The University of New England and local pharmaceutical company Apothecary by Design are launching a residency program this spring to train specialty pharmacists.

The program will allow pharmacists to learn from real-world experience with “specialty” medications, which typically involve high costs, complex administration and unique handling requirements, according to a joint news release from the two organizations. Specialty pharmacy is the sole focus of Apothecary by Design, a fast-growing segment of the pharmacy industry.

The one-year, Portland-based program will provide hands-on management and clinical training around conditions such as infertility, organ transplant, hepatitis C, HIV and rheumatoid arthritis.

“With recent advances in science, specialty care is at the forefront of pharmacy, and Apothecary by Design is at the forefront of specialty,” Kenneth McCall, a UNE associate professor who serves as a key preceptor of the program, said in the release. “The University of New England College of Pharmacy is thrilled to be partnering with ABD to offer this unique opportunity, which complements the other rich resources we bring to the profession of pharmacy.”

There are currently more than 1,700 pharmacy residency programs in the country, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, but it’s estimated that fewer than a dozen concentrate in specialty pharmacy, according to the release.

In September of last year, BelHealth Investment Partners, a New York private equity firm, acquired a controlling interest in Apothecary by Design, to position it as the corporate parent for future acquisitions. Since then, ABD has acquired pharmacies in Chicago and the Boston area.

UNE established its pharmacy college in 2009.