Postgraduate Year Two Oncology Pharmacy Residency

The Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) Oncology Residency is a patient-focused, comprehensive training program conducted at Holden Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, a nationally ranked cancer center and Iowa’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. This 12-month program provides the necessary opportunities for highly motivated pharmacists to achieve their professional goals of becoming an oncology clinical pharmacist. The residency is designed to expand skills developed during postgraduate year one (PGY1) to solve complex oncology medication-related problems presented in today's health care environment.

Upon completion of this program, residents will be proficient oncology pharmacy specialists and will be able to sit for board certification. Early commitment to the PGY2 Oncology Residency may be an option for those completing a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

About the Program

The program gives the resident the opportunity to gain expertise in a number of hematology and oncology inpatient and outpatient patient care settings. Areas of additional emphasis include rotations and/or longitudinal experiences in oncology pharmacy practice management and investigational drug services. The resident will participate in precepting pharmacy students and will have an adjunct faculty role at the UI College of Pharmacy. Additionally, the resident will have the opportunity to complete the Pharmacy Educator Preparation Program (PEPPR) Teaching Certificate program offered through the UI College of Pharmacy. Completion of a formal research project with a medication use evaluation component is required.

Rotation Experiences

During rotations, the resident will have the opportunity to gain expertise in a number of core oncology patient care settings. The resident will also have elective rotations to enhance their experience in specific areas of interest. The resident will work as part of the multidisciplinary team advising physicians, nurses, and patients on appropriate medication use. Activities include, but are not limited to, attending rounds; conferences; and providing lectures on drug therapy to medical, pharmacy, and nursing staff

Required Rotations Include (four weeks each):

• Adult hematologic malignancies (inpatient setting)
• Adult hematologic malignancies (outpatient setting)
• Adult solid tumors/oncologic emergencies (inpatient setting)
• Adult solid tumors (outpatient setting)
• Adult bone marrow transplant (inpatient setting)
• Gynecologic oncology (combination of inpatient and outpatient)
• Oncology practice management
• Pediatric hematology/oncology (combination of inpatient and outpatient)
• One additional ambulatory oncology rotation in an area of interest

Additional Rotations Include:

• Immunocompromised infectious diseases
• Pain management
• Palliative care
• Bone marrow transplant (outpatient setting)
• Radiation oncology
• Surgical oncology
• Informatics

Staffing

The resident is required to fulfill service commitment (staffing) designed to ensure they gain experience and can function as a competent clinical practitioner. The staffing experience includes providing services on a decentralized oncology pharmacy team that covers all inpatient oncology units. Additionally, the staffing experience consists of an ambulatory component in the cancer center pharmacy and infusion suite. Staffing requirements are as follows:

• Every third weekend as the inpatient oncology pharmacist
• Two weeks of evening shifts as the inpatient oncology pharmacist
• Three weeks of day shifts in the Cancer Center Pharmacy (Monday-Friday as three separate one-week blocks)
• Coverage of one major (Thanksgiving and day after Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) and two minor holidays (Labor Day, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, or Memorial Day) as the inpatient oncology pharmacist
• Coverage in the Cancer Center Pharmacy during the week of spring break in March (counts as one of the three week-long blocks)
• Staffing requirements are subject to change

Research

Research experience will involve the completion of a formal research project with a medication use evaluation component during the course of the residency year. Selection of the project is a joint effort between the resident, program director, and residency preceptors. The residency project is identified early in the year and a final manuscript is required prior to residency graduation. The project will be presented as a poster presentation at the Vizient™ meeting held in conjunction with the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and at the HOPA Annual Conference.

Teaching

The resident is provided with multiple opportunities to develop and enhance their teaching and presentation skills. The resident is appointed to adjunct instructor at the UI College of Pharmacy. The resident will participate in precepting pharmacy students during introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences as well as PGY1 residents. The resident will also be given the opportunity to prepare and administer an oncology-focused practice lab at the College of Pharmacy as well as presentations to medical, pharmacy, or nursing colleagues as part of each rotation experience. Additionally, the resident will have the opportunity to complete the Pharmacy Educator Preparation Program for Residents Teaching Certificate program offered through the UI College of Pharmacy.

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
  • One letter of recommendation must be from a residency program director or coordinator
• Official pharmacy college/school transcripts
• Curriculum vitae

Application materials must be received by January 2. An on-site 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 Oncology Residency NMS code: 747060

Candidate Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy degree program of have equivalent educational qualification as determined by the residency program 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

Marie Shinkle, PharmD, BCOP, BCPPS, BCACP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Internal Medicine
PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency
Program Director
[email protected]