PGY2 Critical Care
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Program in Critical Care 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.
There is one PGY2 in Critical Care position available. The program start date is July 1.
PGY2 Description:
UNC Health REX has over 70 adult intensive care unit (ICU) beds which encompass the Medical/Surgical, Neuroscience, Special Respiratory, Cardiac, and Cardiothoracic Surgery ICUs. Additionally, REX has a 21 bed Neonatal ICU. REX provides care for a variety of critically ill patients and is recognized as an Excellent ACC HeartCARE Center, comprehensive stroke center, and ECMO center.
Our resident functions as an integral member of the multidisciplinary critical care team. Through patient data collection and analysis, residents develop the knowledge and skills to provide patient-specific and evidence-based pharmacotherapy while functioning as independent practitioners.
In addition, valuable leadership and research skills are developed through participation in critical care-related interdisciplinary committees and completion of a clinical research project.
Residents function as a co-preceptor for pharmacy students and PGY1 pharmacy residents. Residents also attend and actively participate in code response throughout the residency year and co-precept the PGY1 residents in this setting.
PGY2 Program Design:
Required Rotations: (9 months)
- Orientation (1 month)
- Medical/Surgical ICU (2 months)
- Cardiac Medicine ICU (2 months)
- Neuroscience ICU (1 month)
- Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU (1 month)
- Emergency Medicine (1 month)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (1 month)
Elective Rotations: (choose 3)
- Neonatal ICU (1 month)
- Advanced Neuroscience ICU (1 month)
- Advanced Emergency Medicine (1 month)
- Surgery/Trauma ICU—off-site as available (1 month)
- Burn ICU—off-site as available (1 month)
Longitudinal Experiences:
- Research Project
- Teaching (includes Continuing Education)—see “Teaching Experience” section for additional details
- Leadership (includes Medication Use Evaluation and Quality Improvement Initiatives)—see “Leadership Experience” section for more details
- Code Blue Response
- Quarterly Interdisciplinary ICU Journal Club
Staffing Experience:
- The resident will staff every 4th weekend in the emergency department or a clinical critical care patient care area and will attend all code blues on the assigned weekend.
- The resident will staff one evening shift (1530-2130) once a month in the emergency department or a clinical critical care patient care area.
Teaching Experience:
- Serve as Primary Preceptor for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students on critical care rotations
- Co-precept PGY1 residents on ICU rotations as available
- Teaching opportunities at Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences or UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy will be available as didactic lectures and group teaching sessions for the pharmacy practice skills lab.
- An optional teaching certificate program is available through Campbell and UNC for those who have not yet completed one.
- The resident will present continuing education or continuing medical education on Critical Care topics to interdisciplinary teams, including providers, nursing, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.
- Present at the Quarterly Interdisciplinary Journal Club for the Critical Care Team
- Education of patients and family members on disease states and therapy plans is offered as a core experience on multiple rotations.
Leadership:
- The Leadership longitudinal experience will help pharmacy residents become familiar with key leadership and management principles utilized in hospitals and health systems. The resident will participate in several required activities designed to improve their working knowledge and experience with quality improvement and leadership concepts. This longitudinal experience will prepare the resident to pursue a leadership position in the clinical practice setting.
- Required activities include a medication use evaluation (MUE), quality improvement (QI) projects, and participation in the leadership development discussion series. Additionally, the resident will serve as a pharmacy representative on both local and system pharmacy-related committees throughout the year.
Meetings:
The PGY2 Critical Care resident will attend health system meetings, as well as 2 national meetings, including ASHP Midyear and SCCM Congress. The resident may participate in recruiting events for PGY1 and PGY2 residencies and attend residency showcases as needed.
Benefits:
Leave Availability
The resident earns Paid Time Off (PTO) at the same rate as a new co-worker. PTO is earned every two weeks, coinciding with pay periods. If time off from the residency is taken for any reason except funeral leave, (holiday, vacation, absence), PTO will be used.
The resident may be granted up to 10 days of education leave for the ASHP Midyear and SCCM Congress.
Health Insurance
Residents are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts/Health Savings Account, 403(b), 529 Plan, Life Insurance, Tuition Assistance, Paid Time Off, EAP, as well as a travel stipend for meetings.
Parking
Onsite complimentary parking is available on the hospital campus.
Other Benefits
- Complimentary and required Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) training
- Dedicated office space
- Monogrammed lab coats
- Vocera wireless badge phones
- UNC-issued laptop
- Complimentary access to the Wake AHEC Digital Library
- Complimentary mobile access to Lexicomp and Pharmacist’s Letter
- Opportunities to participate in select Learning and Organizational Effectiveness classes
- Discounted access to our comprehensive UNC Health Rex Wellness Centers
- Discounted meals from our award winning chefs!
- Merchandise discounts at select retailers
- Scrub Stipend
- Reimbursement for professional travel
- Complementary membership to ASHP and other national specialty organizations (i.e. SCCM, ACCP, etc) as available
Qualifications:
- Doctor of Pharmacy degree from ACPE accredited school of pharmacy, AND
- Completed ASHP-accredited PGY-1 residency in pharmacy practice, AND
- License to practice pharmacy in the state of North Carolina as of July 1
- On-site or virtual interview
How to apply:
The application deadline is January 2, 2025. Complete applications include the following:
- An application form submitted through the PhORCAS Application Portal
- Letter of intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three PhORCAS Standardized Recommendations
- Pharmacy College transcripts
- Completion of supplemental application questions
All applicants much be registered with the National Matching Service. Employment application will be required after match results are posted.
Employment application will be required after match results are posted.
Diversity Statement
The UNC Health System and the UNC School of Medicine are committed to valuing all people throughout our organization, regardless of background, lifestyle, and culture. A diverse and inclusive work environment for staff and culturally appropriate care for our patients, are essential to fulfilling our UNC Health vision of improving the health of all North Carolinians.
See here for further information about DEI efforts at UNC Health.
Contact:
Patrick Prendergast, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit Clinical Pharmacist
Patrick.Prendergast@unchealth.unc.edu
Department of Pharmacy
UNC Health Rex
4420 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 784-3015
