Application Requirements

The postgraduate year two (PGY2) Geriatric Pharmacy Residency at UPMC St. Margaret is the second year of a two-year residency experience in which the UPMC St. Margaret PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency conditionally continues to PGY2 year through ASHP Resident Matching Program early commitment process. Additionally, for the 2022-2023 academic year, applications will be accepted for one PGY2 geriatric pharmacy residency one-year residency experience.

All residents must be eligible for pharmacist licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Applications for Pharmacist License and Intern Registration are available.

Application Process

Eligible candidates will have completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency program and must submit the standard application requirements via PhORCAS by December 31st. A virtual or on-site residency interview is required.

This residency site agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept, or use any ranking related information from any residency candidate.

The purpose of the Geriatric Pharmacy Residency is to train highly motivated, team-oriented pharmacy residents on advanced patient care skills, teaching techniques, and practice-based research methods, preparing them to be leaders of change in the medical and academic community. The focus is on independent pharmacy practice, allowing the specialty resident advanced practice opportunities in the areas older adults receive care including the hospital, skilled and personal care home sites, and outpatient clinics.

Duration/Type: 12 months
Number Positions: 2
Starting Date: July 1
Salary: $51,037
Benefits include:

• 20 paid-time-off (PTO) days including vacation, sick, and personal days
• 10 Professional development and learning days for conference attendance
• Continuing education stipend
• Chief of Policy and Chief of Scheduling stipend
• Board certification: Application and examination fully covered.
• Relocation allowance
• Work laptop and computer
• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage)
• Disability benefits
• Life insurance
• Malpractice insurance
• Supplemental retirement annuities
• Tax-sheltered annuity plan
• SMMH Federal Credit Union
• ACLS/BCLS provider courses
• ATLS/PALS/NALS/ALSO courses
• Annual allotment or meal allowance
• Free on-site parking

Training Site: Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, Personal Care Homes, Outpatient Geriatric Care Centers
Owner/Affiliates: Private
Model (type): Teaching, Community
Total Beds: 249

Longitudinal Experiences

• Geriatric Care Center Outpatient
• Skilled Nursing Facility Clinical Rounds
• Faculty Development Fellowship
• Research
• Palliative Care
• Medication Safety
• Teaching and Learning
• Private Practice Initiative
• PK/Clinical Resource Pharmacist

Block Core Rotations

• Orientation
• Inpatient Geriatrics
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• UPMC Enterprises
• Elective

Electives

• Global health
• Medication Safety
• Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
• Pharmacist Practice Development

Additional time in required sites depending on the resident’s career goals.

Teaching Experiences

• Presentations at the Geriatric Medicine Core Curriculum and noon conferences for geriatric fellows, medical students and residents, as well as nursing in-services, throughout the training program
• UPMC St. Margaret Clinical Controversy Series
• Participate in Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellowship
• Participate in the precepting of pharmacy and medical students
• Teaching at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy; didactic, practical, and Silver Scripts lecture and precepting

Preceptors

Abernathy, Amanda
Castelli, Gregory
Coons, James C
Coulter, Robin
Farrah, Roberta
Gutowski, Mark
Haver, Amy
Hogan, Linda
Pickering, Aaron
Sakley, Heather
Sergent, Joseph
Shelesky, Gretchen
Thompson, Brianna

William Beathard

Lauren Della Grotta

Haver A, Sakely H, Somma McGivney M, Thorpe C, Corbo J, Cox-Vance L, Klatt P, Schleiden L, Balestrino V, Coley K. Geriatrics Care Team Perceptions of Pharmacists Caring for Older Adults Across Health Care Settings. Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging. 2017;25(4):20-26.

Bobrzynski E, D’Amico F, KrygerE, Sakely H. Clinical Pharmacist Practice in Alternative Payment Models: An Evaluation of Pharmacist Medication Interventions for Patients in Bundled Payment Episodes in a Skilled Nursing Facility. American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Virtual Poster Symposium. May 2018.

Balick, R. (2019). Pharmacists help patients thrive at any age. Pharmacy Today, 25(6) 28-31. Retrieved from https://www.pharmacytoday.org/article/S1042-0991(19)30643-7/fulltextAnnotation: This article features the work of Heather Sakely, PharmD, Amy Haver, PharmD and the UPMC St. Margaret Geriatric Care Center.

Koperwas M, Manov N, Bobrzynski E. CMV Colitis in the Immunocompetent Patient with Recurrent Diarrhea. J Am Geriatr Soc. 67(suppl 1): S181, 2019.

Pruskowski J, Sakely H, HadlerS. Development of a required longitudinal residency experience focused on deprescribing. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2019; 76:236-41

Wilson E, Kryger E, Pickering A, D’Amico F, Haver A Resident Presentation, Encore Presentation Antibiogram-Based Antibiotic Algorithm for Treatment of Cystitis in a Nursing Facility. J Am Geriatr Soc. 67(suppl 1): S289, 2019.

Springer S, Wilson S, Schaffer M, Sakely H. Effects of COX2 Inhibitors on Rates of Bleeding in Older Adults Undergoing Hip and Knee Surgeries: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 65(suppl 1): S226, 2017.

Springer S, Cassidy E, Wilhelmy K, D’Amico F, Sakely H. Effects of an Interprofessional Geriatric Medical Service on Outcomes in Older Adults with Hip Fractures. J Am Geriatr Soc. 65(suppl 1): S217, 2017

Bobrzynski E, Sakely H, Kryger E, D’Amico. Evaluation of Statin use in Nursing Facility Patients with Diabetes given Goals of Care. J Am Geriatr Soc. 67(suppl 1): S125, 2019.

Bobrzynski E, D’Amico F, Kryger E, Sakely H. Evaluation of Statin Use in Nursing Home Patients given Patient-Centered Goals of Care. American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Virtual Poster Symposium. May 2018.

Bobrzynski E, Cassidy E, Donihi A. Evaluation of a Geriatric Correctional Insulin Scale in Patients with Diabetes. J Am Geriatr Soc. 67(suppl 1): S288, 2019.

Felton MA, Jarrett J, Hoffmaster R, D’Amico F, Sakely H, Pruskowski J. Delirium in an inpatient geriatric palliative care population: Comparison of antipsychotic treatment strategies. J Am Geriatr Soc. 65(suppl 1):S130, 2017.

Felton M, Hoffmaster R, Pruskowski J, Sakely H. Implementing pharmacists through telepharmacy into outpatient, palliative care at a geriatric clinic. J Am Geriatr Soc. 65(suppl 1):S213-214, 2017.

Campbell A, Coley K, Corbo J, DeLellis T, Thorpe C, McGivney M, Klatt P, Cox-Vance L, Zaharoff J, Sakely H. Outcomes of coordinated, pharmacist-led, anticoagulation management of older adults across the levels of care: A mixed methods analysis of the PIVOTS model. J Am Geriatr Soc. 64(suppl 1):S257, 2016.

Joseph M, Higbea A, Thorpe C, Coley K, McGivney MS, Klatt P, Schleiden L, Zaharoff J, Cox-Vance L, Corbo J, Balestrino V, Sakely H. Surveys of Older Adult’s Medication-related Self-Efficacy and Adherence: Phamacist-led Interventions on Transitions of Seniors (PIVOTS). J Am Geriatr Soc. 64(suppl 1):S257, 2016.

Joseph M, DeLellis T, Henderson C, Manov N, Cox-Vance L, Sakely H. EMPOWER 2: Decreasing Outpatient Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 64(suppl 1):S273, 2016.

Breslin T, Campbell A, Sakely H. Implementation of an interprofessionally developed hypoglycemic protocol in a skilled nursing facility. . J Am Geriatr Soc. 64(suppl 1):S210, 2016.

Carr, M, Jarrett J, Sakely H, Pruskowski J. Impact of a Deprescribing Curriculum on Family Medicine Residents’ Knowledge of Safe Deprescribing. J Am Geriatr Soc. 66(suppl 1): S303, 2018.

Carr M, Mohan E, Leman K, Riarh A, Sakely H. Impact of a cardiology curriculum for interprofessional learners at a skilled nursing facility. J Am Geriatr Soc. 66(suppl 1): S302, 2018.

Payette N, Breslin TM, D’Amico F, Durigan RC, Klatt P, Coley K, McGivney MS, Corbo J, Cox-Vance L, Driessen J, Thorpe C, Bacci J, Zaharoff J, Balestrino V, Sakely H. Time-and-motion Analysis of the Geriatric Clinical Pharmacist in Three Geriatric Care Settings: Pharmacists-led InterVentions On Transitions of Seniors (PIVOTS). J Am Geriatr Soc. 64(suppl 1):S256, 2016.

Campbell AM. The benefits of faculty development span far beyond teaching skills. Am Jour Pharm Educ. 2015; 79(7):Article 108.

Persky AM, Henry T; Campbell AM. An exploratory analysis of personality, attitudes and study skills on the learning curve within a team-based learning environment. Am Jour Pharm Educ. 2015;79(2):Article20.

Campbell A, Coley K, Thorpe C, Corbo J, McGivney MS, Klatt PM, Zaharoff J, Cox-Vance L, Sakely H. The impact of pharmacists caring for geriatric patients across the healthcare continuum on the identification, resolution, and prevention of drug therapy problems: A subset of the PIVOTS (Pharmacist-led Interventions on the Transitions of Seniors) Group. J Am Geriatr Soc. 63(suppl 1):S265, 2015.

Breslin TM. Letter to the Editor: Not All Hard Work Leads to Learning. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2013; 77(10):229.

Breslin TM, Dombrowski S. In Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and a Drug-eluting Stent, What is the Safest Method of Anticoagulation Management? Evidence Based Practice. [final version accepted for publication]

Patel M, Breslin TM. How is Superior Oblique Myokymia Treated? Evidence Based Practice. [final version accepted for publication]

Corbo JM, Breslin TM, Hill L, Rindfuss S, Nashelsky J. Does ACEI or ARB therapy prevent progression to CKD in normotensive patients with microalbuminuria? American Family Physician. [accepted for publication, in revisions]

Higbea AM, Thorpe C, Cox-Vance L, McGivney MS, Coley K, Schleiden L, Zaharoff J, Corbo J, Klatt PM, Sakely H. Improving care of older adults within a novel practice: patient perceptions and self-efficacy analysis of Pharmacist-led InterVentions On Transitions of Seniors (PIVOTS) by patient surveys. J Am Geriatr Soc. 63(suppl 1):S265, 2015.

Higbea A, Coley K, McGivney M, Thorpe C, Klatt P, Schleiden L, Zaharoff J, Corbo J, Cox-Vance L, Balestrino V, Sakely H. Pharmacist-led Interventions on Transitions of Seniors (PIVOTS): A Survey of Patient Perceptions. JAGS. 2014: 62 (s1). S276. 2015.

Payette N, Breslin T, Durigan R, Klatt PM, Bacci J, Coley K, McGivney MS, Corbo J, Cox-Vance L, Driessen J, Thorpe C, Zaharoff J, Sakely H. Time-in motion analysis of the geriatric clinical pharmacist in four geriatric care settings: Pharmacists-led InterVentions on Transitions of Seniors (PIVOTS). J Am Geriatr Soc. 63(suppl 1):S270, 2015.

Campbell AM, Coley KC, Corbo JM, DeLellis TM, Joseph MP, Thorpe CT, McGivney MS, Klatt P, Cox-Vance L, Balestrino V, Sakely H. Pharmacist-led Drug Therapy Problem Management in an Interprofessional Geriatric Care Continuum: A subset of the PIVOTS (Pharmacist-led Interventions on Transitions of Seniors) group. American Health & Drug Benefits. 2018;11(9):469-478.

Breslin T, Durigan R, Payette N, Bacci J, Klatt PM, McGivney MS, Corbo J, Coley K, Thorpe, C, Cox-Vance L, Zaharoff J, Sakely H. Physician perceptions of pharmacists integrated within their practice: a mixed methods analysis of effects on patient care and non-patient care activities. J Am Geriatr Soc. 63(suppl 1):S270, 2015.

Wilson E, Leman K, D’Amico F, Sakely Orthostatic Hypotension in the Outpatient Setting After a Fall. J Am Geriatr Soc. 67(suppl 1): S289, 2019.

Ayers, Yuan D, Hogan L, Sakely H. Shared Physician-Pharmacist Visits as a Model for Geriatric Training. J Am Geriatr Soc. 66(suppl 1): S299, 2018.

Thompson J, McGivney M, Coley K, Corbo J, Thorpe C, Klatt P, Cox-Vance L, Zaharoff J, D’Amico F, Sakely H. SMOOTH TRANSITIONSThe workflow of two clinical pharmacists across the continuum of geriatric care. American Geriatric Society Annual Meeting. May 2013. J Am Geriatr Soc. 61(s1):S195

Awards

2013: 3rd place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific. Meeting (Thompson)

2014: 3rd place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific. Meeting (Higbea)

2015: 1st place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific. Meeting (Campbell)

2015: 2nd place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific. Meeting (Breslin)

2015: 3rd place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific. Meeting (Higbea)

2016: 3rd place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatric Society Annual Scientific Meeting (Campbell)

2016: 2nd place awardee for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Models of Care. American Geriatric Society Annual Scientific Meeting (Joseph)

2016: 2rd place for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Quality Improvement. American Geriatric Society Annual Scientific Meeting (Joseph)

2017: 1st place for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Category of Clinical Innovations and Quality Improvement. American Geriatric Society (Springer)

2017: 2nd place for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Category of Clinical Innovations and Quality Improvement. American Geriatric Society (Felton)

2017: Presidential Poster Session presenter. American Geriatric Society (Felton)

2018: 1st place for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Category of Geriatric Education. American Geriatric Society (Carr)

2019: Emily Bobrzynski, PharmD, BCPS –Pharmacy Resident of Distinction for the Pitt/UPMC Pharmacy Residency Programs (Bobrzynski)

2019: Presidential Poster Session Presenter, American Geriatric Society (Bobrzynski)

2019: 2ndplace for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Category Category of Clinical Innovation and Quality Improvement, American Geriatric Society (Bobrzynski)

2019: 1stplace for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Category of Clinical Innovation and Quality Improvement, American Geriatric Society (Wilson)

2019: 3rdplace for Resident and Fellow Abstract, Category of Category of Clinical Innovation and Quality Improvement, American Geriatric Society (Wilson)

Grants

Grant total: $1000.
Primary investigator: Sehrish Panjwani, PharmD, BCPS
Faculty mentor: Heather Sakely, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
Co-investigators: Amy Grimes, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, Elizabeth Mohan, MD

Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Educational Foundation. Awarded $1000. Effect of a Pharmacist Driven Workflow on Successful Implementation of Transitional Care Management Program in a Geriatric Interprofessional Practice. 2019-2020.