PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency: Memorial Regional Hospital

The PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program at Memorial Regional Hospital (MRH) 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.

The intensive training provided through the PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Program will provide residents with the in-depth knowledge and clinical practice experience to prepare them to function independently to formulate a comprehensive, integrated approach to medication-related issues geared to improve the clinical effectiveness of patient care. In addition, the program will prepare residents to identify, prevent, and resolve medication-related problems, participate as active members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, demonstrate leadership skills, and provide targeted education to healthcare providers, patients and community members.

Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Program are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

Program Structure

The PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program is designed to ensure residents have adequate exposure to core psychiatric illnesses. This is achieved by requiring the resident to spend 8 weeks in the following rotations:

• Adult thought disorders
• Adult mood disorders
• Child and adolescent psychiatry

Residents are also required to spend four weeks in the emergency department to become familiar with the management of acute psychiatric presentations, as well has four weeks in the outpatient setting. Finally, all residents beginning the program who have not had previous experience working as a pharmacist at MRH will be required to complete four weeks of orientation. The following remaining rotation options will be selected based upon the resident’s interest:

• Research/Academia
• Toxicology
• Substance abuse
• Consultation psychiatry

Each rotation is four weeks, but may be extended to eight if the resident has a strong interest in a particular area. Finally, core rotations may be extended or alternative rotations may be added depending on the resident’s future goals.

The program also has required longitudinal rotations that will be ongoing throughout the 12 month experience: staffing, research, administration.

Educational Experience

Core (Required) Requirements

• Psychiatric Emergency Department (4 weeks)
• Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (8 weeks)
• Adult Psychiatry – Inpatient (Thought Disorders) (8 weeks)
• Adult Psychiatry – Inpatient (Mood Disorders) (8 weeks)
• Orientation (only required if resident does not have previous experience working as a pharmacist at MRH) (2-4 weeks)
• Outpatient Psychiatry (4 weeks)

Elective Options

All are 4 weeks and may be extended to 8 weeks.

• Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry
• Research/Academic
• Substance abuse
• Toxicology

Longitudinal Experiences

• Administration
• Research
• Staffing

Professional Meetings

• ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting
• College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Annual Meeting

Benefits

• Estimated stipend: $51,000
• Vacation, sick, holiday & educational paid leave
• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance
• Access to Electronic Drug References
• Free onsite parking

Contact Us

Alberto Augsten, PharmD, MS,BCPP, DABAT
Director, PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program
Pharmacy Clinical Manager
Long-Acting Therapy Clinic (LAT) Manager
Board Certified Clinical Toxicologist
aaugsten@mhs.net
954-265-4631

Samantha Themas, PharmD, BCPP
Coordinator, PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Psychiatry
sthemas@mhs.net
954-276-3426