PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency

Texas Children’s Hospital Pharmacy Department promotes the mission of the hospital of providing quality and cost-effective care. The mission of the pharmacy department is to:

  • To excel in the provision of high quality, value-based patient care through safe and innovative medication use in alignment with Texas Children’s mission and values.
  • To advance the profession of pharmacy, foster an environment that values employee contributions, and support development through balance and accountability.
  • To have fun, recognize our accomplishments, and celebrate and share our successes.

 The clinical pharmacy specialists group serve as liaisons and resources to the medical services. Providing proactive patient care through development of pharmacotherapy plan and patient education.  They are also mentors and educators to the pharmacists, residents (pharmacy and medical), nurses and patients.

Purpose Statement

PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) 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.

About the Residency Program

The PGY2 pediatric pharmacy residency program at Texas Children’s Hospital was established in 1996. The PGY2 pediatric pharmacy residency program is a 12 month ASHP accredited program focused on direct patient care, practice management, and education of healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers. The program is designed to meet the pre-defined program goals and objectives and is tailored based on the resident interests and past experience. This training program allows residents to gain experience to become authoritative resources in the application, use, research, and optimization of pharmacotherapy in pediatric patients. Additionally, residents will develop practice management skills used to optimize the medication use process in the care of pediatric patients. Resident experiences allow them to develop skills in the education of learners, healthcare providers, and patients. The program begins the first Monday of July.

Program Directors

Dana Cerminara, PharmD, BCPPS
dncermin@texaschildrens.org

Program Coordinator

Megan Moore, PharmD
Mmmoore3@texaschildrens.org

Pharmacy Director - Texas Children's Hospital & Pavilion for Women

Prem C. Oommen, PharmD, MBA, RPh
pcoommen@texaschildrens.org

Available Rotations

Required experiences:

  • One-month rotations:
    • Two Critical Care rotations
    • Three Acute Care rotations
    • One Administration
  • Longitudinal - Ambulatory Care
    • Two six-month clinic experiences

Available Rotations

Acute Care

  • Pediatric Hospital medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Transitional Intensive Care Unit
  • Pulmonary
  • Heart Failure/Heart Transplant
  • Liver transplant/Hepatology
  • Lung Transplant
  • Renal/Renal Transplant
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Disease

Critical Care

  • Cardiac Intensive Care (CICU)
  • Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)
  • Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU)

Administration

  • Clinical Administration & Outcomes
  • Medication Safety
  • Formulary Management

Ambulatory Care – 6 month longitudinal

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) / Pulmonary
  • Heart Transplant
  • Infectious Disease
  • Ketogenic Diet
  • Liver Transplant
  • Lung Transplant
  • Renal/Renal Transplant

Electives

  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
  • Critical Care Nephrology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Information Technology
  • Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship
  • Pediatrics at The Woodlands
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Women’s Services

Projects and Presentation Requirements

Longitudinal Clinical Research Project or Quality Improvement Project (one)

  • Work with a preceptor on an interdisciplinary project with the goal of creating a sustained impact on the quality of patient care at Texas Children’s Hospital
  • Present research results at the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPA) Annual Meeting  
  • Submit a formal manuscript for publication

Medication Use Evaluation

  • Conduct a medication use evaluation and present the results with poster presentation at ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting
  • Present findings to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

Medical Writing

  • Residents will work with a preceptor on a manuscript for publication. Writing assignments can include, but are not limited to, case reports, case series, or review articles.

Presentations

  • At minimum, three journal clubs
  • One 60-minute pharmacotherapy presentation to the pharmacy department
  • Three 30-minute pharmacotherapy or case presentations to the pharmacy department

Medication and Formulary Management

  • Residents provide support to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee through compiling meeting minutes for at least 1 quarter of the year and by serving as editor for one edition of the quarterly Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Newsletter

Committee Involvement

  • Residents will participate in one multi-disciplinary committee and function as the primary pharmacy contact

Staffing Responsibilities

  • The resident staffing responsibilities include:
  • Two shifts every third weekend on Saturday and Sunday
  • Staffing roles may include: Decentralized Clinical Staff Pharmacist and Inpatient Medication Preparation and Safety Pharmacist

Clinical-On-Call

  • At home clinical-on-call program
  • Resident will carry clinical-on-call pager 7 days at a time

Teaching Opportunities

  • Student precepting during clinical rotations
  • Residents will also have the opportunity to complete a teaching certificate offered through the University of Houston School of Pharmacy

Salary and Benefits

  • Stipend: $57,200
  • Insurance (medical, dental, vision, life)
  • 14 vacation days per year plus one TCH My Day