Inpatient Internship Program
Purpose
The purpose of the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus inpatient pharmacy internship program is to prepare interns to become pharmacy practitioners that embody excellence in education, clinical care, and personal integrity. This program challenges student pharmacists to think creatively and critically while emphasizing diversity, innovation, and the commitment to putting patients first.
The program will prepare interns well not only for health-system pharmacy roles, but as practitioners and stewards of the pharmacy profession upon graduation from pharmacy school.
Program details
Our program is a year-round paid internship consisting of a 12-week full-time summer component from May-August, and an average of one out of every four weekends throughout the academic year and one holiday per year. This longitudinal experience will span over three years, with summer blocks after P1 and P2 spring semesters. The first summer will consist of training in pharmacy operations. The second summer will consist of clinical rotations in areas such as internal medicine, cardiology, emergency medicine, critical care, pediatrics, infectious disease, oncology, transplant, ambulatory care, management, and informatics. Additional areas may be available based on intern interest and preceptor availability.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for selection, students must be in their first or second year of professional pharmacy education within an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program (either 1st year student in a 4-year program or 3rd year student in a 6-year program). All applicants must be eligible for an intern license in the state of Ohio. If selected, the student will be required to obtain their license by April 1 of the hiring year. Interns with scheduling conflicts due to summer IPPE requirements must be able to commit to a minimum of 10 weeks on-site during each summer in order to be eligible to apply for the program. Candidates should be available for a 30 minute Microsoft Teams interview in November or December.
Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Cleveland Clinic is a smoke-free/drug-free environment.
Applications
Applications for 2023 are open through December 1st and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will consist of an online component through Cleveland Clinic’s Workday application, a letter of intent describing interest in the program, a CV or resume, and a letter of recommendation. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
All required documents must be submitted as one document in PDF format into Workday except for the letter of recommendation. Instruct letter writer to e-mail the letter directly to Lauren Osadczuk (osadczl@ccf.org) and George Chalil (chalilg2@ccf.org) with the subject: LAST NAME, FIRST NAME Intern LOR. Please note: this application will be for the pharmacy internship at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus only.
Contact
Matthew J. Hoover, PharmD, MBA, MS, BCCCP, BCPS
Director, Pharmacy Procurement and Logistics
Department of Pharmacy
9500 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44195
Email: hooverm@ccf.org
Community Pharmacy Internship Program
Purpose
The purpose of the community pharmacy summer internship program is to develop knowledge and skills in community pharmacy to assist with patient transition from hospital to ambulatory pharmacy care.
Program details
Community Pharmacy interns will rotate through a variety of outpatient pharmacy settings within the Cleveland Clinic enterprise including main campus, family health centers, and outpatient pharmacies within community hospitals. Experiences will include: patient consultation, technical functions, medication therapy management, specialty medication services, technology development, and quality assurance. Requirements of the program include a summer project, two presentations, attendance at pharmacy intern meetings and clinical pharmacy conferences. The internship program is currently designed for a 12-week rotation experience during the summer months only; start dates are flexible depending on department and student final exam schedules. The summer internship usually runs May-August each year.
Eligibility
Same as above for inpatient year-round internship program with the exception of weekend requirements during academic year. It is ideal if students can apply during their P1 (of P4 program) year to be considered for two consecutive summers, although P2 candidates will be considered. Ohio internship license is required.
Applications
Please submit a complete application including a letter of intent, CV and three letters of recommendation to the following address: soderm@ccf.org.
Recommendation letters should be in PDF format and must be signed by the author. Recommendation letters may also be submitted separately by the author via the link above. Mailed or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Contact
Matt Soder
Assistant Director
Ambulatory Pharmacy Services
Cleveland Clinic
Department of Pharmacy
9500 Euclid Avenue/JJN-10
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.445.5614
Email: soderm@ccf.org
Marymount Hospital Internship Program
Purpose
The purpose of the inpatient internship program is to provide knowledge and practical experience necessary for functioning competently and effectively upon licensure in a health-system pharmacy. This internship seeks to prepare students for residency training or careers in a health system beyond graduation.
Program details
The program is a year-round internship with a 12-week summer component (after P1 coursework) and shift requirements on weeknights and weekends during the academic year. Interns provide core services such as patient counseling, medication reconciliation, oversee bedside delivery services on evenings, and have longitudinal research projects.
The 12-week rotational experience includes rotations such as central pharmacy, sterile and non-sterile compounding, drug information, automation, administration, and clinical experience in internal medicine, ambulatory care, emergency medicine, oncology, and critical care. Requirements of the program include a summer project, and two presentations.
The internship start and end dates are flexible depending on department and student final exam schedules. The summer portion of the internship runs May-August.
Eligibility
The candidate must have completed three years of college coursework including the first professional year in pharmacy school (completed the P3 year of a P6 program or P1 year of a P4 program). It is ideal if students can apply during their P1 year to be considered for two consecutive summers. Applicants must possess an Ohio internship license and be able to work shifts throughout the academic year.
Entry into this internship program is competitive and students will be evaluated on various parameters including career goals, prior rotation experience (IPPEs), communication skills, and ability to work in a dynamic team atmosphere. Candidates should plan for interviews in January.
Applications
Please submit a complete application including a letter of intent, CV, and two references to MMRxInternship@ccf.org. All applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Contact
Adam Ritzler, PharmD
Inpatient Pharmacist
Marymount Hospital
Department of Pharmacy
12300 McCracken Road
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
Phone: 216.385.7206
Email: MMRxInternship@ccf.org
Examples of Student Longitudinal Projects
- Evaluation of inpatient administration of medications that should be given in HOP setting only (e.g., infliximab, select chemo, etc.).
- Develop and implement a patient satisfaction survey for the anticoagulation clinics.
- Develop weekly communication regarding formulary changes, drug shortages and alternatives, and drug recalls, or any other pertinent information from the FDA, etc.
- IVIG drug usage evaluation in BMT population.
Example of completed intern project abstract
Moxifloxacin Drug Use Evaluation
Purpose
Moxifloxacin was added to the Cleveland Clinic Formulary in July 2008. It is restricted to penicillin-allergic patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Ceftriaxone plus azithromycin is the preferred treatment for CAP. Limiting fluoroquinolone use may assist with preventing the emergence of quinolone-resistant isolates. In addition quinolone use, especially moxifloxacin, has been reported with increased C. difficile rates. Therefore, determining if moxifloxacin is prescribed appropriately is important to reduce the possibility of resistance and C. difficile infections.
Methods
A concurrent, non-interventional chart review of patients prescribed moxifloxacin from January 2010-June 2010 was performed. The Cleveland Clinic electronic medical records system (EPIC) was utilized to review and analyze a sample of these patients. Any patient 18 years of age and older who received moxifloxacin was included in the study. Patients treated in the Emergency Department or for tuberculosis (TB) or non-mycobacterial TB were excluded. Data collected included: age, gender, nursing unit, penicillin allergy, type of allergic reaction if applicable, indication for moxifloxacin use, initial formulation of medication, duration of therapy, Infectious Disease consult, and other antimicrobial agents.
Results
165 patients were prescribed moxifloxacin during the time period. 70 patients were reviewed. 18 patients were excluded: four did not receive the medication, 13 were treated in the emergency department, and one was treated for Mycobacteria tuberculosis. A total of 52 patients were analyzed. The average age of the patients was 61 years (± 14 years). The median length of stay (LOS) was nine days (2-36 days). 28 patients were allergic to penicillin with the most common reactions of: rash/itching (nine), hives (five), and anaphylaxis (four). 16 patients were correctly prescribed moxifloxacin (30.7%) according to the restriction. 36 patients did not meet the restriction criteria; the most common indications were: CAP/presumed CAP with no penicillin allergy (13), HAP/HCAP (eight), sinusitis (five), COPD exacerbation (three), and bronchitis (two). In the non-adherence group, the median duration of therapy was three days (1-16 days). Seven non-adherence patients only received one dose and 29 patients were discharged on moxifloxacin. Infectious Disease was consulted for 19 of the non-adherence patients (53%).
Conclusion
Overall adherence to the restriction appears poor (30.7%). However, a significant portion of use was for patients with penicillin allergies and upper respiratory tract infections. Consideration should be given to expanding the restriction criteria to include other URTIs (e.g., sinusitis, bronchitis) in penicillin allergic patients. Another significant use in the non-adherence group was for the treatment of HAP/HCAP. Ciprofloxacin is the quinolone of choice in this infection due to improved Pseudomonal activity. Finally, the type of penicillin allergy needs to be taken into consideration. Ceftriaxone and azithromycin may be used for non-severe reaction (e.g., rash). Moxifloxacin should not be used when the listed allergy is adverse reaction (e.g. nausea). Education should be provided to the health care team on these matters.
