The PGY2 Oncology Residency Program at Rush is a one-year residency established to provide specialty training for residents interested in hematology, oncology and stem cell transplant. The PGY2 began in 2012 and currently the program has one PGY2 oncology resident. The program has received accreditation by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
The PGY2 Oncology Residency at Rush University Medical Center builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in advanced or specialized practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge incorporating both into the provision of patient care that improves medication therapy. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency at Rush University Medical Center should possess competencies that qualify them for clinical pharmacist and/or faculty positions and position them to be eligible for attainment of board certification in that practice area.
The purpose of the PGY2 Hematology/Oncology residency is to develop specialized knowledge in the pathophysiology and management of patients with hematology and oncology disorders. This is accomplished through core rotations to strengthen hematology and oncology fundamentals as well as elective rotations with the flexibility to meet the individual’s needs.
The program is designed to develop the resident’s clinical expertise and additionally provide opportunities for teaching, research, and quality improvement. Pharmacists completing the residency will be trained as clinical specialists able to excel as an independent practitioner. The goal of the program is to become an integral member of a Hematology/Oncology multidisciplinary team in a large academic setting. Residents who successfully complete our program are prepared for advanced patient care positions, along with board certification in oncology pharmacy.
Experiences
The resident will have the opportunity to participate in multidisciplinary care of hematology/oncology patients in an academic teaching environment. The resident will practice in a state-of-the-art, hematology/oncology facility which has a capacity of 64-beds, 32-beds which are designated for hematology/stem cell transplant.
The Rush University Cancer Center programs have received approval by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program. Our outpatient facility opened in January 2012 and has 56 infusion stations that treat approximately 80-100 patients per day.
The PGY2 resident will be expected to complete a longitudinal research project in collaboration with an experienced preceptor. The project will be of the resident’s choice and involve a hematology/oncology/stem cell transplant concept. The project will be presented at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) Conference in early spring. Time throughout the year will be dedicated for research activities and reside is expected to complete a manuscript for publication by year’s end.
RUMC is actively involved in experiential coursework and receives students from all local colleges of pharmacy. The resident can serve as a preceptor to develop hands-on teaching skills. The resident will also lead small group discussions with pharmacy students and PGY1 residents. There will be opportunities to participate in the didactic education at local colleges of pharmacy.
Service responsibilities include one out of every four weekends of clinical staffing focused on the care of hematology, oncology and stem cell transplant patients.
The resident will be expected to take overnight call in the medical center. Responsibilities during call include, but are not limited to, pharmacokinetic drug monitoring, answering clinical questions, participation in code blue emergencies, approval of restricted antimicrobials, participation in acute stroke and care of acute oncologic emergencies, medication reconciliation in the emergency department and order verification responsibilities.
Rotations
- Orientation
- Hematology I (4-6 weeks)
- Hematology II (4 weeks)
- Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy (4 weeks)
- Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Clinics (12 weeks, including 4 weeks off-site)
- Breast Cancer Outpatient Clinic (4 weeks)
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (4 weeks)
- Oral Oncology Clinic (4 weeks)
- Investigational Drug Services (2-3 weeks)
- Cardio-Oncology
- Benign Hematology
- Infectious Disease
- Pain and Palliative Care
- Outpatient Stem Cell Transplant Clinic
- Hematology III
- Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy II
- Pharmacogenomics
- Infusion Center Pharmacy
- Professional development and leadership/management
- Longitudinal informatics rotation
- Longitudinal lymphoma/hematology clinic longitudinal rotation
- Project Obligations:
- Research project & HOPA Annual conference poster
- Medication use evaluation (MUE)
- Drug monograph, policy/procedure or guideline
- Pharmacy newsletter
- Peer reviewed submission for publication
- Practice obligation (clinical weekend staffing every 4th weekend of year and assigned holiday)
- On-call program
- Presentation obligations: Patient case presentation & journal club presentation, pharmacy Grand Rounds Presentation, Chicagoland PGY2 Drug Seminar, Pharmacy School didactic lecture, fellows lecture, nursing CE
- Chemotherapy Subcommittee Participation
Salary and benefits for the Oncology Residency Program
The resident will be paid approximately $52,707 annually. Checks are issued every other Friday via direct deposit, which is set up through the payroll department.
In addition to the salary, Rush will cover continuing education opportunities up to $1,000 each calendar year for residents. Rush also offers generous benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance.
How to apply
Interested candidates should apply for the PGY2 Oncology Residency program through the following channels:
- Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS)
- ASHP Resident Matching Service/National Matching Service
Unfortunately, we are not able to accept any international applicants at this time.
Contact us
If you have questions about the program not covered on this page or in our brochure, please contact:
Danielle Murphy, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS
Director, PGY2 Oncology Residency Program
(312) 947-2401
Danielle_Murphy@rush.edu