Program Code: 44202
National Matching Service Code: 560660
Start date: July 1
Number of positions: 2
The following outline represents general program design and requirements for the ASHP-accredited PGY2 Oncology 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 Oncology 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 Oncology Residency Certificate will be awarded with completion of all established program requirements, including achievement of Required Competency Areas, Goals, and Objectives for PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency.
Clinical learning experiences
– All experiences are one month in duration, unless otherwise noted
Required
- Orientation (distribution and specialty pharmacy) (4 weeks)
- Inpatient Hematology/BMT I (4 weeks)
- Inpatient Hematology/BMT II (4 weeks)
- Inpatient Pain and Palliative Care (4 weeks)
- Ambulatory GI Malignancies and Melanoma (3-4 weeks)
- Ambulatory Thoracic Malignancies (3-4 weeks)
- Ambulatory GU Malignancies (3 weeks)
- Ambulatory Breast and Gynecologic Malignancies (3-4 weeks)
- Ambulatory Leukemia and HSCT (3 weeks)
- Ambulatory Lymphoma and Myeloma (3 weeks)
- Oncology Clinical Research/Cancer Drug Development (3 weeks)
- Research (4 dedicated weeks, as well as longitudinal check in)
Elective
- Inpatient Solid Tumor or Hematology Consult Service (2-4 weeks)
- Benign hematology (2-4 weeks, UCMC and West Chester Hospital)
- Nutrition (2-4 weeks)
- Community Oncology Clinic (at West Chester Hospital, 2-4 weeks)
- Solid Organ Transplant (2-4 weeks)
- Transplant Infectious Disease (2-4 weeks)
- Medical Intensive Care Unit (2-4 weeks)
- Ambulatory Hematology/BMT II (2-4 weeks)
- Advanced Ambulatory Hematology/Oncology Block (2-4 weeks)
- Pharmacogenomics (2-4 weeks, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Edgewood, KY. Pending availability)
- Repeat of any required experience
Longitudinal
- Pharmacy practice requirements (clinical staffing)
- Ambulatory Clinics (2-3 experiences in 12-24 week blocks where the resident practices independently with the provider and team. Options include:
- Benign hematology clinic
- Neuro Oncology clinic
- Melanoma clinic (at West Chester Hospital)
- Medication Use Evaluation
- Formulary evaluation, drug class review, or development of a treatment guideline, policy, or protocol
- Administration topics
- Teaching/precepting
- Monthly Complex Case Conference
Research
Each PGY2 Oncology resident 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 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) |
| December/January | Focused data collection/analysis |
| January/February | HOPA Abstract submission, GLPRC abstract submission |
| March/April | HOPA poster submission, GLPRC presentation submission, Presentations at Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Associate (HOPA) and GLPRC |
| April-June | Manuscript preparation and submission |
| June | Presentation of final project at UC Health Research Showcase |
Education opportunities
Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will have the opportunity to participate in the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program, if not completed as a PGY1. The program is available for all residents in the greater Cincinnati area and consists of a two-day seminar along with longitudinal didactic, co-precepting and small group teaching requirements. The PGY2 Oncology Resident will participate in didactic lectures in the oncology module of therapeutics at the college.
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
Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will develop two Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) continuing education presentations for Pharmacy Grand Rounds.
- Fall presentation: One individual 60-minute presentation
- Winter presentation(s): the resident may choose to complete a 2nd individual 60-minute presentation OR present therapeutic controversies with a co-resident. In this case, each resident would present two 30-minute presentations with their colleague, totaling 60 minutes in total presentation time.
Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement
Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will present one pharmacy-specific process improvement opportunity at the Monthly Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement (MMI) case conference. The resident will work with a primary preceptor, a Drug Policy Development contact, and a process improvement coach to identify an operational or clinical workflow issue and apply process improvement methodology to identify solutions. The resident will deliver their topic to peers in a 20-minute presentation and will develop a written summary for ACPE continuing education for pharmacists.
Medication use evaluation (MUE)
Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will conduct an MUE coordinated through each resident’s assigned committee. The resident may choose to complete in the first half or second half of the year, based on resident preference. Presentation of results will occur by the resident to the Chemotherapy, Biologics and Infusion Subcommittee of the Drug Policy Development, or other relevant committee.
Committee involvement
Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will serve as an active member of The Chemotherapy, Biologics and Infusion Subcommittee. They will participate in the monthly committee planning meetings and will serve as a lead for at least one meeting in the second half of the year. Residents will regularly present new drug updates, as well as formulary evaluations, policy or SOP updates, and MUEs.
Independent practice
Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will assist with provision of pharmacy coverage for rapid responses, Code Blue, and Code Violet for their services while inpatient, as well as rapid responses to oncology infusion areas while on ambulatory rotations (in addition to the rapid response team). The residents will not participate in the departmental on-call program but will serve as an on-call resource one evening a week, with on-site availability from 4pm to 6pm; the remainder of call will occur from home for urgent clinical hematology/oncology issues. Each PGY2 Oncology Resident will also provide weekend clinical coverage to the oncology and solid organ transplant service lines approximately every 3 weeks. Each resident is required to cover a major holiday (Thanksgiving or Christmas) and a minor holiday. The residents may also spend a month working with the Pulmonology Consult Team to ensure safe antibiotic use in patients with cystic fibrosis, contingent on completion of this activity as a PGY1, or additional interest as a PGY2.
Professional conferences
PGY2 Oncology Residents are required to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (December) and Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference (April/May). Additionally, the PGY2 Oncology Resident will be expected to attend the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Meeting (late March/early April), unless otherwise determined by the program director. Alternative experiences will be arranged if extenuating circumstances preclude attendance. The PGY2 Oncology Resident is not required to present their research at the Vizient® meeting at ASHP Midyear but is welcome to do so.
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 the 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.
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 $66,714
- 28 days paid time off (includes holidays and sick leave)
- Medical, dental, vision plans
- Individual workspace including a desktop computer, dual monitors, and laser printer
- Physical and electronic access to the University of Cincinnati Health Sciences Library (adjacent to hospital)
- Weekly ACPE provided through Pharmacy Grand Rounds
- Financial reimbursement for professional conferences, as available
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification
- Free covered parking adjacent to hospital
UCMC PGY2 Oncology Residents: Accepted Position after PGY2 Residency (Previous 5-Years)
- 2024: Ellie Nazzoli, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Oncology, John Cochran VA Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
- 2024: Rachel Milholland, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
- 2023: Abigail Hart, PharmD, MBA; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
- 2023: Aaron Swomley, PharmD, PhD; Clinical Pharmacist, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT
- 2022: Alisha Vora, PharmD; Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinic Float Pharmacist, UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC
- 2021: Sydney (Allen) Elmore, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacist, Oncology, West Chester Hospital, West Chester, OH
- 2020: Brooke Peters, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
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)
Program Contacts
Lisa Savage Grate, PharmD, MS, BCOP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Breast, Gynecologic & NeuroOncology
Program Director, PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency
Lisa.Savage@uchealth.com
Jason Ernstberger, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Hematology/Oncology/BMT Pharmacy Specialist
PGY2 Hematology/Oncology Residency Coordinator
Jason.Ernstberger@uchealth.com