MGH Pharmacy Residency PGY2 - Critical Care

Overview

The PGY2 residents who complete this ASHP-accredited residency will provide pharmaceutical care in many patient care environments, trained to meet the challenges of current and future pharmacy practice. Graduates of the program will be prepared to function as independent practitioners in an adult intensive care unit as a critical care clinical pharmacist and have skills that will allow them to establish an area of specialty in cardiology, medicine, neurology, surgery and trauma management. Our graduates follow a personal philosophy of practice, have the ability to monitor and improve their own performance, and are committed to direct patient care and the pharmacy profession.

The accredited PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program adheres to the regulations and standards outlined in the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies and the ASHP Accreditation Standard for Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) Pharmacy Residency Programs.

We currently offer one position for the PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency.

Program Goals

• Optimize outcomes in critically-ill patients by applying evidence-based medication therapy as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Participate effectively, efficiently and independently in the management of medical emergencies.
• Conduct and take ownership of a critical care research project from the initial concept/design to the preparation of a final publication-worthy manuscript.
• Demonstrate leadership and practice management skills and exhibit essential personal skills of a practice leader.
• Participate in the health-system formulary process for pharmacotherapeutic agents used in critically-ill patients.
• Establish excellence in the provision of training including preceptorship of pharmacy students and development of educational activities for healthcare professionals and trainees.
• Display attributes required to function in an academic setting and exercise teaching skills essential to pharmacy faculty.

Learning Experiences

The first 2-3 weeks of residency is an orientation to the Department of Pharmacy, after a 2-day hospital orientation. Activities include competency lectures on basic clinical skills, electronic health record (Epic®) training, and side-by-side decentralized training with clinical pharmacy preceptors.

Required Core Learning Experiences

Core learning experiences are ~4-5 weeks (one calendar month) unless otherwise noted.

• Orientation (2-4 weeks)
• Cardiac Intensive Care 1
• Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care 1
• Emergency Medicine 1
• Medical Intensive Care 1
• Medical Intensive Care 2
• Medical-Surgical Intensive Care 1
• Neurosciences Intensive Care
• Surgical Intensive Care 1

Elective Learning Experiences

• Burn-Surgical Intensive Care (2-4 weeks)
• Cardiac Intensive Care 2 (4 weeks)
• Emergency Medicine 2 (4 weeks)
• Infectious Diseases (2-4 weeks)
• Medical-Surgical Intensive Care 2 (2-4 weeks)
• Neontal Intensive Care (4 weeks)
• Neurosurgical Intensive Care (2-4 weeks)
• Pediatric Intensive Care (4 weeks)
• Surgical Intensive Care 2 (2-4 weeks)

Required Longitudinal Experiences

Longitudinal experiences are yearlong (52 weeks) unless otherwise noted.

• Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist Forum (CCCPF) Co-Chair
• Emergency Response (26-52 weeks)
• Medication Safety
• Pharmacy Practice Experience (PPE): decentralized intensive care unit operations
• Residency Project

Recruitment Information

In the interest of accessibility and equity:

• Applicants who are interested in attending a virtual information session may sign up to attend the session (link will be available in the fall)
• In-person attendance at the showcase booth at the Midyear Clinical Meeting will not count towards the candidate’sapplication score
• All interviews will be conducted virtually.

How to Apply

Applicants for the PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program must be a graduate of an ACPE accredited school of pharmacy with a PharmD degree and must have completed or be in the process of completing an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency program.

International applicants are welcome to apply to the PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency if they are eligible to work in the U.S. and have an active visa (e.g., OPT) that expires after June of the following year during which the candidate is applying. International applicants will be considered based on the merits of their application. The MGH Department of Pharmacy is not able to sponsor H1B visas.

Applicants must be submitted via PHORCAS and include the following:

• Completed application

• Formal letter of intent describing:

  • Your interest in critical care and our program
  • How our program will help you achieve your short and long-term career goals

• Curriculum vitae

• Official pharmacy school transcripts

• Three letters of recommendation through PhORCAS

After applications are reviewed, qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. All pharmacy residency programs at Mass General participate in the ASHP Resident Matching Program.

NMS Codes:

• PGY2 Critical Care – 648652

Contact Information

Russel J. Roberts, PharmD, BCCCP, FASHP, FCCM, FMSHP
Clinical Pharmacy Manager, Cardiology, Critical Care and Pediatrics Services
Director, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
rjroberts@mgh.harvard.edu

Natasha Lopez, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care-Medical Intensive Care Unit
Coordinator, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
NLopez8@mgh.harvard.edu

Email the Program Director: rjroberts@mgh.harvard.edu