FAQ

Answers to Common Residency Questions

Is there private office space available to the resident?

The PGY2 resident will share an office located in the pharmacy administration area with four PGY1 pharmacy residents. The resident will have their own desk space and laptop computer, which can be docked and used as a desktop.

What type of mentoring does the resident receive?

Residents select a preceptor mentor who serves as a go-to person outside of the Residency Program Director (RPD) for questions and support over the course of the year. This mentor additionally meets with the resident and RPD to complete quarterly evaluations and discuss resident progress or any changes needing to be made to the residents’ rotation schedule and/or development plan.

While on individual rotations, residents are mentored by their rotation preceptor. Preceptors meet regularly with the residents to discuss patient cases, therapeutic issues, clinical pearls, and approaches for interacting with the multi-disciplinary team.

How long are the rotations and how are they selected?  

Rotations can range from 2 to 8 weeks in length based on the type of rotation and the resident's individual interest areas. Shorter or longer learning experiences, including repeating elective rotations, may be available based on discussion with the RPD and RPC and depending on the resident’s interests. Longitudinal rotations, including HIV & Hepatitis Ambulatory Clinic, Research Project and Medication Use Evaluation have learning activities spread out over 6-12-month periods. The resident will work with their mentor and RPD to design their rotation schedule.

Rotation schedules are decided during the orientation learning experience and based on the resident's interests and preferences, as well as prior experience and identified strengths and areas for improvement. Every effort is made to try to schedule the residents in their major interest areas prior to the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. Additionally, schedules may be customized throughout the year as the resident's interests change.

What teaching opportunities are available to the residents?

The resident will have an opportunity to participate in the Pharmacy Education Development and Lecture Series (PEDALS) offered in conjunction with Ferris State University. As part of the program, the resident will have experience leading didactic or case-based course work alongside a Ferris State University faculty member.

Additionally, this teaching certificate program requires each resident to complete a formal case presentation, journal club, and one-hour didactic lecture at their practice site. Residents with further interest in teaching can select the academic rotation as an elective. Residents may also have the opportunity to co-precept P4 students from Ferris State University who are on rotation at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s as well as PGY-1 Pharmacy residents.

What professional meetings do the residents participate in during the year?

The resident will attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in December where they have the opportunity to interview, network, and present the findings of a medication use evaluation (MUE).

The resident will also attend the Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference in the spring where they present the findings of their longitudinal research project as an oral presentation.

Opportunity to attend ID Week and the SIDP annual meetings will also be provided. This may be substituted for the American Conference on the Treatment of HIV based on resident's research project or interest area.

How do the residents pick their MUE and longitudinal research projects?

Annually the RPD will make a request for both MUE and research project ideas from clinical faculty members. The ideas are then reviewed by the RPD, RPC, and a committee of faculty who apply the FINER criteria (Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant) and develop a final list that is shared with the resident to choose from during their orientation month. Primary and secondary research preceptors are pre-assigned to the projects. All longitudinal research projects are of a scope suitable for submission as an abstract to a professional meeting as well as for peer-reviewed publication.

Do pharmacists at your organization work via collaborative practice agreements?

Yes, our clinical HIV pharmacist works under a collaborative practice agreement for the treatment and prevention of HIV. Our pharmacists also practice under CPAs within our Emergency Department and Urgent Care sites to conduct culture follow-up for discharged patients.

What sets your program apart?;

Our infectious diseases pharmacy faculty have been nationally recognized for their excellence in the fields of antimicrobial stewardship and HIV care. We're currently one of the only PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency programs in Western Michigan with one of only 2 full-time HIV clinical pharmacists in the state.