Program Code: 44204
National Matching Service Code: 560352
Start date: First week of July (Final date specific to residency year)
Number of positions: 3
Program Purpose Statement
The purpose of the UC Health-University of Cincinnati Medical Center Post Graduate Year Two (PGY2) Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program centers on the development of knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to become a sound and successful interventional critical care clinical pharmacist. This ASHP-accredited program offers residents the opportunity to provide specialized pharmaceutical services and direct patient care to a broad array of critically ill patients, as well as build experience- and evidence-based foundations for practice, teaching, and research as a critical care clinical pharmacy practitioner/specialist.
This program strives to provide the knowledge and experience that critical care clinical pharmacy practitioners need to face challenges in today’s complex healthcare systems, while also providing essential skills to meet the practice demands of the future. The individual’s program may vary in structure and area of emphasis based on the resident’s entering level of knowledge, skills, and interests, and will evolve as the residency year progresses. Rotations towards the end of the residency may be tailored based on accepted positions to facilitate the transition as well.
The following outline represents the general program design and requirements for the ASHP-accredited PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The program includes a variety of direct and non-direct patient care, research, and teaching opportunities and will be tailored to meet the needs of an individual resident based on the resident development plan.
Program Requirements
Entrance into the PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency requires the following:
- Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an AACP-accredited College of Pharmacy
- Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
- Pharmacist licensure in the state of Ohio
The PGY2 Critical Care Residency Certificate will be awarded with the completion of all established program requirements, including achievement of Required Competency Areas, Goals, and Objectives for PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency.
Clinical Learning Experiences
Required Clinical Learning Experiences
- Orientation – External Commit (1 month) or – Early Commit (6-week longitudinal)
- Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) I (1 month)
- Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) II (1 month)
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) I (6 weeks)
- Metabolic Nutrition Support I (2 weeks)
- Cardiovascular Intensive Care Critical Care Anesthesia (CCAT) I (1 month)
- Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NSICU) I (1 month)
- Emergency Medicine (EM) I (1 month)
- Primary Precepting Experience (1 month)
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Longitudinal Research Project (12 months, including one dedicated month)
- Pharmacy Practice and Leadership Longitudinal Experience (12 months)
- Pharmacy Grand Rounds PGY2 CC (total of two)
- Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Process Improvement (MMI) PGY2 CC (total of one)
Elective Learning Experiences (The resident will choose 2-3 rotations from either the Required Rotations or the following Electives)
- Burns Special Care Unit (BSCU) and Ear Nose Throat Intensive Care Unit (ENT ICU) (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) III (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) II (2 weeks to 2 months)
- Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NSICU) II/Stroke and TBI focus (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Neurocritical Intensive Care (NSICU) III (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Advanced Metabolic Nutrition Support (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Emergency Medicine II (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Anesthesia/Acute Inpatient Pain Service PGY2 CC (2 weeks)
- Trauma Service PGY2 CC (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Renal Consult Service PGY2 CC (2 weeks)
- Community Intensive Care WCH (West Chester Hospital location – 2 weeks to 1 month)
- Infectious Diseases Consult Service PGY2 CC (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship PGY2 CC (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Solid Organ Transplant Medicine PGY2 CC (2 weeks)
- Critical Care Inpatient Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Advanced Pharmacy Practice Management (2 weeks)
- Advanced Heart Failure/Heart Transplant/Cardiothoracic Surgery (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Obstetrics (2 weeks to 1 month)
- Medical Stepdown (MSD) and Pulmonary Hypertension (2 weeks to 1 month)
Salary and Benefits
Final information regarding salary, benefits, and pre-employment requirements will be provided to matched applicants for PGY1 and PGY2 programs prior to the start of the residency year.
- Estimated salary of $65,000 – 67,000
- 26 days paid time off (includes holidays not worked and professional conference travel)
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Individual workspace including a desktop computer and laser printer
- Physical and electronic access to the University of Cincinnati Health Sciences Library (adjacent to the hospital)
- Weekly ACPE Ohio CE provided through Pharmacy Grand Rounds
- Financial reimbursement for select professional conferences
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification
- Free covered parking adjacent to the hospital
Additional Sections
Research
PGY2 residents will participate in a longitudinal research project that originates from either resident interest or preceptor research submissions. A research timeline is established to ensure the resident stays on schedule for completion of the residency.
| June/July | Research question and research team selected |
| August | Research question and objectives presented to Pharmacy Research Subcommittee |
| September | Submission of protocol to the Investigational Review Board (IRB) |
| November | Development of University Health System Consortium (UHC) abstract and poster |
| December | Presentation of research question and methods at Vizient® Conference held in conjunction with the ASHP midyear clinical meeting; focused data collection/analysis |
| January/March | Data analysis, Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference (GLPRC) abstract submission |
| March/April | GLPRC presentations |
| April-June | Manuscript preparation and submission |
Education Opportunities
PGY2 residents will have the opportunity to participate in the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program. The program is available for all residents in the Greater Cincinnati area and consists of a two-day seminar along with longitudinal didactic and small group teaching requirements.
The critical care pharmacy resident will develop and present at least two didactic lectures at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy Critical Care Elective course and serve as primary preceptor for at least one Doctor of Pharmacy candidate on an Advanced Practice Learning Experience (APPE). Additional didactic and experiential opportunities (IPPE and APPE) are built into resident learning experiences throughout the course of the year.
Education of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals is integrated longitudinally throughout the program, including inter-professional grand rounds presentations, resident-led clinical presentations, nursing education, and other opportunities.
Pharmacy Grand Rounds
PGY2 Critical Care pharmacy residents will develop one 60-minute Ohio Certified Continuing Education (OCE) presentation focused on the background of their research project. They are responsible for presenting 60-minutes of additional OCE credit in the spring focused on a topic and format (didactic, small group discussion, pro/con debate, etc.) of their choice.
Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement
PGY2 pharmacy residents will present one pharmacy-specific process improvement opportunity at the Monthly Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement (MMI) case conference. A written summary will be prepared for inclusion in the quarterly MMI continuing education publication.
Medication Use Evaluation (MUE)
PGY2 pharmacy residents will conduct an MUE coordinated through each resident’s assigned committee. The MUE is completed within the first half of the academic year and will be presented by the resident to the Drug Policy Development or other relevant committee.
Committee Involvement
The PGY2 critical care resident will serve as an active member of any of the following committees:
- Acute Care Surgery Committee
- Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Pharmacy Subcommittee
- CPR Committee
- Cardiovascular ICU Safety Committee
- Critical Care Domain: Equipment and Protocols Committee
- Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) Protocol Committee Southwest Ohio
- Medical Intensive Care Unit and Medical Step-Down Process Improvement Committee
- Trauma Division Committee
The PGY2 resident will also have the opportunity to select involvement in other pharmacy and multidisciplinary committees including Drug Policy Development, Medication Administration Team, Pharmacy Process Improvement Committee, or other committees based on the resident’s interest.
Independent Practice
PGY2 pharmacy residents will assist with provision of pharmacy coverage for Rapid Responses, Code Blue, and Code Violet. Residents are also integrated into the weekly clinical pharmacist call schedule. The PGY2 critical care resident will be scheduled into rotating weekend clinical coverage (equivalent to an average of every third weekend as well as three holidays).
Professional Conferences
PGY2 residents are required to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting/UHC meeting (December) and Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference.
PGY2 residents participate in the annual Midwest Residency Exchange (August). With approval from the residency program director, the PGY2 critical care resident may have the opportunity to attend an additional conference with department support based on available funding. Attendance and abstract submission to the Society of Critical Care Annual Conference (SCCM) is encouraged.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion
The UC Health Pharmacy Residency Program is committed to not only diversity within our residency program but also fostering an inclusive environment. We have the honor of providing care to a diverse patient population (based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, etc.) We know and understand that it is important that patients have providers that look like them and that the entire healthcare team is equipped with the cultural humility needed to provide top-quality care based on individual needs.
As such, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Residency Advisory Committee created a position dedicated to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Community Engagement efforts. This position is broadly responsible for the following:
- Cultural Humility
- Residency recruitment
- Community Engagement
In 2021, the UCMC Clinical Pharmacist group was selected by the UC Health DEI Office to participate as Early Adopters for eLearning modules related to these topics. This allowed our group to set a foundation on topics such as diversity, inclusion, implicit bias, and microaggressions through interactive online modules followed by in-person debrief sessions as an intact group.
The focus on DEI efforts within the residency programs aligns with UC Health Strategic Framework (Performance and Culture, Research and Education, Growth and Access, Community Health) and our PRIIDE values. We are partnering with our colleagues at University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine to tackle these difficult topics to continue to grow so that we can provide the best care possible to our patients.
International Applications
At this time, UC Health does not sponsor visas, including the H-1B status.
Application Process
The following items must be received by January 2nd to complete this application. Please submit the following items via PhORCAS:
- A letter of intent describing your reasons for applying to the program and interests within the pharmacy profession.
- A current Curriculum Vitae
- College transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation (utilizing PhORCAS format)
PGY2 Critical Care Preceptors for Required Clinical Rotations
UC Medical Center Preceptors | Pharmacy Services
UCMC PGY2 Critical Care Residents: Accepted Position after PGY2 Residency (Previous 5-Years)
- (2024) Katie Babula, PharmD; Critical Care Pharmacist, Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis IN
- (2024) Rachelle Barnett Hightchew, PharmD; Clinical Staff Pharmacist ICU, St. Elizabeth Health System, Edgewood KY
- (2024) Payal Patel, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, FLEX ICU, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati OH
- (2023) Whitney Anderson, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Medical Intensive Care Unit, Miami Valley Hospital, Premier Health, Dayton OH
- (2023) Brittany Curran, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Surgery/Trauma Critical Care, Kettering Medical Center, Kettering Health, Dayton OH
- (2023) Stephanie Janusz, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Trauma/Surgical ICU, Miami Valley Hospital, Premier Health, Dayton OH
- (2022) Lauren Dehne, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Neurology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati OH
- (2022) Justin Culshaw, PharmD; Senior Critical Care Pharmacist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston MA
- (2022) Tim Rice, PharmD; Clinical Staff Pharmacist, ICU Hybrid, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati OH
- (2021) Kristen Looney, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care, University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Harrisburg PA
- (2021) Sarah Schuman Harlan, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis TN
- (2021) Divya Thomas, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, IU Health West Hospital, Avon IN
- (2020) Payal Desai, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Cardiovascular Critical Care, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown NJ
- (2020) Dalton Kuebel, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Medical Stepdown Unit, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati OH
- (2020) Corissa Piatka, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care, Maine Medical Center, Portland MN
Program Contact
Jessica Winter, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care
Program Director, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
Jessica.Winter@UCHealth.com