(1252) Landscape of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Training Opportunities for Pharmacists

Objectives: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the use of genetic data to guide prescribing decisions. As PGx becomes more commonly incorporated into clinical practice, there is increasing opportunity for pharmacists to provide PGx services across a variety of practice settings. While many colleges of pharmacy incorporate PGx topics in didactic teachings, pharmacists may desire additional training in PGx. With the expanding opportunities for PGx training, it may be difficult to determine which type of training program is best for an individual. In this study, we identified and compared clinically focused PGx postgraduate training and offer guidance on selecting a training program based on personal interest and career goals.

Methods: We used the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Residency Directory and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Directory of Residencies, Fellowships, and Graduate Programs, in addition to an internet search via Google, to identify clinically focused PGx training opportunities for pharmacists. Programs were categorized by type based on program design and delivery format. Master’s and Ph.D. programs were excluded due to their heavy focus on research. Once programs were categorized, we then used program descriptions and objectives to map the overall program types to the pharmacists’ responsibilities and roles from ASHP’s 2022 Statement on the Pharmacist’s Role in Clinical PGx. Each pharmacist responsibility or role was assigned an Introductory, Advanced, or Master status based on the information and experience a pharmacist would expect to gain from completing each type of program. We then compared basic program information and mapping outcomes to identify similarities and differences in program types.

Results: We identified four primary types of clinical PGx postgraduate training types: 1) continuing education (CE) certificates, 2) graduate certificates, 3) residencies, and 4) fellowships. CE certificates range in duration from 8 to 28 CE hours and are mostly online, self-paced programs with a few including a live session as part of the certificate requirement. Most graduate certificate programs are designed to be as short as a year but can be spaced out over two years. These programs range from 9 to 15 credit hours and are all online following specific semester schedules. Residency programs are in person for one year and follow specific ASHP requirements. Fellowship programs are also in person and range from one to two years with more variation in program design ranging on a spectrum from more clinically to more research-focused. Overall, residencies and fellowship programs offer more mastery coverage of pharmacists’ responsibilities and roles in clinical PGx.

Conclusions: We identified four types of clinically focused PGx training programs for pharmacists: CE certificates, graduate certificates, residencies, and fellowships. The program duration and format vary by program type and within specific programs. The level of experience provided for each pharmacist role and responsibility in clinical PGx also varies by program type, with CE certificates providing the most introductory information versus residencies and fellowships providing more mastery training. Pharmacists looking for training in clinical PGx should consider these program differences when deciding which program type is best for them. Factors to consider when selecting a PGx program type include program duration, delivery format, and depth of training. Ultimately, pharmacists interested in clinical PGx training have many options and should consider their personal and career goals when selecting which program is best for them.