PGY2 Cardiology

Purpose

The postgraduate year two (PGY2) Cardiology Pharmacy Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) builds on the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop skills required for clinical pharmacists in the specialized area of cardiology. This program prepares residents to function independently by applying their accumulated experience and knowledge to patient care, with a focus on improving medication therapy. After completing this program, residents will be prepared for roles as clinical pharmacy specialists or faculty members and will be eligible for board certification in cardiology.

Description

The MGH PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency Program provides an intellectually stimulating environment where residents will practice in a variety of patient care settings. Graduates will become competent, confident, and autonomous cardiology clinical pharmacy specialists, prepared to meet the challenges of modern and future pharmacy practice.

As an integral member of multidisciplinary cardiology teams, the PGY2 resident provides pharmaceutical care in both inpatient cardiology units and outpatient cardiology clinic.

Residents collaborate with pharmacy preceptors and interdisciplinary cardiology teams to manage patients with cardiovascular disease. This program offers exceptional opportunities in patient care, teaching, and research, as well as the opportunity to serve as a preceptor-in-training and mentor to PGY1 colleagues and pharmacy students.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to function as independent cardiology clinical pharmacists and educators, with the ability to monitor and improve their own performance while committing to direct patient care and advancing the pharmacy profession.

This pre-accredited PGY2 cardiology 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 cardiology pharmacy residency.

Program Goals

• Optimize outcomes for cardiology patients by providing evidence-based medication therapy as an integral part of the interdisciplinary team.
• Conduct and take ownership of a cardiology research project, from initial concept and design to preparing a manuscript worthy of publication.
• Demonstrate excellence in training, preceptorship, and educational activities for health care professionals and those in training.
• Demonstrate leadership, practice management skills, and exhibit personal skills of a practice leader.
• Participate in the health system’s formulary process for medications used in cardiovascular disease.
• Develop an evidence-based approach when providing recommendations for patients with cardiovascular disease.
• Display the attributes required to function in an academic setting and exercise teaching skills essential to pharmacy preceptors and faculty.

Learning Experiences

The residency begins with a one-and-a-half-day hospital orientation, followed by a month-long orientation to the Department of Pharmacy. During this time, residents participate in competency lectures on clinical skills, receive training on the electronic health record (Epic®), and engage in side-by-side decentralized training with clinical pharmacy preceptors.

Core learning experiences:

• Orientation
• Cardiac intensive care (CCU)
• Cardiac surgical intensive care (CSICU)
• Cardiac medicine 1 & 2
• Cardiothoracic (heart) transplant
• Advanced heart failure

Elective learning experiences:

• Surgical intensive care
• Medical intensive care
• Emergency medicine
• Infectious disease
• Repeating core experiences
• Other experiences based on the resident interest

Longitudinal experiences:

• Cardiology clinic
• Emergency response (BLS/ACLS certifications)
• Pharmacy practice experience (PPE): decentralized
• Medication safety event monitoring
• Medication-use evaluation
• Research project and manuscript development
• Departmental, hospital, or health system committee involvement including resident officer positions
• Resident teaching seminar/teaching certificate at Northeastern University School of Pharmacy (optional)

How to Apply

Applicants for the PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency Program must be graduates 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. Applications must be submitted via PhORCAS and include the following to be considered completed:

• Formal letter of intent describing:
• Your interest in cardiology and our program
• How our program will help you achieve your short- and long-term career goals
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae
• Official pharmacy school transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation completed via PhORCAS:
• At least two should be from a preceptor who can comment on the candidate's clinical skills.
• Candidates should encourage their references to provide as much commentary as possible

The deadline for submitting a completed PhORCAS application is January 7th. After applications are reviewed, qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule a virtual interview. All pharmacy residency programs at MGH participate in the ASHP Resident Matching Program.

NMS Code:

PGY2-Cardoology – 700567

Contact Information

Edmond Solomon, PharmD, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Cardiology
Director, PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency
EJSolomon@mgb.org