PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Residency

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.

Program Structure

The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Residency Program is designed to develop accountability; practice patterns; and expert knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities in each respective advanced area of solid organ transplant pharmacy practice. PGY2 solid organ transplant residents throughout the year will: acquire the needed knowledge for skillful problem solving of solid organ transplant related issues, refine their problem-solving strategies, strengthen their professional values and attitudes, and advance the growth of their clinical judgment. Specifically, this specialty residency is designed to train pharmacists to care for organ transplant recipients. Training will be focused on immunology, infectious disease, primary care, and critical care, with opportunities to care for patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings. The resident will also care for pediatric transplant recipients during an elective rotation. Therefore, the solid organ transplant residency provides residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experiences and knowledge and transforming both into improved medication therapy for patients.

The resident must have previously completed a PGY1 residency or have an equivalent level of experience in hospital pharmacy practice prior to entering this specialized residency program. The residency is designed to provide a diverse experience, while focusing on the needs of the individual resident. Residents may tailor elective rotations to meet their goals and career needs. Residents are provided with formal written evaluations following each monthly rotation to provide for an optimal experience. Residents and advisor and RPD will complete a quarterly self-evaluation to assure compliance with self-determined goals and the ASHP Residency Learning System. Residents will rotate through adult inpatient and ambulatory experiences. Residents may elect to complete dedicated pediatric transplant learning experiences in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting.

Required Learning Experiences 

1. Orientation (July, 1 month)
2. Inpatient Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiothoracic Transplant (2 months)
3. Inpatient Abdominal Transplant – Surgery (2 months)
4. Cardiothoracic Surgery or Cardiology Intensive Care Unit (1 month)
5. Outpatient Transplant Clinic (2 months)

Elective Learning Experience

• Internal Medicine/Medical Intensive Care Unit/Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit
• Transplant Infectious Disease
• Inpatient Transplant Nephrology and Hepatology
• Pediatric Transplant
• Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Longitudinal Experiences

• Transplant Clinical Operation Experience – Specialty Pharmacy (8 hours/month)
• Transplant On Call Experience (2 weekends/month 1st 2 to 3 months, then every 3rd weekend)
• Research Project
• Medication Use Evaluation
• Transplant Protocol
• Seminar Presentation (ACPE accredited)
• Grand Rounds - 1 hour lecture outside pharmacy department
• Didactic Teaching Experience - 1 to 2 hour lecture in Transplant Elective with MUSC College of Pharmacy
• Topic Discussion Series - Lead monthly topic discussions and bi-annual Journal Clubs for transplant learners

Additional program-specific completion requirements

• Transplant surgery in-service monthly (split between residents)
• Present 1 lecture in the Critical Care Lecture Series

Core Preceptors