Status: ASHP-Accredited
Application Deadline: Friday, January 8, 2027
Beginning Date: Monday, July 5, 2027
Number of Residents: 4
Stipend: $72,820
NMS Code: 121213
Palomar UC San Diego Health PGY1 Pharmacy Residency is based at Palomar UC San Diego Health in Escondido, California. Residents completing this program will learn to provide evidence-based pharmacotherapy within interdisciplinary teams.
Major selling points of the residency are personal attention to foster learning, developing a clinical mindset and an emphasis on becoming pharmacy leaders. Opportunity exists to mature in one’s practice, manage and improve the medication-use process and enhance drug information skills. Residents are required to complete a research project during the year.
Upcoming Events
SoCal Residency Showcase
Location: Yorba Linda Community Center
Date/Time: Friday, September 18, 2027 | 2:30pm–6:30pm
Virtual Open House
Location: Palomar UC San Diego Health Virtual Meeting: Zoom/Teams
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2027 | 6pm–7:30pm
RSVP: Please RSVP using the designated form linked here by Friday, October 16 at 5pm and a corresponding Zoom/Teams link will be sent.
CSHP Seminar 2026 Residency Showcase
Location: Anaheim, California | Booth 706s
Date/Time: Saturday, November 7, 2027 | 2pm–6pm
Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited School of Pharmacy
- Participate in the ASHP Match and submit completed applications using PhORCAS by Friday, January 8, 2027. Completed applications must include the following:
- Personal letter of interest (please include your Capacity for Growth with an example & how you overcame an adversity)
- Curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- School of Pharmacy transcript
- On-site/virtual interview
- Pharmacist Intern License: Matched residents must possess a California Intern Pharmacist License prior to July 23, 2027
- Pharmacist License: Matched residents must obtain a California Pharmacist License within 90 days of the start of the residency program
Required Core Learning Experiences
| Rotations | Duration |
| Orientation | 4 weeks |
| Critical Care | 6 weeks |
| Emergency Medicine | 6 weeks |
| Infectious Disease | 6 weeks |
| Trauma | 4 weeks |
| Medicine | 4 weeks |
| Pharmacy Services | 6 weeks |
| Sterile Products (1 & 2) | 4 weeks |
| Parenteral Nutrition | 2 weeks |
Elective Learning Experiences
Residents will be allotted up to 10 weeks for elective rotations, and may choose from the list below. Duration of elective rotations is flexible as long as duration is an even number of weeks.
| Rotations | Duration |
| Informatics | 4 weeks |
| Administration (Advanced) | 4 weeks |
| Outpatient Oncology Infusion Center | 4 weeks |
| Critical Care (Advanced) | 4 weeks |
| Emergency Medicine (Advanced) | 4 weeks |
| Infectious Disease (Advanced) | 4 weeks |
Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Leadership Collaborative
- Medication Safety
- MUE (Medication Use Evaluation)
- Chief Resident (1 quarter)
- Pharmacy Services (Staffing) – 40 staffing days
- Residency Research Project
For additional information, please contact:
Hershel Schaftel, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist II
PGY1 Residency Program Director
Email: Hershel.Schaftel@PalomarHealth.org
Phone: 442.281.2911
Address: Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido
2185 Citracado Parkway, Escondido, CA 92029
Victor De Dios, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist II
PGY1 Residency Program Coordinator
Email: Victor.DeDios@PalomarHealth.org
Phone: 442.281.1361
Address: Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido
2188 Citracado Parkway, Escondido, CA 92029
2026-2027 PGY-1 Residents
Kaesorn Atthajaroon, PharmD.
School: Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy
Email: Kaesron.Atthajaroon@PalomarHealth.org
Alejandro Chavez, PharmD.
School: UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy
Email: Alejandro.Chavez@PalomarHealth.org
Kyah Draper, PharmD.
School: University of Florida School of Pharmacy
Email: Kyah.Draper@PalomarHealth.org
Mckayla Peterson, PharmD.
School: UC San Diego School of Pharmacy
Email: Mckayla.Peterson@PalomarHealth.org