Pharmacy PGY1 Residency Program

• Start Date: Mid-June
• Contact residency program director prior to submitting application no later than one week after the end of the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting
• Application materials must be submitted via the PhORCAS™
• Deadline for application: January 5 
• Candidate interview status notification: January 20
• Interview required (dates to be determined)
• Annual Salary $60,000
• Benefits include 160 hours of leave for personal time off and conference attendance, 100 hours of sick leave, medical insurance, medical library access, medical graphics department, information technology support, office with dedicated computer and references
• The residency year will include: Orientation, Ambulatory Care, Critical Care, Medication Management & Informatics, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Nutrition Support, Oncology, and Practice Management learning experiences. The program allows tailored instruction for the individual resident based on interest(s), past experience, and time constraints.
• BLS and ACLS Training
• Code Blue Coverage (rotational pager)
• On average two weekends of patient care pharmacy services per month
• Major pharmacy project required to be completed and presented at a regional residency conference or designated forum
• Writing project required
• Residents may receive funding for a professional conference. Additional, residents are encouraged to attend local (Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists) and state (TSHP) programs as appropriate.
• Teaching opportunities include the University of Houston College of Pharmacy teaching certificate program and co-precepting pharmacy students
• Professional presentations include a 1-hour ACPE-accredited Pharmacy Grand Rounds and 3-4 Pharmacy Pearls

Learning Experiences
Learning experiences are scheduled as monthly rotations or in a longitudinal format. Required learning experiences include: Direct Patient Care,  Medication Management & Informatics, Formal Presentations, Patient Care Services, Practice Management, and Project Development and Management. Required direct patient care clinical learning experiences include: Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Nutrition Support, and Oncology with an Ambulatory Care component. Elective experiences (1 or 2) may include but not limited to: Academia, Critical Care II, Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I), Oncology II with a Hematology component, Oncology II with a Pediatric component, Pain/Palliative Care, Pharmacy Informatics, Cardiology, or any other unique practice agreed upon by the resident and program director. Residents are required to meet with the preceptors prior to starting the experience to review the goals/objectives and expectations of the clinical rotation. The resident’s daily responsibilities will be under the direction of the assigned preceptor. There may be revisions to this schedule based on individual resident performance, preceptor recommendations, or other factors. Any changes in the schedule must be approved by the preceptor(s) and the program director. Evaluations are required for each learning experience in PharmAcademic and should be completed during the last week of rotation or no later than five business days after completion of the rotation. Evaluations for longitudinal rotations will be completed quarterly.

Weekend/Holiday Coverage-Patient Care Pharmacy Services
Residents work on average two weekends a month throughout the year. All residents will be assigned holiday coverage as well. Weekends will be divided between the PGY1 pharmacy residents throughout the year. When working weekends, residents will be assigned an area to cover during an eight hour shift. The weekend/holiday schedule is made in advance. All residents will be assigned to work either the Thanksgiving or Christmas Holiday (but not both). In addition, each resident will be assigned one or two minor holidays throughout the year depending on the holiday schedule.

Major Pharmacy Project
The residency project is an ASHP requirement and must be completed prior to completion of the residency program. The project should be appropriate for publication and will be presented at a regional residency conference or designated forum. The project may be administrative, clinical, or pharmaceutical policy & outcomes research in focus. A preceptor will be assigned to each project to help ensure appropriateness and completion. Documentation of the project will include a project presentation (including background, objectives, methods, and residents responsibilities) and a final project report in manuscript format complete with results.

Writing Project
All residents will complete a writing project during the residency. The purpose of the writing project is to sharpen writing skills for publication and learn publication procedures. The writing project is usually related to the above major pharmacy project. Additional writing opportunities may be provided in the form of a review article, expanded case report, or other types of manuscripts. The length of the manuscript will vary and be what is necessary to comprehensively convey the topic to the reader. Early in the residency year the resident will identify a topic and preceptor to work with on their writing project. The topic must be approved by the preceptor and the program director. The preceptor’s responsibility will be to assist the resident in reviewing and revising the manuscript for the publication purposes.

Grand Rounds
Each resident is required to present a Grand Rounds to the Division of Pharmacy provided with Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) continuing pharmacy education. This is a formal presentation complete with slides and a handout. The audience is primarily pharmacists, but it is open to other health professionals. Grand Rounds are usually scheduled between October and May each year. Presentation topics for Grand Rounds are determined by a needs assessment per ACPE requirements. Each resident will be assigned a preceptor(s) to help facilitate the process and serve as content and ACPE accreditation experts. 

Pharmacy Pearls
Pharmacy pearls will be held once a month and rotate amongst residents. Residents will provide an overview of the topic in a discussion format to the group for 15-20 minutes with a handout. The audience will include pharmacy residents, clinical staff, staff pharmacists, pharmacy students and other health professionals/trainees. This program is designed to cover all aspects of pharmacy related topics. Topics are submitted by pharmacists including residents and picked in advance by the resident, preceptor and/or program director.

Resident Interactive Discussions
All residents will participate in topic discussions with the program director and/or members of pharmacy leadership in order to gain experience/exposure to residency goals and objectives not covered during scheduled learning experiences. Examples of these discussions include: professionalism and credibility, clinical research and quality improvement, wellbeing and resilience, precepting and mentorship, pharmacy administration, technology and automation, and pharmacy budget planning.

Teaching Responsibilities
All residents are required to participate in student training conducted at MD Anderson. The extent of resident involvement will depend on the resident’s desire to participate in the preceptorship of 4^th year pharmacy students on experiential rotations. All residents will participate in teaching in Shared Student Instruction, which consists of leading an assigned topic discussion with 4^th year pharmacy students on rotation at MD Anderson during each student block (approximately 2 times/year). Additional teaching responsibilities during the residency year include journal club, grand rounds, etc. Other teaching responsibilities may be assigned by the program director or individual preceptors. After six months from the start of the residency, residents will be eligible for certification as a Texas Preceptor.

Teaching Certificate Program
The University of Houston College of Pharmacy offers a teaching certificate program to all pharmacy residents in the Houston area. The purpose of the program is to provide a formal training program for pharmacy residents to gain knowledge and to demonstrate effectiveness in the areas of teaching, leadership, and scholarship. The program consists of three components: Weekly seminars, Teaching experience, and Teaching portfolio.

Conference/Seminar Attendance
Residents may have the opportunity to attend a professional conference. Additionally, residents are encouraged to attend Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists and other TSHP programs as appropriate.

The Division of Pharmacy at MD Anderson comprises of over 130 Clinical Pharmacy Specialists who also serve as preceptors for our students and residents. Please see members of residency leadership and our learning experience coordinators below.

Residency Program Director
Vi Doan, Pharm.D., BCOP
Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of Houston College of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Oncology Residency, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Residency Program Coordinators
Jonathan W. Malara, Pharm.D., BCOP
Coordinator, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Breast Medical Oncology
Training:
- Pharm.D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of Health Sciences
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Oncology Residency, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center

Suzanne Gettys, Pharm.D., BCOP
Coordinator, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Oncology
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, UAB Hospital
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Oncology Residency, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center

Learning Experience Coordinators
Critical Care
Emily Highsmith, Pharm.D., BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Critical Care / Nutrition Support
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of the Pacific
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, Cape Fear Valley Health
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Critical Care Residency, Houston Methodist Hospital

Emergency Medicine
Tami Johnson, Pharm.D., BCPS, FCCM
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Critical Care Residency, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital

Infectious Diseases
Joshua A. Hendrickson, Pharm.D.
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Infectious Diseases
Training:
- PharmD, Ferris State University College of Pharmacy
- PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, Memorial Hospital of South Bend
- Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Fellowship, CHI St. Luke's, Baylor St. Luke's/University of Houston College of Pharmacy

Internal Medicine
Tanner Moser, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Hospital Medicine
Training:
- Pharm.D., The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, Seton Healthcare Family
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency, Seton Healthcare Family

Medication Management and Informatics
Sonia Jacob, Pharm.D.
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Medication Management & Informatics
Training:
- Pharm.D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of Health Sciences
- Post-Doctoral Medical Information Fellowship Year One, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Drug Information/Janssen Medical Information Infectious Disease/Vaccine
- Post-Doctoral Medical Information Fellowship Year Two, Janssen Medical Information and Medical Information Call Center, Infectious Disease & Oncology

Nutrition Support
Anne Tucker, Pharm.D., BCNSP, FASPEN
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Critical Care/Nutrition Support
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of Arkansas Medical Center
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, University of Arkansas Medical Center 

Oncology – Breast Medical Oncology
Alicia McGhie, Pharm.D., BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Breast Medical Oncology
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of California San Diego
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, Swedish Medical Center
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Oncology Residency, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Oncology – Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
Neha Betrabet, Pharm.D., BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
Training:
- Pharm.D., The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, University of Illinois - Chicago
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Oncology Residency, The University of Kansas Health System

Oncology – Genitourinary Medical Oncology
Henry Cao, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Genitourinary Medical Oncology
Training:
- Pharm.D., University of Houston College of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Oncology – Melanoma/Sarcoma
Michael Frei, Pharm.D., BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Melanoma and Sarcoma
Training:
- Pharm.D., Wayne State University
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center
- ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Oncology Residency, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Practice Management
Stefani Gautreaux, Pharm.D., M.B.A.
Director, PGY1/PGY2 Health System Administration Residency Program
Manager, Inpatient Operations
Training:
- Pharm.D., Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy
- ASHP-Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency with Oncology Emphasis, The University of Tennessee Medical Center
- Masters of Business Administration, Texas Woman’s University

What is the Goal of the Residency?
The goal of the PGY1 pharmacy residency program is to prepare the resident to practice as an independent patient care clinician, pursue a second year post-graduate training in a specialized area of practice, and serve as a preceptor for students.

Is the Program Accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists?
Yes, this program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The first residency class started June 2012. An initial site survey from ASHP occurred November 2013. The PGY1 Residency Program along with our PGY1/PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration Residency Program and two PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Programs in Critical Care and Oncology have received the maximum length for accreditation of 8 years. This program utilizes the ASHP Residency Program Design and Conduct (RPDC) along with PharmAcademic.

How is the Residency Offered? 
After completing the defined application process by January 5, the program will contact all candidates about their interview status by January 20. Interviews will be conducted during the months of January and February. After interviewing, all ranked candidates will be submitted to the ASHP Match Program. Once the Match is determined between the program and candidate the program will send out an appointment letter. The program start date will be mid-June of each year. The residency is a one-year program that provides unique experiences in comprehensive pharmacotherapeutic patient management to a variety of multidisciplinary settings but not limited to the following: Ambulatory Care, Critical Care, Medication Management & Informatics, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Investigational Drug Services (Phase I), Nutrition Support, Oncology, and Practice Management. The program allows for tailored instruction for the individual resident based on interest(s), past experience, and time constraints.

Is Participation in the ASHP Matching Program (the “Match”) Required?
Yes, participation in the Match for the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is required. Our program code number for the Resident Matching Program is 182413.

How Many Resident Positions are Available and What are the Requirements?
There are currently three PGY1 pharmacy resident positions. A Pharm.D. degree is required along with an interview.

What Should I Expect at the Time of the Interview? 
Applicants should be prepared to assume the travel and lodging costs, if needed, for the interview, as MD Anderson does not have a mechanism to provide compensation for the interview process. The interview process entails a full day (approximately 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) of meetings with clinical preceptors, program leadership, and current residents, along with a tour of the facilities, however may be subject to change. During the interview, candidates will also work-up a patient case that is presented to a group of program preceptors. The purpose of the patient case is to evaluate the candidate’s knowledge base, clinical decision-making skills, and communication skills. More information regarding interview format and process will be provided prior to the interview. Interviews will be conducted in January and February.

How and When is the Resident Selected for the Residency? 
The resident is selected by the Division of Pharmacy based on multiple factors including their past education and training, performance during the interview, and their overall match with the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at MD Anderson. All residents are selected through the ASHP Resident Matching Program. The resident position is not offered in advance of the Resident Matching Program. The program director will discuss the matching process during the interview.

Does the Resident Need to be Licensed in the State of Texas?
The resident must be eligible for licensure (reciprocity or examination) as soon as accepted into the program. It is mandatory that the resident have their Texas Pharmacy licensure within 90 days of starting the program. It is preferred that both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) be taken prior to the start date of the residency, mid-June.

What People Make up the Leadership of the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program? 

• Ryan Roux, Vice President, Pharmacy
• Judy L. Chase, Director, Clinical Pharmacy Services
• Andrea Landgraf Oholendt, Manager, Clinical Pharmacy Services
• Vi P. Doan, Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
• Jonathan W. Malara, Coordinator, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
• Suzanne Gettys, Coordinator, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
• Stefani Gautreaux, Manager, Pharmacy Operations

What are the “Required” Learning Experiences and How are the Rotations Offered? 
The residency experiences will be approximately one month in length. The required learning experiences include: Ambulatory Care (Oncology I), Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Nutrition Support, Practice Management, and Medication Management & Informatics. Approximately one to two months of elective time will be scheduled throughout the year to help the resident further individualize the residency to meet their goals.

What Expectations are Placed on the Resident? 
The resident is expected to make a commitment to satisfactorily complete all requirements of the program, as planned in advance and agreed upon between the resident and the Program Director. This commitment will include attendance at required meetings and programs, and the availability and willingness to participate in any function of the Division of Pharmacy on a 24-hour basis. The resident is required to complete documentation and evaluation for all activities, experiences and objectives accomplished. A major project is required to be completed and presented at a regional conference or designed forum. Professional licensure in the state of Texas is required, as is membership and participation in appropriate professional organizations.

What are the Service Commitments?
In addition to scheduled and elective rotations, the resident will participate in the weekend coverage for Pharmacy Services on a scheduled basis, on average two weekends per month. Order entry, preparation, handling of medications and clinical pharmacy services will be expected during weekend coverage.

What Presentations or Publications are Expected of the Resident? 
The resident will be expected to present their major project results at a regional residency conference or designated forum. In addition, the resident is required to participate in assigned projects and make topic presentations for pharmacists, medical staff, residents, and students. Opportunities for publication are available. Each resident is required to present a “Pharmacy Grand Rounds” on a topic of their choice complete with ACPE continuing education credit. Additionally, the resident will provide at least one pharmacy journal club, and 3-4 pharmacy clinical pearls presentations throughout the year.

How is the Resident Evaluated? 
The program at MD Anderson is not based upon a set number of  "hours" in each experience area. Rather, it is based upon behavioral plus competency-based objectives covering all the areas of rotation and experiences in the program. The resident is evaluated directly by the preceptor faculty against the pre-assigned rotation objectives. Additionally, the resident evaluates their preceptors and overall program content. This program utilizes the ASHP Residency Program Design and Conduct (RPDC) along with PharmAcademic.

What Support is Offered for Educational Trips and Seminars? 
Residents may receive funding to attend a professional conference. Additionally, residents are encouraged to attend local (Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists) and state (TSHP) programs as appropriate.

What Stipend and Benefit Program is Offered? 
The annual stipend is currently $60,000. There is a liberal benefit program that includes comprehensive health insurance. There is no financial support for moving and living expenses, but relocation information is provided that educational trainees find beneficial.

In What Other Educational Programs does the Division of Pharmacy Participate? 
The Division of Pharmacy participates in clinical and experiential programs with several Colleges of Pharmacy. The division offers a PGY1/PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration Residency Program and four PGY2 Residency Pharmacy Programs in the areas of Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Medication-Use Safety & Policy, and Oncology. The Division of Pharmacy provides many in-services and continuing education programs to the hospital's professional staff.

What Other Support is Available to the Resident During the Residency? 
The Division of Pharmacy provides lab coats and scrubs to the resident. An office specifically for the resident is provided with computer, iPhone support, books, supplies, and an individual desk. MD Anderson has its own library within the institution. The Texas Medical Center also supports a large medical library within walking distance from the hospital and offers online access through our institution. Remote access is available upon request. The institution also has its own medical graphics department to assist in the development of professional poster presentations.

What Living Arrangements are Available for the Resident? 
Houston offers a wide variety of housing opportunities, including many apartments and townhouses near the TMC. Many of the surrounding housing opportunities have a regular shuttle service to the hospital or are close to the Houston METRORail into the TMC.

What Entertainment and Cultural Opportunities are Available in the Houston Area? 
Houston offers every possible opportunity for enjoyment of the arts, entertainment, sports and recreation. The city offers major league sports, outstanding shopping areas, and several special attractions such as the Johnson Space Center, Moody Gardens, Toyota Center, NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Kemah Boardwalk, The Strand in Galveston and the beaches of the Texas Gulf Coast. Be sure to check out the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in March for local cuisine, carnival rides, rodeo, and concerts. Additionally, Houston has a thriving diverse food scene. The restaurants in Houston are unique and a fun way to get away from the daily routine.

Application Deadline and Requirements:

• Email the residency program director and attach CV prior to submitting an application. The deadline for making contact is one week after the end of the ASHP Midyear Clinical meeting. 
• Applications must be submitted via the PhORCAS system™. 
  
• Application(s) must be submitted no later than January 5. 
• Participation in the ASHP Resident Matching Program (the “Match”) is required for all Residency Programs. 
• See the "International Visa Information" tab for more information regarding this

The following application materials must be submitted via the PhORCAS™ online application system by January 5

• A Statement of Intent (not to exceed one typewritten page) describing your career goals and reasons for pursuing the residency program.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Current transcript of Pharmacy college/university course work
• Reference Form in PhORCAS™ completed by THREE References
  • MDACC requires comments to be made in all sections of the Recommendation Form in addition to the reference ratings section being completed
  • No additional LORs are required

 Interview Requirements and Scheduling:

• An interview is required.
• All candidates will be notified of their interview status by January 20.
• Interviews will be conducted in January and February.

Upon release of the match results, candidates who match with our institution will need to complete an institution specific application and requirements for appointment via the MD Anderson New Innovations© online application system. The New Innovations^© system is a web-based database utilized to streamline the institution appointment process. More information about this process will be provided at the time of resident appointment.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Vi Doan, Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program via email at PGY1-PharmacyResidency@mdanderson.org or by phone at 713-563-0015. 

Due to international visa approval processing timelines and restraints with our onboarding process, we are unable to sponsor or accommodate all visas for foreign pharmacy residency applicants. Please see below regarding specifications of each international visa:

• J-1 or H1-B: MD Anderson does not sponsor for pharmacists or pharmacy residents.
• TN-1 (Canadian and Mexican citizens): MD Anderson may be eligible for sponsorship provided the pharmacy resident meets all requirements. For more information, please contact the Residency Program Director.
• F-1 OPT (PGY1 residency candidates): In addition to MD Anderson not being able to sponsor pharmacy residents, the processing time to obtain F-1 OPT is not congruent with our onboarding/appointment process. Therefore, we are unable to accommodate residents with a F-1 OPT visa.
• F-1 STEM OPT (Current PGY1 residents seeking PGY2 residency): MD Anderson is unable to sponsor or accommodate pharmacy residents at this time.

If you have any questions, please contact the Residency Program Director.