The PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency conducted by Denver Health in Denver, Colorado is accredited by ASHP.
The PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that is designed to provide a structured learning environment and to foster an in-depth learning opportunity for a resident to develop into a successful clinical pharmacy specialist. Denver Health is an integrated, efficient, academic health care system serving as a model for other safety net institutions across the nation. Denver Health is home to the Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center Level 1 Trauma Center for adults and Level II Trauma Center for Children, Rocky Mountain Regional Poison Center, as well as residency and fellowship training site for the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. The PGY2 Critical Care resident will have the opportunity for teaching throughout their residency year, including co-precepting and mentoring PGY1 residents and APPE students. Opportunities to deliver critical care related lectures will be made available to the PGY2 resident. Additionally, ACLS and PALS certification will be provided. A staffing component in critical care areas will be required (pursuant on progress of PGY2 resident in ability to staff in critical care areas), as well as a major research project with the intent to publish in a peer reviewed journal. Learning experiences not offered at Denver Health may be pursued as elective learning experiences at University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado.
The purpose of the PGY2 pharmacy residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.
Residency Program Structure:
The program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that is designed to provide a structured learning environment and to foster an in-depth learning opportunity for a resident to develop into a successful clinical pharmacy specialist.
The program includes 7 required learning experiences (2 to 10 weeks in length) and a choice of elective learning experiences (2 to 4 weeks in length). There are several required longitudinal experiences.
Required Learning Experiences:
- Orientation (3-4 weeks)
- Medical ICU (8-10 weeks)
- Surgical/Trauma ICU (8-10 weeks)
- Advanced Infectious Disease (4-5 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (4-5 weeks)
- Toxicology (4 weeks)
- Nutrition Support (2 weeks)
Elective Learning Experiences:
- ICU PM
- Pediatric/Neonatal ICU
- University of Colorado Health Cardiac ICU/Heart Failure & Transplant ICU
- University of Colorado Health Burn ICU
- Children’s Hospital of Colorado Pediatric ICU
- Children’s Hospital of Colorado Cardiac ICU
- Neurosurgery
- Research Design and Methodology
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences:
- Major Project
- Clinical staffing (Critical Care) every 3rd weekend
- Additional moonlighting shifts covering ICU PM and overnight ICU shifts may be made available to the resident dependent on resident progress and department staffing needs
- Medical Emergency Response (Code Blue, Stroke Alert, Trauma Alert / Activation)
- Leadership and Practice Management
- Medication Use Evaluation
Attendance and participation in the following events:
- Hospital leadership committee(s)
- PGY2 recruitment process
- National/local meetings as required by the residency
Application Information & Requirements for Applicants
Applicants must be a PharmD graduate or candidate for graduation of an Accredited Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited degree program, completed or in progress of completing an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. Applicants must be licensed and in good standing, or eligible for licensure in the state of Colorado by November 1st of the starting year. If not licensed by November 1st, the resident will be terminated from the program.
Denver Health participates in the ASHP National Matching System. The NMS number for our program is 760052. Applications should be submitted electronically through PhORCAS. Necessary application materials include...
Letter of intent (maximum of 1 page) highlighting the following:
- Your goals and reason for doing an advanced PGY2 specialty residency in critical care
- Why you chose to apply for the Denver Health residency program
- Your short and long term goals in pharmacy practice
- Your strengths and weaknesses at this point in your career and how a PGY2 residency in critical care will help you develop and achieve your goals
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of reference using the PhORCAS Standardized Reference Template with at least one from a preceptor in emergency medicine or critical care
- Official college of pharmacy transcript
Current PGY1 Residents at Denver Health Medical Center may early commit to a Denver Health Medical Center PGY2 Residency Programs.
All completed applications will be reviewed by the Residency Advisory Council to determine which candidates will be invited for an interview.
Resident applicants are responsible for submitting all required materials online through PhORCAS.
ASHP Code: 82024
NMS#: 760052
Current PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Resident: Rhiannon Montgomery (2024-2025)
Contact:
Katie Dionne, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Surgical Critical Care
Program Director, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
Denver Health Medical Center
790 Delaware Street, MC 0056
Denver, CO 80204
303.602.6995
Catherine.Dionne@dhha.org