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 52-week 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 Health Care.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Candidates will need to complete an application through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).
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.
Samantha Meyer PharmD, MS, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Hematology & Oncology
PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency
Program Director
[email protected]
Macon, MO
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Pharmacy, Kansas City, MO
Real world experience with daraxonrasib for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
There is a wide variety of ambulatory care opportunities for oncology, and it’s an academic medical center.