Site/Location
UPMC Mercy, Pittsburgh, PA
Program Purpose:
PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification.
UPMC Mercy strives to carry on the Catholic tradition of its founders by providing compassionate and quality care to the poor and underserved in the community. UPMC Mercy is recognized as a 340B hospital, providing care to a disproportionate share of low-income patients.
The PGY2 Emergency Medicine residency will develop pharmacists into highly competent practitioners in emergency medicine and prepare them for board certification and for emergency medicine clinical pharmacist positions. UPMC Mercy is a level 1 trauma center, comprehensive burn center, comprehensive stroke center, and level 2 ACEP accredited geriatric emergency department. The Emergency Department is the busiest in the City of Pittsburgh, caring for approximately 60,000 patients each year. Residents will gain experience treating a variety of disease states and emergency situations including traumas, burns, cardiac arrests, sepsis, and overdoses.
Mission
The Department of Pharmacy at UPMC Mercy strives to achieve the organization’s mission and core values through the provision of the highest quality, patient-focused pharmacy services. Through residency training, it is our mission to train clinical pharmacists who are leaders in patient care through:
- clinical decision-making and application of evidence-based medicine.
- education of patients and other health care professionals.
- contribution to knowledge of medication usage and innovative practice models.
- perseverance in patient advocacy.
- commitment to patient safety.
What makes us unique?
Direct patient care. The pharmacists at UPMC Mercy are highly valued members of the emergency department. They care for critically ill patients at the bedside by recommending and preparing medications for intubation, sedation, cardiac arrest, stroke, and trauma. Pharmacists make recommendations to providers regarding antibiotic dosing and selection, titration of infusions, and drug information questions. Pharmacists assist nurses with calculations, setting up IVs, and answering drug-related questions.
Program Overview
- Program Experiences
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Required Learning experiences at UPMC Mercy:
Orientation
Completed UPMC Mercy PGY1 (1 day)
Completed PGY1 at UPMC (3 weeks)
Completed PGY1 outside of UPMC (5 weeks)
Emergency Medicine I – Introduction to Emergency Medicine (5 weeks)
Emergency Medicine II (5 weeks)
Emergency Medicine III – Teaching and Precepting (5 weeks)
Emergency Medicine IV - Transitions of Care (4 weeks)
Critical Care (5 weeks)
Infectious Disease (2 weeks)
Trauma Burn ICU (5 weeks)Required off-site rotations (5 weeks):
- Emergency Medicine - UPMC Shadyside
- Toxicology - UPMC Presbyterian
- Pediatric Intensive Care – Children's Hospital of UPMC
Required Longitudinal Rotations:
Staffing (45 weeks)
Projects (45 weeks)
Professional development (45 weeks)
Direct Patient Care (45 weeks)
Pharmacokinetic consult service
Detox education sessions (once every 4 weeks)
Critically Ill Recovery Clinic (half day on Thursday every 3 weeks) -
Requirements for Program Completion
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All residents at UPMC Mercy must:
- Obtain Pennsylvania pharmacist licensure within 120 days of the residency start and practice two-thirds of the year as a licensed pharmacist.
- Complete all orientation materials including university modules and operational training requirements.
- Attain a rating of “Achieved for Residency” for 80% of the goals and objectives established by the residency program as outlined in the ASHP 2022 Standards for Postgraduate Residency Programs.
- Complete the requirements of the individualized plans as developed by the RPD.
- Complete all required learning experiences of their residency schedule.
- Complete all required weekend inpatient pharmacy staffing and clinical coverage assignments. (Twenty-four 10 hr shifts)
- Complete all required weekday staffing assignments (32 shifts from 4:30 – 8 PM in central pharmacy)
- Complete a major project and present the results at the University of Pittsburgh Pharmacy Resident Research Day.
- Prepare a manuscript based on their major project that is suitable for publication and identify a target journal with intent to submit their manuscript for review.
- Meet the residency presentation requirements: 2 formal presentations, 2 journal club presentations, and 1 noon conference or alternative interdisciplinary presentation.
- Complete a drug class review/drug monograph/treatment guideline/treatment protocol and a medication use evaluation.
- Provide PGY1 residency certificate within 30 days of the start of residency.
- Maintain certification in BLS and ACLS.
- Attain a rating of “Achieved for Residency” for all the objectives listed as critical.
- Present a poster at ASHP midyear or other approved venue.
- Complete emergency medicine required topics listed in the Appendix.
- Manual/Policy and Procedures
- View the UPMC Mercy program manual
Employment Information
Start Date: 7/1/24
Term of Appointment: 12 months
Number of Positions: 1
Stipend and Benefit Information
Yearly Stipend: $53,589
Paid Time Off: 15 days, 5 interview days, 7 conference days
Benefits: UPMC Graduate Medical Education Benefits
Travel: The resident is required to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in December and present a poster. Financial support will be provided by the department to cover the costs of meeting registration, hotel, travel, and poster preparation expenses.
Application/Interview Information
UPMC Mercy Pharmacy residency programs will strive to promote diversity and inclusion in recruitment. Efforts to promote diversity during recruitment will be done under the advisement of the UPMC Residency Advisory Council Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup and in accordance with the ASHP Diversity Resource Guide (diversity-resource-guide.pdf (ashp.org))." All UPMC employees participate in mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion training annually.
Eligible candidates must have:
- Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited school of pharmacy
- Current enrollment in or completion of a PGY1 residency in pharmacy
- Licensure or eligibility for licensure within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Registered for the ASHP Residency Matching Program (NMS Code: 666969)
- Submit the standard application requirements via PhORCAS by January 2. An on-site interview is required.
Meet Our Team
Residency Program Director
Pamela McCormick, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP
Clinical Pharmacist: Emergency Medicine.
Preceptors
- Emily J Ankney, PharmD, BCCCP
- Abby Chiappelli, PharmD, BCCCP
- Steven Ganchuk, PharmD
- Victoria Gray, PharmD, BCPS
- Alex Kibler, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS
- Amanda Korenoski, PharmD, MHA, BCCCP
- Pamela J. McCormick, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP
- Taylor Miller, PharmD
- Casey O'Brien, PharmD
- Kevin Ordons, PharmD
- Bridget Ott, PharmD, BCPS
- Megan E. Wein, PharmD
- David E. Zimmerman, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCEMP, FASHP
Current Residents
Brett Snyder, PharmD
