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VCUHS PGY2 Internal Medicine Residency

The PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency is an American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited twelve-month program within the specialized practice area of internal medicine. The program provides structured experiences in a variety of internal medicine related-areas designed to develop the knowledge, skills, leadership, and attitudes to competently participate with a contemporary interdisciplinary internal medicine team. The internal medicine resident will also participate in quality improvement projects, institutional committees, didactic lectures, and other educational activities designed to prepare the resident for a practice with adjunct faculty responsibilities.

 

Purpose Statement

PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs 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, if available.

 

Qualifications

Applicants must be Doctor of Pharmacy graduates from an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy; have completed an accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency; be licensed or eligible for pharmacist licensure in Virginia; and possess requisite patient care training or experience. The successful applicant must possess exceptional knowledge, clinical problem solving, communication skills, and leadership qualities.

Residency Goals

  • To develop expert skills and competency in an internal medicine patient centered practice.
  • To develop teaching, assessment, and communications skills necessary to provide education to pharmacy trainees, health care professionals, and patients.
  • To develop proficiency in institutional policies, systems, and internal medicine pharmacy practice.
  • To provide experience with quality improvement and research.

Recruitment

Visit our Application Process page for more information on our virtual sessions and showcase participation.

Program Structure

The program is comprised of eight required and three elective rotations. The rotations are generally five weeks in duration; however, the staffing/operations rotation is longitudinal over the course of the year and occurs in three critical care pharmacy satellite locations. Longitudinal projects required to meet the ASHP accreditation standards include service on an institution committee, completion of a research project, one drug monograph and a newsletter article. Other required longitudinal components completed in conjunction with the required and elective rotations include 20 weeks of ambulatory care experience. The elective rotations are based on the resident's professional interest. Requirements for successful completion of the residency will be furnished to the resident upon interviewing for the position.

Required Rotations (8)

Orientation
Internal Medicine (Non-teaching)
Hospital Medicine Service Rotation
Internal Medicine Teaching Rotation I
Internal Medicine Teaching Rotation II
Internal Medicine Teaching Rotation III - Preceptor of Record
Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit
Staffing/Operations (longitudinal, every third weekend; approximately 17 weekends per year; 1 minor holiday; 1 major holiday)

Ambulatory Clinic

(longitudinal, 20 weeks total, comprised of 2 rotations of 10 weeks, ½ day in length)

Anticoagulation
Cardiology
Adult Psychiatry
HIV/Infectious Disease
Nephrology
Center of Advanced Health Management (geriatrics/comprehensive medicine)

Elective Rotations (3)

nternal Medicine (non-teaching)
Hospital Medicine Service (non-teaching)
Cardiology medicine
Emergency Medicine
General Surgery/Trauma Medicine
Hematology/Oncology
Infectious Disease Consult service
Neurology
Transplant Surgery (solid organ – liver, kidney, or heart)

Teaching

PGY2 Internal Medicine Residents are given an academic faculty appointment as a Clinical Instructor in the VCU School of Pharmacy and have opportunities to provide didactic instruction (e.g., lectures, team-based learning sessions, case conferences), laboratory facilitation and experiential training (e.g., APPEs) for Doctor of Pharmacy students from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. Residents may participate in an elective teaching and learning certificate program.

Research

Each resident is responsible for initiating and successfully completing a research project, with presentation at an internal residency research symposium. Residents are encouraged to submit their projects for publication. An advisor and additional support guide the resident through the process. Potential internal medicine research projects are presented to the residents at the start of the residency program.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and participates in the ASHP/NMS PGY2 Matching Program and PhORCAS. For application instructions, please visit the Application Process section of this website.

Program Leadership

Program Director

DaleMarie Vaughan, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Specialist, Internal Medicine
Associate Professor of Pharmacy
     PharmD, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy
     Residency in Pharmacy Practice, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
     Residency in Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System

Coordinator, Pharmacy Residency Programs

Craig Kirkwood, PharmD
Assistant Director, Pharmacotherapy Services
Associate Professor of Pharmacy
     BS, University of Buffalo
     PharmD, University of Buffalo
     Residency in Hospital Pharmacy, Buffalo General Hospital
     Residency in Drug Information, North Carolina Memorial Hospital at University of North Carolina

Director, Department of Pharmacy Services

Rodney L. Stiltner, PharmD, MS
Director, Department of Pharmacy Services
Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy
     PharmD, Mercer University
     MS, University of Wisconsin
     Residency in Pharmacy Practice, Charleston Area Medical Center, West Virginia
     Residency in Management Pharmacy Practice, University of Wisconsin Medical Center Hospitals and Clinics

Application Process

Application is made through the PhORCAS process. The application deadline is January 3, 2025. For application instructions, please visit the Application Process section of this website.

Number of Positions

2

Salary and Benefits

The salary for PGY2 pharmacy residents at VCU Health System is $60,000.

Duration of Appointment

The pharmacy resident's contract at VCU Health System will begin on July 1 of the program year. The pharmacy residency will be completed on June 30 of the subsequent year.

Vacation and Holiday Leave

Two weeks (10 days) are granted for paid vacation or personal leave. This may be taken during rotations throughout the year. At least 10 days of paid holiday leave are provided during the year. Discretionary leave (personal or vacation leave) is pre-approved by the resident's rotation preceptor, the residency program director, and the residency programs coordinator. In general, the resident will be absent no more than five days during any rotation.

Sick Leave

Five days of paid sick leave are provided as baseline leave. After complete use of sick and vacation leave, unpaid leave is utilized and the need to extend the residency is considered.

Educational and Professional Leave

Twelve days are provided for educational and professional leave. This includes but is not limited to, attendance at professional meetings (e.g., ASHP, ACCP, SCCM, NCS), interviews, licensure or board exams, visitation to other medical center(s) or national pharmacy organizations, or participation in a medical mission.

Health Benefits

The VCU Health System provides a health insurance policy, to each pharmacy resident. Coverage includes outpatient physician visits and laboratory tests. Prescription, dental, vision, and family coverage are available through payroll deduction with the respective co-pay and vary with the level of coverage desired.

Liability Insurance

VCU Health System is self-insured and provides professional liability (malpractice) insurance, subject to policy limits, for each pharmacy resident. Insurance covers professional service when on-duty within the institution. It does not cover professional services (e.g., moonlighting or consulting activities) provided at other facilities or institutions. This malpractice insurance will cover all acts of alleged medical negligence while a resident is at VCU Health System. Residents may choose to enhance the professional liability insurance with a personal liability policy.

Moonlighting

Residents are permitted to seek additional, paid staffing as a pharmacist upon approval of their program director. For convenience, the additional staffing usually occurs within VCU Health System. Moonlighting, in general, will not extend to greater than 16 hours weekly. Additional staffing which conflicts with residency requirements is not permitted.

Office Space and Resources

The Department of Pharmacy Services provides office space for the residents. Residents may access patient information and drug information throughout VCUHS and from home via remote access.

Health and Recreation Facilities

Residents have access to VCU recreational facilities, including exercise equipment, weight rooms, aerobic activities, basketball courts and swimming pools, at a reduced membership fee.

Parking

Parking is provided on the VCU Medical Center campus through payroll deduction at the reduced, house staff rate.