For the second consecutive year, the UHCOP Chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP) has been recognized as a 2025-26 American Society of Health-System Pharmacy (ASHP) Outstanding Professional Development Award recipient for its Residency Bootcamp.
The chapter was one of 17 nationwide to receive the honor from the ASHP Pharmacy Student Forum. Awards were based on program content and information, creativity and resourcefulness, service and outreach impact, and overall impression. The chapter previously earned the award in 2024.
Now in its 10th year, the Residency Bootcamp is presented by students and residents of The Houston Program, a two-year concurrent Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration and a PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) residency offered through seven partnering Texas Medical Center health systems.
The bootcamp features hands-on sessions focused on public speaking, residency application preparation, CV development workshops, interviewing strategies and mock interviews. Programming also includes guidance on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations and navigating national residency showcases such as the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Continued Success
Chapter leaders intentionally maintained the core structure that contributed to the program’s initial national recognition. In 2024, Adam Siddique, Pharm.D. (’24), then-PGY1 HSPAL resident at Houston Methodist Hospital, served as the primary THP coordinator. He worked closely with the chapter to organize resident participation across seven weekly sessions, providing third-year pharmacy students individualized feedback, mentorship and practical insight drawn from residency training and clinical experiences.
“Having personally participated in the Residency Bootcamp as a student, Dr. Siddique’s perspective was instrumental in refining session structure and student-focused outcomes,” said Jeremy Ninan, third-year Pharm.D. student and the chapter’s 2025-26 president.
Over the past year, the program transitioned to a fully virtual format to reduce scheduling and transportation barriers and to allow students to attend the entire series.
“This change significantly increased accessibility while preserving the longitudinal nature of the program,” Ninan said.
Environment for Excellence
Glory Garcia, Pharm.D. candidate and 2024-25 SSHP vice president for communications, nominated SSHP for the award. She felt one of the most valuable aspects of Residency Bootcamp was the genuine commitment and involvement of the HSPAL residents.
“The residents were highly engaged and willingly offered one-on-one time to help students strengthen areas such as CV development and interview skills, while also creating meaningful moments for mentor–mentee relationships to develop,” Garcia said.
Residency and Beyond
Megan Huang Frazier, Pharm.D. candidate and 2024-25 SSHP president, believes opportunities offered by the bootcamp are far reaching.
“The seven weekly sessions are seven opportunities for students to expand and grow their skills,” Huang Frazier said. “Residency Bootcamp helps students identify their weaknesses for them to not only become a stronger residency candidate but an even stronger practicing pharmacist overall.”
Faculty co-advisors for the chapter include Divya Varkey, Pharm.D., M.S., clinical associate professor and M.S. graduate program director for THP; Matthew Wanat, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP, FCCM, clinical professor; and Elisabeth Wang, Pharm.D. (’16), BCCP, clinical assistant professor.
“The sustaining success of this program is especially meaningful,” the co-advisors noted. “The concept was designed by THP resident Claire Latiolais, Pharm.D., M.S. (’17), during her academic rotation nearly 10 years ago. Watching the residents and students bring the vision to life year after year reflects the lasting influence a mentor can have — at any stage of training.”