PGY2: Oncology (UC Medical Center)

PGY2: Oncology (UC Medical Center) | Pharmacy Services

Program Snapshot

Program Code:

44202

National Matching Service Code:

560660

Start date:

July 1

Number of positions:

2

The following outline represents general program design and requirements for the ASHP-accredited PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The program includes a variety of direct and non-direct patient care, research, and teaching opportunities and will be tailored to the needs of each resident based on an individual development plan.

Program requirements

Entrance into the PGY2 Oncology 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 is able to support some, but not all visa types. For questions about a specific visa type, contact
  Nicole Harger Dykes, PharmD, BCCCP
  (Manager, Pharmacy Residency Programs and Professional Development).

The PGY2 Oncology Residency Certificate will be awarded upon completion of all established program requirements, including achievement of Required Competency Areas, Goals, and Objectives for PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency.

Clinical learning experiences

Required

• Orientation (4 weeks)
• Inpatient Hematology/BMT I (4 weeks)
• Inpatient Hematology/BMT II (4 weeks)
• Inpatient Pain and Palliative Care (4 weeks)
• Ambulatory GI Malignancies and Sarcoma (3–4 weeks)
• Ambulatory Thoracic Malignancies and Melanoma (3–4 weeks)
• Ambulatory GU Malignancies (3 weeks)
• Ambulatory Breast and Gynecologic Malignancies (3–4 weeks)
• Ambulatory Leukemia and HSCT (3 weeks)
• Ambulatory Lymphoma and Myeloma (3 weeks)
• Oncology Clinical Research/Cancer Drug Development (3 weeks)
• Research (4 dedicated weeks, distributed throughout the year, plus longitudinal check-ins)

Elective

• Inpatient Solid Tumor or Hematology Consult Service (2–4 weeks)
• Benign Hematology (2–4 weeks, UCMC and West Chester Hospital)
• Nutrition (2–4 weeks)
• Community Oncology Clinic (West Chester Hospital, 2–4 weeks)
• Solid Organ Transplant (2–4 weeks)
• Transplant Infectious Disease (2–4 weeks)
• Medical Intensive Care Unit (2–4 weeks)
• Ambulatory Hematology/BMT II (2–4 weeks)
• Advanced Ambulatory Hematology/Oncology Block (2–4 weeks)
• Pharmacogenomics (2–4 weeks, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Edgewood, KY; pending availability)

Longitudinal

• Pharmacy practice requirements (clinical weekend staffing)
• Ambulatory Clinics (2–3 experiences in 12–24 week blocks where the resident practices independently with the provider and team). Options include:
  • Benign Hematology clinic
  • Neuro-Oncology clinic
  • Melanoma clinic (West Chester Hospital)
• Medication Use Evaluation
• Formulary evaluation, drug class review, or development of a treatment guideline, policy, or protocol
• Administration topics
• Teaching/precepting
• Monthly Complex Case Conference

Research

Each PGY2 Oncology resident will complete a longitudinal research project originating from resident interest or preceptor submissions. The timeline below helps keep work on schedule.

Education opportunities

Residents may participate in the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program (if not completed as a PGY1). The program includes a two-day seminar with longitudinal didactic, co-precepting, and small-group teaching. Residents also deliver didactic lectures in the oncology therapeutics module.

Education of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals is integrated longitudinally, including inter-professional grand rounds, resident-led clinical presentations, nursing education, and other opportunities.

Pharmacy Grand Rounds

Two ACPE continuing education presentations, totaling 1 hour:

• Fall: one individual 30-minute presentation
• Winter–Spring: either a second individual 30-minute presentation or a 30-minute therapeutic controversy with a co-resident (each presents 30 minutes; 60 minutes total)

Pharmacy Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement

Each resident presents one pharmacy-specific process improvement opportunity at the monthly Pharmacy MMI case conference. With a primary preceptor, DPD contact, and process improvement coach, the resident identifies a workflow issue and applies improvement methodology to propose solutions. Deliverables include a 20-minute presentation and a written summary for ACPE medication safety CE for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Medication use evaluation (MUE)

Each resident conducts an MUE coordinated through an assigned committee, completed in the first or second half of the year per preference. Results are presented to the Chemotherapy, Biologics and Infusion Subcommittee of Drug Policy Development, or another relevant committee.

Committee involvement

Each resident serves as an active member of the Chemotherapy, Biologics and Infusion Subcommittee, participates in monthly planning meetings, and leads at least one meeting in the second half of the year. Residents regularly present new drug updates, formulary evaluations, policy or Standard Operating Procedure updates, and MUEs.

Independent practice

Residents assist with rapid responses and Code Blue for their services while inpatient, and respond to oncology infusion areas while on ambulatory rotations (in addition to the rapid response team). Residents do not participate in the departmental on-call program but serve as an on-call resource one evening per week (on-site 4:00–6:00 p.m.; remainder from home for urgent heme/onc issues). Weekend clinical coverage to oncology and solid organ transplant occurs approximately every 3 weeks. Each resident covers one major holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day) and one minor holiday.

Professional conferences

Required: Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference (April/May). Expected: HOPA Annual Meeting (late March/early April), unless otherwise determined by the program director. Alternative experiences may be arranged for extenuating circumstances. Vizient/ASHP Midyear attendance/presentation is optional; however, residents serving as chief resident are required to attend ASHP Midyear (December).

Salary and benefits

Final information on salary, benefits, and pre-employment requirements will be provided to matched applicants before the residency year begins.

• Estimated salary of $70,000–$72,000
• 28 days paid time off (includes holidays and sick leave)
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Individual workspace with desktop computer, dual monitors, and laser printer
• Physical and electronic access to the University of Cincinnati Health Sciences Library (adjacent to hospital)
• Weekly ACPE provided through Pharmacy Grand Rounds
• Financial reimbursement for professional conferences, as available
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification
• Free covered parking adjacent to hospital

UCMC PGY2 Oncology Residents: Accepted Positions after PGY2 (Previous 5 Years)

• 2024: Ellie Nazzoli, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Oncology, John Cochran VA Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
• 2024: Rachel Milholland, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
• 2023: Abigail Hart, PharmD, MBA; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
• 2023: Aaron Swomley, PharmD, PhD; Clinical Pharmacist, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2022: Alisha Vora, PharmD; Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinic Float Pharmacist, UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC
• 2021: Sydney (Allen) Elmore, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacist, Oncology, West Chester Hospital, West Chester, OH
• 2020: Brooke Peters, PharmD; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

Application Process

The following items must be received by January 2 via PhORCAS:

1. A letter of intent describing your reasons for applying and interests within the pharmacy profession
2. A current Curriculum Vitae
3. College transcripts
4. Three letters of recommendation (PhORCAS format)

Program Contacts

Jason Ernstberger, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Hematology/Oncology/BMT Pharmacy Specialist
Program Director, PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency
Jason.Ernstberger@uchealth.com