Financial costs of pursuing postgraduate residency training

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In 2018, more than 5,000 individuals participated in the ASHP Resident Matching Program (i.e., the “Match”).¹ One of the largest perceived barriers among students who were undecided about pursuing postgraduate training was the belief that their student loans or other financial obligations after graduation would be a significant burden if they entered a postgraduate program.² Personal finance education that prepares students to manage stress associated with student loan debt is not commonly incorporated into pharmacy curricula.³ An aspect of financial planning and student indebtedness that has not previously been evaluated is the direct financial costs associated with pursuing postgraduate residency training (PGRT) incurred by pharmacy students. In particular, the pre-PGRT application (e.g., costs of preparing and attending the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting [MCM], American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting, or other regional showcase opportunities), PGRT application, and post-PGRT application (e.g., traveling for onsite interviews) may become added financial burdens.