OVERVIEW & ELIGIBILITY

Pharmacist trainees are accepted into the multidisciplinary fellowship program each year from a range of clinical and academic backgrounds. There are two positions available.

The program runs from July 6 – June 30 and is part-time in duration with rotations (2 to 4-week blocks) spread throughout the year. There may be some flexibility with the start date and duration.

We're pleased to offer Fellowship opportunities with focused clinical rotations in the Lower Mainland and surrounding areas. There is an opportunity to complete out-of-town rotation(s).

Fellowship Overview

• Fellows are accepted with a focus on clinical practice, research, and/or leadership.
• The program encourages learning experiences in a variety of settings, including residential recovery, withdrawal management, education/teaching, patient advocacy groups, research, and other placements.
• The program also encourages didactic learning experiences through a two-week academic block (in the first 2 weeks of July), and activities spread throughout the year such as journal clubs, research and presentation skills development, clinical and research skills workshops, and lectures with interdisciplinary trainees (e.g., medicine, social work, nursing, and nursing practitioner).
• There is flexibility in rotations based on experience and individual learning objectives.
• Each Fellow’s rotations are tailored to learning objectives that are set with the Program Director.

Eligibility

The Addiction Pharmacy Fellowship program accepts applications from pharmacists who have a minimum of two years of experience in their profession and are eligible for licensure as a full pharmacist in good standing through the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Pharmacists who have completed post-graduate training (e.g. residency), will have this experience taken into consideration.

FELLOWSHIP CORE ROTATIONS

There is flexibility in rotations based on experience and individual learning objectives set with the Program Director.

APPLY

Application Timeline for the 2025-2026 Addiction Pharmacy Fellowship:

• September 2, 2025: Application process opens
• January 30, 2026: Application deadline
• February 2026: Interview period
• March 25, 2026: Acceptance notification
• April 6, 2025: Deadline for acceptance of offer by applicant
• July 6, 2026: Fellowship begins

Please note: While the Fellowship is envisioned to begin July 6, 2026, there may be some flexibility with the start date, particularly for applicants who bring their own funding.

Application Details
Interested candidates must submit an electronic copy of the following documentation:

1. Three (3) letters - two letters of reference and one letter of support (pdf preferred):
• One letter of reference should speak to the applicant’s clinical expertise and experience;
• One letter of reference should speak to the applicant’s character, leadership, advocacy, etc.
• One letter of support should be from the applicant’s manager or supervisor and outline employer/organizational support for the applicant to complete the fellowship program
2. A 700-word letter of intent, in letter format (pdf preferred) describing:
• The applicant’s background and preparation for the Fellowship to date
• The applicant’s learning objectives and any specific areas of clinical interest or research interest
• Why the applicant is interested in a career in the field of addictions, and
• How the applicant envisions their fellowship experience will support their future impacts within the system of addictions treatment and care.
In addition, please comment on any institutional support available.
3. A curriculum vitae

Please send an electronic copy of all application materials to the Fellowship Program Coordinator, Raman Jawanda: [email protected]

Interviews
Interviews may be conducted with top candidates shortly after the application deadline. Interviews will be virtual due to COVID-19 measures in place.

General Inquiries
For further information about this fellowship program, please contact us at [email protected]. For managers and supervisors, please feel free to reach out with questions pertaining to program funding and institutional support.

FUNDING/FEEs

🔹 No Program Fee

• You don’t pay to join the fellowship. There’s no application or tuition fee.

🔹 Paid Fellowship

• You will be paid during the fellowship. It’s a paid educational experience, not a volunteer or unpaid internship.

🔹 How You Get Paid (Three Main Paths):

1. Through Your Current Employer (Internally) covers your pay and time off for the fellowship.
2. Through Your Current Employer (Secondment)
   • If you’re already employed (e.g. by a hospital or health authority), and you’re selected for a fellowship where there is funding available by a BCCSU grant partner:
   • BCCSU will transfer the funds to your employer to help cover a portion of your salary while completing the fellowship. Please note that funding from grants is a fixed amount of funding and a discussion is had with your manager/organisation to understand the coverage it can provide to cover the salary and time off required for the fellowship. A secondment agreement is then drafted between the BCCSU and your employer to finalise the process.
3. Direct Hire (If Secondment Isn’t Possible)
   • In rare cases, BCCSU may hire you directly through UBC or Providence Health Care for a short-term fixed temporary contract for the duration of the fellowship.
   • Pay will be based on available funds for the respective fellowship program.

⚠️ Important Notes

Being in the fellowship does NOT guarantee a permanent job with BCCSU, UBC, or Providence Health Care after it ends.

The process of how you’re paid (via employer or directly) depends on your situation and matching to grant funding sources through the interview process.

For more details or to clarify your specific case, we encourage you to contact the fellowships manager - Shanu Sandhu at: 📧 [email protected]

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Mona Kwong, BSc(Pharm), PharmD, MSc; Pharmacy Advisor, BCCSU; Director, Addiction Pharmacy Fellowship