Program Code: 44014
National Matching Service (NMS) Code: 640456
Number of positions (2025-2026): 2
Application deadline: January 2
Start date: July 1
PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training 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.
The purpose of the ASHP-accredited PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) is to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to become a successful Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine. The program offers the ability to provide pharmaceutical care to a broad scope of Internal Medicine patients.
The following outline represents general program design and requirements for the PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency program at UCMC. The program includes a variety of patient care, drug policy/research, leadership, and education opportunities and will be tailored to meet the needs of an individual resident based on the resident development plan.
Residency Program Leadership
| R1. Patient Care. | Stephanie Parton, PharmD, BCPS | Patient care experiences. |
| R2. Advancing Practice and Improving Patient Care. | Kirsten Miller, PharmD, BCPS; Ashley Scherreik, PharmD, BCPS | Drug policy and medication use. Residency Project. |
| R3. Leadership and Management. | Kayla Effinger, PharmD, BCPS | Professional and interdisciplinary experiences. |
| R4. Education. | Beth Stacy, PharmD, BCPS, Residency Program Director | Didactic and experiential education. |
Program Requirements
Requirements for entrance into the PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency align with the ASHP Standards for Accreditation of PGY2 residencies and include:
- 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 is able to 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 Residency Certificate will be awarded with the completion of all established program requirements, including achievement of Required Competency Areas, Goals, and Objectives for PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency.
Direct Patient Care Learning Experiences
The PGY2 Internal Medicine program structure is based on clinical learning experiences evaluating objectives that align with Competency Areas R1, R2, R3, and R4.
Required learning experiences are completed within the Department of Internal Medicine. The PGY2 resident will have the opportunity to select up to four elective learning experiences to complete during a 3-month period, which may include other specialty areas. Clinical interest areas will be aligned with other requirements of the residency program, including drug policy, residency project, leadership, and education, when possible. The below list of elective opportunities is not comprehensive and other elective learning experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability.
| Required | Elective |
| Internal medicine 1, 2, 3, and 4 (5 months) | Advanced heart failure |
| 2 Subspecialty Months (Select 2 of 3): Nephrology, Neurology, or Cardiology | Antimicrobial stewardship |
| Medical intensive care | Hepatology/Digestive Diseases |
| Medicine subspecialty: pulmonary hypertension | Endocrinology |
| Clinical Pharmacokinetics (Cystic Fibrosis) | Emergency medicine |
| Infectious diseases | |
| Medicine Consult | |
| Nutrition support | |
| Psychiatry |
Drug Policy
The Drug Policy Development (DPD) longitudinal experience offers the PGY2 resident immersion into drug policy, process improvement, and formulary-level medication management. This component of the residency program incorporates objectives from Competency Area R2.
Formulary Management
The PGY2 resident will gain experience in formulary management, including oversight of the development of medication-related guidelines and policies, evaluation of the online formulary and therapeutic interchange program, and optimization of both the electronic medical record and pharmacy dispensing automation.
Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement
The PGY2 resident will present one patient case identifying pharmacy-specific process improvement opportunities at the monthly 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.
Medication Use Evaluation (MUE)
The PGY2 resident will conduct an MUE. The MUE generally aligns in focus with other DPD or subspecialty experience and will be presented by the resident to key committee stakeholders within the health system.
Elective Opportunities
In addition to required educational experiences, the resident will have the opportunity to pursue a longitudinal drug policy elective focused on formulary management and drug supply chain.
Residency Project
This residency project is completed over the course of the academic year and incorporates objectives from Competency Areas R2 and E5.
Longitudinal Project
The PGY2 resident will choose one of two tracks: process improvement or traditional research. The process improvement track requires involvement in the initiation, sustainment, and evaluation of a new process improvement or practice advancement. The traditional research track includes a retrospective clinical evaluation. The resident will receive direct mentorship from project group members and other expert personnel. A timeline is established by the resident and project team to stay on schedule for residency objectives.
Poster Presentation
The resident will present project design at the Vizient® Consortium Pharmacy Network Meeting, a project update at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Residents Conference, and complete results at the UCMC Pharmacy Research Symposium. Additional opportunities may include local, regional, and national forums.
Platform Presentation
Full results of the residency project will be presented during at least one regional forum.
Publication Opportunities
The resident must complete a full project report suitable for publication and is encouraged to develop a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
Leadership
The leadership component of the PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency focuses on objectives within Competency Areas R3 and E5. The structure supports high-level involvement of the PGY2 resident in department-level and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Committee Involvement
The PGY2 internal medicine resident will serve as the pharmacy representative for the interdisciplinary Inpatient Clinical Council meeting and as a facilitator of the Medical/Surgical Pharmacy Subcommittee. The resident may also select involvement in other committees, including the Drug Policy Development Anti-infective Subcommittee, Pharmacy Process Improvement Committee, DiabetesNOW, Pharmacy Appreciation Committee, Pharmacy Education Committee, or others based on interest.
Elective Opportunities
Residents may pursue a longitudinal leadership elective focused on either service learning or pharmacy administration.
Professional Conferences
- Opportunity to participate in the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and the Vizient Consortium Pharmacy Network 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.
Peer Review
Opportunities to review publications submitted by pharmacist peers will be scheduled regularly under guided mentorship from residency program preceptors.
Personal and Professional Development
Residents engage in dedicated personal and professional development activities to support growth as clinicians and individuals. Through discussions of works such as When Breath Becomes Air, The Coffee Bean, and others, residents explore resilience, mindset, and change leadership. Additional workshops and team-building activities foster reflection, emotional intelligence, and collaboration skills essential to long-term success in internal medicine.
Education
The internal medicine pharmacy resident completes core educational activities integrated longitudinally throughout the year related to objectives from Competency Areas R3, R4, and E1. Baseline requirements include one didactic lecture at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy; introductory and primary precepting for PharmD candidates on APPEs; one formal educational activity for medical residents and internal medicine attendings; and completion of a national journal club hosted by the ACCP Adult Medicine PRN.
Pharmacy Grand Rounds
Pharmacy Grand Rounds (PGR) is a weekly ACPE-accredited 1-hour presentation sponsored by the Department of Pharmacy. The PGY2 internal medicine resident will be responsible for two, one-hour PGRs during the residency year.
- PGR 1: CE for the Department of Pharmacy. Topic may be the residency research project or another resident-selected subject. Developed per ACPE requirements.
- PGR 2: Options include a traditional educational presentation, non-traditional format (e.g., clinical debate, interactive learning), or facilitation of an outside speaker.
Elective Opportunities
Residents choose between an Advanced Didactic Education Pathway (ADEP) and an Advanced Experiential Education Pathway (AEEP). ADEP strengthens graduate-level teaching skills for careers with mixed clinical/didactic components. AEEP expands opportunities for precepting, professional meeting presentations, and interdisciplinary education.
Both PGY1 and 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.
Residency Application Process
All required items must be received by January 2nd to complete the program application. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Please submit via PhORCAS:
- A letter of intent describing your reasons for applying to the program and interests within the pharmacy profession
- A current Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation (utilizing PhORCAS format)
Program Contact
Elizabeth Stacy, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Program Director, PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency
elizabeth.stacy@uchealth.com