Program Design and Learning Experiences
The PGY2 Internal Medicine program structure is based on clinical learning experiences evaluating objectives that align with ASHP Competency Areas R1, R2, R3, and R4.
Required learning experiences are completed within the Department of Internal Medicine. The PGY2 residents will have the opportunity to select up to five elective learning experiences to complete 2.5-months during the program year. Clinical interest areas will be aligned with other requirements of the residency program, including drug policy, residency project, leadership, and education, when possible.
Required Block Experiences
*Experience durations are one calendar month, unless otherwise specified
- Internal Medicine Orientation
- Internal Medicine Patient Care 1
- Internal Medicine Patient Care 2
- Internal Medicine Precepting 1
- Internal Medicine Precepting 2
- Metabolic Support (2 weeks)
- Critical Care Medicine 1
- Selective 1 (must complete 2 of the 3): Cardiology, Neurology, and Nephrology
- Selective 2 (must complete 2 of the 3): Cardiology, Neurology, and Nephrology
- Drug Policy and Medication Use
Required Longitudinal Experiences
- Clinical Pharmacy Practice
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Education and Presentations
- Pharmacy Leadership and Committee Participation
- Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement
- Residency Research Project
Available Elective Experiences
*Experiences available as 2-week and 1-month rotations, unless specified. Resident total elective time will equal 2.5 months of the program year.
- Academia (1 month)
- Advanced Heart Failure Critical Care (1 month)
- Critical Care Medicine 2 (1 month)
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases/Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Infectious Diseases Consults
- Inpatient Psychiatry
- Medicine Consult Service
- Solid Organ Transplant (1 month)
- Selective not completed as required rotations: Cardiology, Neurology, and Nephrology (1 month)
Drug Policy, Formulary Management, and Medication Use Evaluation
The Drug Policy and Medication Use Evaluation longitudinal experience offers the PGY2 resident immersion into drug policy, process improvement, and formulary-level medication management. Residents are required to conduct one MUE and one additional drug policy-related project during the program year and may have the opportunity to complete additional projects based on departmental needs and resident interest.
Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement
The PGY2 resident will present one patient case identifying pharmacy-specific process improvement opportunities at the Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement (MMI) case conference. A written summary offering Medication Safety CE, will be prepared for inclusion in the quarterly MMI continuing education publication.
Residency Research Project
The resident will choose either a process improvement or traditional research topic. The process improvement project requires involvement in the initiation, sustainment, and evaluation of a new process improvement or practice advancement. The traditional research project includes a retrospective clinical evaluation. The resident will receive direct mentorship from project group members and other expert personnel. A project timeline is established by the resident and mentor or team to stay on schedule for residency objectives.
During the residency project, the resident will present a poster of the project design at the Vizient® Consortium Pharmacy Network Meeting, a podium update at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Residents Conference, and a poster with complete results at the UCMC Pharmacy Research Symposium. If the resident is unable to attend a meeting identified above, similar conference opportunities will be substituted by RPD. Additional elective research and presentation opportunities may include local, regional, and national forums. The residency project will culminate in a full project report suitable for publication; it is encouraged to develop a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
Typical residency research project timeline is:
July
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Research question selected and research team identified
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August
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Research question and objectives presented to Pharmacy Research Subcommittee
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September-October
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Submission of project charter for PI project or study protocol for traditional research to the Investigational Review Board (IRB)
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November
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Development of research abstract and poster
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December
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Project design poster presentation at Vizient/ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, or equivalent meeting
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January
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Focused data collection and analysis block
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February-March
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Data analysis, submission of project abstract to Great Lakes Pharmacy Residency Conference (GLPRC), and development of presentation for GLPRC or other equivalent meeting
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April
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GLPRC podium presentation or other equivalent meeting
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May-June
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Manuscript preparation and submission to research mentor(s) and poster presentation at UCMC Pharmacy Research Symposium
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Leadership and Professional Development
The leadership component of the PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency focuses on high-level involvement of the PGY2 resident in department-level pharmacy and medicine services with interdisciplinary collaboration and local networking.
The PGY2 internal medicine resident will serve as the pharmacy representative for the interdisciplinary Department of Internal Medicine monthly meeting and as a facilitator of the monthly Medical/Surgical Pharmacy Subcommittee. The resident may also elect involvement in other committees, including the Drug Policy Development Anti-infective Subcommittee, Pharmacy Process Improvement Committee, DiabetesNOW, Pharmacy Appreciation Committee, Pharmacy Education Committee, or other committee based on interest.
Residents may elect to pursue additional longitudinal leadership opportunities with service learning or pharmacy administration.
Professional Conference Attendance
- Opportunity to participate in the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and the Vizient Consortium Pharmacy Network Meeting, or equivalent national or regional meeting. Results of residency projects will be presented in platform format at a research forum
- Potential to attend an additional conference with department support based on available funding, such as ACCP Annual Meeting
Peer Review
Opportunities to review publications submitted by pharmacist peers will be available under guided mentorship from residency program preceptors.
Education and Presentations
The PGY2 Internal Medicine pharmacy resident completes core educational activities integrated longitudinally throughout the year. Baseline requirements include pharmacy department education via Grand Rounds as described below, primary precepting for PharmD candidates on APPEs, and one formal educational activity for medical residents. Other education for healthcare professionals is integrated longitudinally throughout the program, including resident-led clinical presentations, nursing education, and other opportunities within scheduled learning experiences.
Pharmacy Grand Rounds (PGR) is a weekly ACPE-accredited presentation sponsored by the Department of Pharmacy. The PGY2 Internal Medicine resident will be responsible for two, thirty-minute PGR sessions during the residency year.
- PGR 1: Topic may be background related to selected residency research project or another resident-selected subject. Developed per ACPE requirements.
- PGR 2: Options include a traditional educational presentation or non-traditional format (e.g., clinical debate, interactive learning)
PGY2 residents may participate in the Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program, sponsored by the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy and offered annually to all residents in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Personal and Professional Development
Residents engage in dedicated personal and professional development activities to support growth as clinicians and individuals. Through article and book club reading assignments and group discussion with preceptors residents explore resilience, mindset, and change leadership. Additional workshops and team-building activities foster reflection, emotional intelligence, and collaboration skills that are essential to long-term success in internal medicine.
Independent Practice
Residents are integrated into the weekly clinical pharmacist on-call schedule. The PGY2 Internal Medicine resident will be scheduled for rotating day-shift clinical coverage on 16 weekends (every third weekend) and 2 holiday shifts during the program year. This independent practice area is incorporated in the required Clinical Pharmacy Practice longitudinal experience.
PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy residents will assist with provision of pharmacy coverage for rapid responses, Code Blue, and Code Stroke calls during assigned period (3 weeks per program year), with preceptor support Individual rotation preceptors may request PGY2 resident participation in additional response coverage on a case-by-case basis when related to direct patient care or learning activities.
PGY2 residents will also be assigned a two-week block to peripherally assist with the care of Cystic Fibrosis patients with the Pulmonary Consult team to ensure safe and appropriate medication use.
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 $72,000
- 28 days paid time off (includes holidays not worked and some professional conference travel)
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Individual workspace including a desktop computer and shared laser printer
- Physical and electronic access to the University of Cincinnati Health Sciences Library (adjacent to the hospital)
- Weekly ACPE CE provided through Pharmacy Grand Rounds
- Financial reimbursement for select professional conferences
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification
- Free covered parking adjacent to the hospital
Program Requirements
Entrance into the PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency requires the following:
- Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited College of Pharmacy
- Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
- Pharmacist licensure in the state of Ohio
- The UC Health Department of Pharmacy can support some, but not all visa types. If you have a question about a specific visa type, please reach out to Nicole Harger Dykes, PharmD, BCCCP (Manager, Pharmacy Residency Programs and Professional Development) at nicole.harger@uchealth.com.
The PGY2 Internal Medicine Residency Certificate will be awarded with the completion of all established program requirements, including achievement of at least 87% of all Required Competency Areas, Goals, and Objectives for PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency.
Residency Application Process
All required items must be received by the date listed in PhORCAS to complete the program application. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Please submit via PhORCAS:
- A current Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation via PhORCAS
