Emory University Hospital Midtown
Post-Graduate Year Two Oncology

Program Purpose

PGY2 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions, and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

General Info

The PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency Program at EUHM is designed to provide the resident with a solid foundation of core experiences, a strong clinical base, a commitment to teaching, an appreciation for clinical research, and ample opportunity for pursuing individual interests. The program builds upon broad-based competencies established during the resident's PGY1 program, allowing the resident to further develop and refine multiple skill sets (i.e. practice foundation, direct patient care, drug information, policy development, and practice management). This is accomplished by participating in patient care activities through daily rounding with the medical team, optimizing drug therapy, educating medical staff & patients, answering drug information questions, assisting in the continuity of care from inpatient to outpatient, preparing appropriate chemotherapy orders, participating in ongoing quality improvement activities, and acting as a resource for pharmacokinetic and other clinical activities. On completion of the program, the resident is prepared to excel in any oncology setting, particularly in an academic teaching center. The resident should also possess the competencies to become a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP).

Goals

The overarching goal of this residency program is to train outstanding oncology clinical pharmacy specialists and future leaders in the field. This program utilizes the collective assets of Emory Hospitals and Winship Cancer Institute, in educating and training residents in the following areas:

• Clinical practice: Residents will become familiar with different types of malignancies, treatment modalities, and antineoplastic agents used to treat patients. Residents will learn how to incorporate their clinical knowledge in day-to-day practice and how to function independently as a member of the healthcare team. 
• Teaching: Residents will be involved in teaching pharmacy practice residents, pharmacy students, nursing staff, as well as other members of the healthcare team.
• Research: Residents will learn how to set up and conduct a clinical study. Investigational Review Board (IRB) and institutional research committee approval will be obtained.
• Others: Residents will utilize practice management skills to promote rational and safe use of medications. Residents will master personal development skills for life-long learning and professional growth.

Required Learning Experiences

• Orientation and Investigational Drug Service (EUHM and Clifton campuses) – 1 month, July 
• Research (Clifton campus) – 1 month, December 
• Inpatient Leukemia (Clifton campus) – 1 month 
• Inpatient Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (Clifton campus) – 1 month 
• Ambulatory Malignant Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (Clifton campus) – 1 month 
• Ambulatory Medical Oncology Subspecialties (EUHM and Clifton campuses) – 12-week selective required (select four 3-week experiences) 
  • Aerodigestive malignancies  
  • Breast and gynecological cancers 
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies
  • Genitourinary (GU) malignancies
  • Head and neck cancers
  • Melanoma
  • Sarcoma  
• Ambulatory Medical Oncology – General Oncology – 1 month selective required (select one 1-month experience) 
  • General Oncology (Emory St. Joseph campus)
  • General Oncology (Emory Johns Creek campus) 

Elective Learning Experiences

• Inpatient Lymphoma/Myeloma (Clifton campus) – 1 month 
• Inpatient Medical Oncology (Clifton campus) – 1 month 
• Palliative Care (Clifton campus) - 1 month 
• Pediatric Oncology (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta [CHOA]) – 1 month 
• Phase 1 Research Unit (Clifton campus) – 1 month 
• Any ambulatory medical oncology learning experience not chosen for the 12-week selective required experience may be scheduled as a 1-month elective 

Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences 

• Research Project 
• Incoming Project (12 months) 
• Outgoing Project (6 months; January - June) 
• December-Research Month (non-evaluated experience) 
• Outpatient Infusion Weekend Staffing (12 months) 
• Inpatient Staffing Experience (12 months) 
• Specialty Resident On Call (12 months) 
• Committee Involvement (12 months) 
• Professional Development, Oncology Administration, and Leadership (48 weeks; 1 day per month August - June) 
• Teaching and Precepting Students and Residents (48 weeks) 
• Teaching Certificate (12 months) – required only if a certificate program was not completed during PGY1 

Required Activities (One-time evaluation) 

• Case Conference 
• Grand Rounds Presentation 
• Oncology Didactic Lecture 
• Publication, Non-Research 

Research Project: The PGY2 Oncology program at Emory/Winship participates in the flipped research model where the resident is assigned an IRB-approved incoming project to work on for the first half of the year.  This includes a final manuscript of research results to be submitted for publication.  For the second half of the year, the resident is required to create and design a project and develop a protocol for the next year’s incoming residents.  To expand understanding of and compliance with research requirements, the resident is required to complete an Emory Institutional Review Board (IRB) certified module and submit a research proposal to IRB and the PRMC for approval. The resident is expected to present their fall project at the Vizient poster session at ASHP, the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Meeting (HOPA)

Quality Improvement Project/MUE: Each resident will be assigned either a medication use evaluation (MUE) or a Quality Improvement project during their residency year as a part of their Committee Involvement and/or Leadership/Administration longitudinal experiences. Residents are strongly encouraged to prepare a poster for Emory Healthcare’s Annual Quality Conference in the early spring.

Grand Rounds Presentation: The resident is required to prepare one 60-minute presentation for ACPE credit on approved oncology topics, complete with PowerPoint slides and handout.  Pharmacy Grand Rounds are held every two weeks, and all residents are expected to attend in person if on rotation at the Clifton or Midtown campuses.

Teaching: The resident is required to complete the Mercer University College of Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program unless similar certification was obtained during the PGY1 year. The resident also provides formal and informal teaching through a didactic lecture at Mercer University or similar venue, Pharmacy Grand Rounds continuing education seminar as above, and rotation in-services.  The resident is also expected to attend and actively participate in standing topic discussions for residents and students on rotation. Residents will also present at the biweekly oncology pharmacy forum on an assigned disease state or drug class.

Precepting: The resident will serve as a co-preceptor for 4th year PharmD students and PGY1 Pharmacy Residents on rotations that coincide with their own experiences.

Educational Lectures: Residents have the opportunity to attend oncology fellows' lectures, tumor boards, weekly oncology grand rounds (Winship), Emory clinical research course, and rotation-specific seminars as determined by the preceptor and/or RPD.

Resident Case Conference: Each resident is required to present one Pharmacy Case Conference throughout the residency year. The purpose of the Case Conference is to present an evidence-based clinical case that may range from reviewing updated guidelines as relevant to a patient case to a unique clinical encounter with a brief literature review of treatment as a good vignette to be used for a future interview.

On Call: PGY2 Residents will participate in the rotating Specialty Pharmacy On-Call program (home call) in a primary call role.

Staffing: The PGY2 Oncology resident will staff approximately every third weekend on a rotating basis at the Winship Cancer Institute Ambulatory Infusion Center at the Clifton campus and one day every two weeks at the Winship at Emory Midtown (WEM) inpatient pharmacy.

Publication: The resident is required to prepare one manuscript suitable for publication in addition to the residency research project (e.g., review article, case report).

Leadership and Service: The resident will serve on a multidisciplinary oncology committee as well as residency-specific committees.  The resident will also be responsible for select administrative responsibilities.  The resident will serve in a key role in a leadership position within the EUHM residency class.

Evaluations: The resident is expected to complete all evaluations and self-assessments in a timely manner.

Licensure: The residents must obtain Georgia pharmacy licensure no later than 120 days after the start of the residency year.

Compensation: $56,000/ year salary plus medical, dental, vision, and 401K benefits.

Residents receive financial support to participate in the following conferences/experiences as well as $75 for professional dues:

ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting -In December residents are expected to represent the Emory Healthcare Program at the Residency Showcase and present their initial research project results as a poster presentation through Vizient.

Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) Annual Meeting - Residents are expected to present their final research project results as a poster presentation. Residents are encouraged to submit their posters for the HOPA trainee research award.

Contact Info

For more information, please contact the program director.

Danielle Schlafer, PharmD, BCOP
danielle.schlafer@emoryhealthcare.org