Residency Showcase Program Listings

The Mercy Medical Center PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is dedicated to building on Doctor of Pharmacy education to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in preparation for health-system pharmacist positions, ambulatory care pharmacist positions, board certification, and post-graduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

Mercy PGY1 residents play a vital role in the healthcare team and will learn a broad array of skills to ensure patients receive the highest quality of pharmaceutical care. Our program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that offers training opportunities in both acute care and ambulatory care settings. The residency training program at Mercy is designed to incorporate didactic and experiential learning opportunities to develop well-rounded pharmacists who can fully integrate into an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Residents will have the opportunity to develop clinical skills and increase knowledge through a variety of experiences, including completion of an ASHP certificate program; practice management and leadership; committee involvement; inter-professional care rounds; and personal and professional development. 

The program is designed to help the resident meet the competency areas, goals, and objectives of PGY1 Pharmacy Residency training.

Rotation Experiences

The residency year provides exposure to a wide variety of clinical, leadership and project management experiences. Each resident begins their residency with an orientation rotation that allows the resident to gain experience in central pharmacy workflows and set the groundwork for the staffing component of the residency. Throughout the remainder of the year, the resident completes both core required rotation experiences and elective rotation experiences.

Core Rotations Experiences

Core rotations are intended to provide the resident with a balanced overview of decentralized clinical pharmacy services offered throughout the hospital. Core rotations include Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Cardiac/Stroke, Surgical and Inpatient Oncology, Critical and Intensive Care/Pediatrics, Ambulatory Anticoagulation Management, and Pharmacy Management and Leadership.

Elective Rotations Experiences

Elective rotations are intended to provide the resident opportunity to explore additional pharmacy care offerings and tailor the residency program to specific interests. Residents may take an advanced version of a core rotation as an elective or choose a rotation in Emergency Medicine or Ambulatory Oncology.

Teaching

Residents will have the opportunity to precept APPE pharmacy students while on rotations. Additionally, residents will have numerous educational presentation opportunities for staff to enhance presentation skills. Residents will have the option to complete the ASHP Teaching Certificate Program.

Longitudinal Rotations Experiences

Staffing

The residency includes a staffing component to develop the resident’s competency and confidence in both centralized and decentralized clinical pharmacist roles. Staffing requirements include working every other weekend upon completion of the orientation rotation and working every other holiday (staffing requirements are subject to change).

Resident Development

The resident development rotation is a longitudinal required rotation in the PGY1 pharmacy residency program at Mercy Medical Center. This rotation is an opportunity for the resident to develop foundational practice skills in self-reflection, leadership, and professional development. The resident will meet with the Residency Program Director (RPD) and Residency Program Coordinator (RPC) on a regular basis to discuss strengths, areas of opportunity, goals, progression through the rotation, professional development and other topics as needed. This will include both one-on-one sessions and group settings.

Personal and Interpersonal Development

The personal and interpersonal development rotation is a longitudinal required rotation in the PGY1 pharmacy residency program. This rotation will touch on topics that may not be directly addressed in other clinical rotations. The resident will meet with the preceptor on a regular basis for topic discussion and debriefing of recent interdisciplinary team communication. The resident will also have opportunities to share and reflect on their personal growth throughout the rotation.

Research Project

Residents will identify and complete a year-long research project based on interests and organizational needs. Residents will present their research poster at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and a spring pharmacy forum (TBD).

The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency conducted by Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

• Residency Program Code: 61011
• Residency NMS Code: 235213
• Number of Residents: 2

Pharmacy Residency - Cedar Rapids, IA - Mercy Medical Center (mercycare.org)

Applicants must register for the ASHP matching program handled by the National Matching Services, Inc. Rankings must be submitted by the deadline.

Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited College of Pharmacy and eligible for licensure in the State of Iowa.

Candidates must apply online using PhORCAS system (information available at www.ashp.org/phorcas, opens new tab). Requirements include:

1. Completed residency application
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Current official academic transcripts
4. Letter of Intent stating professional goals, qualifications
5. Three letters of recommendation

Deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 3, 2023.