The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency conducted by Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
- Residency Program Code: 61011
- Residency NMS Code: 235213
- Number of Residents: 2
Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids 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. The residency training program at Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids 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; research and projects; committee involvement; inter-professional care rounds; personal and professional development.
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: Internal Medicine; Cardiac/Stroke; Surgical and Inpatient Oncology; Intensive Care Center; Mercy Anticoagulation Clinic; Antimicrobial Stewardship/Infectious Diseases; Birthplace, Pediatrics, NICU; and Practice 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. Elective rotations include Emergency Medicine and Hematology-Oncology Clinic. Residents may also take an advanced version of a core rotation as an elective. Other elective learning experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability (e.g., Hospice/Palliative Care, Dementia/Memory Care, etc.).
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.
Staffing
The residency includes a longitudinal staffing component to develop the resident’s competency and confidence in a centralized clinical pharmacist role. 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. 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 & Interpersonal Development
The personal and interpersonal development rotation is a longitudinal required rotation. 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).
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). Requirements include:
- Completed residency application
- Curriculum vitae
- Current official academic transcripts
- Letter of Intent stating professional goals, qualifications
- Three letters of recommendation
Candidates are strongly encouraged not to delay submitting their application while awaiting official transcripts and/or receipt of letters of recommendation.
Deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 3, 2025. Interviews will be scheduled in January or February, with both on-site and virtual interviews available. The option of both on-site and virtual interviews is largely driven by our desire to ensure that all candidates have equal access/opportunity to learn about our program and select the interview option that best meets the candidates’ needs. We look forward to meeting many candidates over the course of this year's recruitment cycle!
*This residency agrees that no person at the residency will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any residency applicant.
