Postgraduate Year Two Critical Care Pharmacy Residency

The PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Program is designed to build on the skills and knowledge developed during postgraduate year one (PGY1) and to provide the resident the opportunity to gain expertise in the management of complex critically ill patients. The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (UIHC) is a Level 1 Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, a Center of Excellence with gold-level ELSO designation for ECMO, and an American Burn Association verified Burn Treatment Center. Furthermore, there are four adult intensive care units within the hospital. As a regional referral center, UI Hospitals & Clinics cares for the most complex and highest acuity patients in Iowa and several surrounding states. This 52-week program provides the necessary opportunities and experiences for highly motivated pharmacists to achieve their professional goals of becoming a critical care pharmacist.

Upon completion of the program, residents will be qualified to pursue a clinical specialist or other pharmacist positions within critical care, which may include academia, research, or other advanced practice settings. Early commitment to the PGY2 Critical Care Residency may be an option for those completing a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

About the Program

The PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy residency is a 52-week, ASHP-accredited program designed to build on the skills and knowledge developed during postgraduate year one (PGY1) and to provide the resident the opportunity to gain expertise in the management of complex critically ill patients. The resident will serve as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team caring for patients in the five core practice areas of Surgical Neurosciences ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Medical ICU, Emergency Department, and Nutrition Support. The resident will have the opportunity to tailor elective rotations to meet individual needs and interests. Upon completion of the program, the resident will be proficient in critical care pharmacotherapy, qualified to practice independently in a variety of healthcare settings, and prepared for board certification.

The resident will actively participate in precepting pharmacy students and will have an adjunct instructor appointment at the UI College of Pharmacy. In addition to other academic opportunities offered by the program, the resident will have the opportunity to complete the Pharmacy Educator Preparation Program for Residents (PEPPR) Teaching Certificate program offered at the UI College of Pharmacy. An abundance of opportunities exist to serve as a preceptor and provide didactic education.

Rotation Experiences

During rotations, the resident will have the opportunity to gain expertise in direct patient care through a number of core critical care areas. In addition to core rotations, numerous elective rotations are available and can be tailored to meet the needs and interests of the individual resident.

Required Rotations Include:

• Orientation
• Surgical-neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (total of 8 weeks)
• Medical Intensive Care Unit (total of 8 weeks)
• Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit - Surgery (total of 4 weeks)
• Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit – Medicine (total of 4 weeks)
• Emergency Medicine (total of 4 weeks)

Elective Rotations Include:

• Advanced Heart Failure
• Burn Intensive Care Unit
• Infectious Disease
• Nutrition Support
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Solid Organ Transplant
• Toxicology
• Trauma

Longitudinal Clinical Experience

• ICU staffing
• Code Response/ Rapid Response Coverage
• Practice Management
• Research
• Teaching and Preceptorship

Research

The resident will be required to complete a clinical research project during their residency year. The project will be a joint effort among the resident, program director, program coordinator, and residency preceptors. Residency projects are identified early in the residency year and continued longitudinally with final manuscript required prior to residency graduation. Residents will present their research project at a poster session at an annual pharmacy meeting.

Teaching

During the residency year, the resident will be required to participate in multiple teaching opportunities. The resident is appointed to adjunct instructor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. The required teaching experiences include didactic lectures at the College of Pharmacy, as well as presentations to medical, pharmacy, or nursing colleagues as part of each rotation experience.   

Staffing

The resident is required to fulfill the service commitment (staffing) designed to ensure they gain experience and can function independently as a competent critical care pharmacist. The residents will staff in the Surgical-Neurosciences ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Medical ICU, and Burn Unit. 

Staffing Requirements are as Follows:

• The resident will staff every third weekend on a rotating basis
• The resident will work one major holiday and two minor holidays as designed by the chosen holiday break schedule
• The resident will be required approximately 4 weeks of evening weekday shifts throughout the year
• Staffing requirements are subject to change

How to Apply

Candidates will need to complete an application through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).

Materials Required

• PhORCAS Application Form
• Letter of intent
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a  residency program director or coordinator)
• Official pharmacy college/school and university transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae

Application materials must be received by January 2. An interview is required and will be granted based on the review of application materials.

Applicants must register for the ASHP matching program handled by the National Matching Services Inc. Rankings must be submitted by the deadline.

• PGY2 Critical Care Residency NMS Match Code: 642752

Candidate Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy degree program or have equivalent educational qualifications as determined by the residency director
• Licensed in Iowa by the residency start date. Please see the Iowa Board of Pharmacy website for complete qualifications.
• Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy residency
• Adhere to the rules of the resident matching program process
• Candidates who require a Visa will not be considered. Pharmacy residency positions are not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization

Contact Us

Katy Rolfes, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacist
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program Director
[email protected]

Sawsan Ikram PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacist
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program Coordinator
[email protected]