PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant
The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Residency is a twelve-month program for candidates who desire to advance their knowledge and skills in the acute and ambulatory care management of solid organ transplant recipients and donors.
The primary focus of the residency program is to enhance the learner’s skills related to patient care, research, and teaching. The program offers flexibility to the resident but is intended to provide a well-rounded experience to prepare the resident to practice as a solid organ transplant pharmacist specialist in an acute or ambulatory care setting. The program focuses on clinical practice, education, leadership, and research. Upon completion of this PGY2 program, the resident will be prepared for a solid organ transplant clinical pharmacist position 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 pharmacy knowledge, skills, and competence in the care of adult and pediatric solid organ transplant recipients and living donors
- To develop and enhance teaching and precepting skills through participation in selected didactic courses at the VCU School of Pharmacy, precepting students in clinical experiences (APPEs), and presenting educational information to healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers
- To enhance written and verbal communication skills to effectively disseminate solid organ transplant knowledge through scholarly publications, presentations, and professional education
- To develop the knowledge, research skills, and clinical experience necessary to design, conduct, and disseminate research in the field of solid organ transplantation
- To develop effective organizational, critical thinking, and evaluative skills that support the development and advancement of cost-effective, patient-centered pharmacy services in solid organ transplantation
Program Structure
The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Residency is comprised of required and elective learning experiences designed to provide comprehensive training in the care of solid organ transplant recipients and living donors. The program focuses primarily on adult kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, and lung transplantation, as well as patients undergoing total pancreatectomy with autologous islet cell transplantation, with additional exposure to pediatric kidney transplantation.
Acute care rotations are generally five weeks in duration and focus on the management of these patient populations in the inpatient setting. The ambulatory care experience is a longitudinal, one-day-per-week learning experience that complements the resident's current acute care rotation. For example, residents assigned to the inpatient kidney transplant service simultaneously participate in outpatient kidney transplant clinic activities, fostering continuity of care and providing exposure to the longitudinal management of transplant recipients across the continuum of care.
Longitudinal learning experiences include transplant operations, staffing, research, teaching, and precepting activities throughout the residency year. Projects required to meet ASHP accreditation standards include completion of a major research project, a medication use evaluation, and service on institutional and transplant-related committees.
Elective learning experiences are tailored to the resident's professional interests and career goals. Requirements for successful completion of the residency will be furnished to applicants during the interview process.
Required Rotation Experiences
- Orientation
- Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Surgery I
- Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Surgery II
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplant/Total Pancreatectomy with Autologous Islet Cell Transplant Surgery I
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplant/Total Pancreatectomy with Autologous Islet Cell Transplant Surgery II
- Inpatient Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic (Heart and Lung) Transplant I
- Inpatient Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic (Heart and Lung) Transplant II
Longitudinal Experiences
- Solid Organ Transplant Ambulatory Care (Heart, Kidney/Pancreas, Liver, Lung Transplant)
- Staffing/Operations (approximately every third weekend)
- Transplant Literature/Topic Curriculum
- Emergency Response Coverage
- VCU School of Pharmacy Didactic Lectures in Solid Organ Transplant Elective Course
- Presentations (Journal Club, Case Conference, Continuing Education, Transplant Grand Rounds)
- Medication Use Evaluation
Elective Rotation Experiences
- Transplant Infectious Diseases
- Solid Organ Transplant Intensive Care
- Transplant Immunology/HLA Laboratory
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Lung Transplantation (additional lung transplant experience at the University of Virginia, based upon availability)
- Surgery Trauma Intensive Care
- Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit OR Coronary Care Intensive Care Unit
Teaching
The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Resident is given an academic faculty appointment as a Clinical Instructor in the VCU School of Pharmacy and has opportunities to provide didactic instruction (e.g., lectures, team-based learning sessions, case conferences) and experiential training (e.g., APPEs) for Doctor of Pharmacy students. The resident also provides didactic lectures to pharmacy students in a transplant elective course at the VCU School of Pharmacy. Residents may also participate in other elective teaching opportunities and a learning certificate program.
Research and Quality Improvement
Each resident is responsible for initiating and successfully completing a research project, with presentations at an internal residency research symposium and a national meeting (e.g., American Transplant Congress or the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Meetings). Residents are encouraged to submit their projects for publication. An advisor and additional support guide the resident through the process. Potential solid organ transplant research projects are presented to the residents at the start of the residency program.
Program Leadership
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Program Director Clinical Affiliate Associate Professor of Pharmacy |
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Coordinator, Pharmacy Residency Programs |
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Director, Department of Pharmacy Services |
Transplant Preceptors
Bem Agegnehu, PharmD, BCTXP
Andrew Brown, PharmD, BCTXP
Aoife Iaria, PharmD, BCTXP
Ryan Marks, PharmD, BCTXP
Taylor Sprague, PharmD, BCTXP
Sara Sterling,PharmD, BCTXP
Idris Yakubu, PharmD, BCTXP, FAST
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 details, visit the ASHP PhORCAS website.
Recruitment
Visit our Application and Recruitment page for more information on our virtual sessions and ASHP showcase and Personal Placement Service participation.
Number of Positions
1
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 begins on July 1 of the program year and concludes on June 30 of the subsequent year.
Leave and Benefits
Two weeks (10 days) of paid vacation or personal leave are granted. Additionally, 9 days of paid holiday leave and 5 days of paid sick leave are provided. Residents also receive 2 days of family/self-care leave and 10 days for educational or professional leave.
Health Benefits
The VCU Health System provides a health insurance policy, including outpatient physician visits, lab tests, and optional dental, vision, and family coverage.
Liability Insurance
VCU Health System provides professional liability (malpractice) insurance for each pharmacy resident. The policy covers professional service within the institution.
Moonlighting
Residents may pursue additional paid staffing within VCU Health System upon program director approval, not exceeding 16 hours weekly.
Office Space and Resources
Office space and remote access to patient and drug information are provided for residents.
Health and Recreation Facilities
Residents have access to VCU recreational facilities at a reduced membership fee.
Parking
Parking and health-system shuttles are available on the VCU Medical Center campus at no cost.