The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at UPMC McKeesport resides in a community teaching hospital with an emphasis on the underserved, including exposure to addiction medicine and behavioral health. The program provides the pharmacy resident with direct patient care activities in a variety of settings throughout the year, as well as the opportunity to integrate and enhance accumulated experiences and knowledge to improve drug therapy.
Site/Location
UPMC McKeesport, McKeesport, PA
Program Purpose
PGY1 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.
Mission
The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at UPMC McKeesport aims to develop independent and effective practitioners of pharmacotherapy.
What makes us unique?
Emphasis on underserved populations including exposure to addiction medicine and behavioral health as well as practicing independently at The 9th Street Clinic.UPMC McKeesport has distinct units dedicated to the care of addiction medicine (detox and rehabilitation unit) and behavioral health (acute unit and separate extended-stay transitional rehabilitation unit), which allow for learning experiences at our community hospital. Additionally, The 9th Street Clinic is a free, volunteer-based clinic which serves patients without insurance. Pharmacy residents staff the clinic once weekly as a longitudinal experience and assist with medication access. Lastly, UPMC McKeesport houses family medicine and internal medicine residency programs, which enables close collaboration for resident education.
Program Overview
The program provides the pharmacy resident with direct patient care activities in a variety of settings throughout the year, as well as the opportunity to integrate and enhance accumulated experiences and knowledge to improve drug therapy. In addition to clinical activities, pharmacy residents gain teaching experience through informal and formal presentations to health care professionals, precepting pharmacy students, and teaching opportunities through the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Pharmacy residents also develop research skills through practice and instruction as they complete a research project and participate in a research series with peers. Involvement in teaching opportunities and research allow for interaction with pharmacy residents in other UPMC training programs.
View additional details about our practice site and learning experiences.
- Patient Care and Pharmacy Experiences
-
Required Block Learning Experiences
- Acute Care (6 weeks)
- Addiction Medicine/Behavioral Health (6 weeks)
- Clinical Stewardship (5 weeks)
- Critical Care (*offsite as available, 4 weeks)
- Family Medicine Hybrid (6 weeks)
- Oncology Distribution (5 weeks)
- Orientation (5 weeks)
- Pharmacy Management (4 weeks)
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Inpatient Staffing (12 months)
- Teaching and Education (12 months)
- Quality Improvement Projects (includes residency research project, 12 months)
- The 9th Street Clinic (12 months)
Elective Experiences
Many elective rotations are available within the UPMC Health System based on resident interest and faculty availability. Residents can choose to repeat an on-site rotation with advanced independence or in a specialty area available within the UPMC Health System. Elective time generally consists of two, four-week experiences.
- Teaching Experiences
-
Monthly didactic presentations to Internal Medicine and Family Medicine Residency Programs (required).
Mastery of Teaching Program through the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy (elective).
- Research/Quality Improvement Experiences
-
Completion of one major research project is required and will be presented at a local or regional forum. Residents will participate in a Resident Research Series with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Residents must prepare a manuscript based on their major project that is suitable for publication.
Pharmacy residents also complete smaller quality improvement projects, such as a medication use evaluation and drug formulary review, throughout the year.
- Professional Development/Leadership Experiences
-
Pharmacy residents present a presentation for CE credit or through a formal debate series within the health system to foster professional growth.
- Requirements for Program Completion
-
- Sit for licensure in Pennsylvania by September 30th and obtain licensure in Pennsylvania by October 31st.
- Completion of all orientation requirements (i.e., modules, pre-employment requirements, and pharmacy department training material).
- Meets a rating of “Achieved for Residency” for at least 80% of the goals and objectives established by the residency program as outlined in the ASHP Standards for a PGY1 Program. Furthermore, at least 75% of the patient care objectives outlined in R1.1 must be marked as “Achieved for Residency”.
- No objectives in any domain may be marked as “needs improvement”.
- Completion of the requirements of the individualized plans as developed by the resident and the resident program director (RPD).
- Completion of all the learning experiences and associated evaluations on the residency schedule.
- Includes completion of staffing requirements (which includes every other weekend and one major and one minor holiday shift).
- Submission of a proposal or abstract for a poster/presentation at ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.
- Completion of a major project and presentation of results at a local or regional forum.
- Submission of a manuscript based on their major project that is suitable for publication by June 30th of the residency year.
- Completion of the residency presentation requirements: 1 committee presentation and at least 4 medical staff (resident lecture series) presentations with IM and FM departments.
- Completion of one medication use evaluation and one of the following: formulary drug review, drug monograph, and/or treatment protocol.
- Manual/Policy and Procedures
-
The residency program manual and accompanying policies will be distributed upon invitation to interview.
- Recruitment Events
-
Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists (PSHP) 2023 Virtual Residency and Fellowship Showcase
Date: October 25, 2023
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM EST
Zoom link will be provided to PSHP Showcase attendees. See Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists (pshp.org) to register.UPMC McKeesport PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Meet and Greet #1
Date: Tuesday November 14, 2023
Time: 5:00-6:00 PM EST
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/agPP8pyt8V
A Microsoft Teams link will be provided to registrants a day prior to the event.UPMC McKeesport PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Meet and Greet #2
Date: Monday December 11, 2023
Time: 5:00-6:00 PM EST
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/agPP8pyt8V
A Microsoft Teams link will be provided to registrants a day prior to the event.ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Residency Showcase
Booth #4267
Date: Monday December 4, 2023
Time: 1:00-4:00 PM PST
Location: Anaheim, CA
Employment Information
Start Date: July 1 start date, 52- week appointment concluding June 30th
Stipend and Benefit Information
Number of positions: 1
Yearly Stipend: $51,259
Paid Time Off: 20 days
Benefits: Health insurance for trainees and eligible dependent(s) is provided with no contributions. Other UPMC Graduate Medical Education Benefits that are available include: dental and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and retirement.
Travel:Travel and conference registration reimbursement is available for the ASHP Midyear meeting. Reimbursement for other conferences may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application/Interview Information
Application Requirements
- Applications should be submitted in PhORCAS
- Please include 1 letter of reference from a clinical rotation
- Application deadline: January 2nd
- Interviews will occur virtually in January-early February with the option of an in-person tour on a separate date.
Meet Our Team
Residency Program Director
Nicole Likar, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
Preceptors
Current Residents
Alyse Aubrey, PharmD
Past Residents and First Positions
2022-2023
Claire Shanholtzer, PharmD, PGY2 Psychiatry at Martinsburg VA Medical Center, Martinsburg, WV
2021-2022
Vidya Balakrishna Sharma, PharmD, Staff Pharmacist, UPMC Pinnacle, Harrisburg, PA
2020-2021
Brooke Sabella, PharmD, BCPS, PGY2 Pain and Palliative Care at Suma Health, Akron, OH
2019-2020
Katherine Halza, PharmD, PGY2 Ambulatory Care, UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA
2018-2019
Liam Dadey, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist, Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN
