not required. Foreign pharmacy graduates must be certified by the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and licensed or eligible for licensure in the State of Georgia. Applicants must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the State of Georgia. In addition to achieving academic excellence, the applicant must provide evidence of the following skills, attitudes, and behaviors: Strong desire to practice drug information in both academic and pharmaceutical industry settings. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Membership in and record of activity in professional organizations.   Drug Information Residency Program Application