Pharmacy Residency Program

Overview

About the program

Avon Hospital opened in November 2016, adjacent to the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center in the western-Cleveland suburb of Avon, Ohio. This 126-bed community hospital is the first Cleveland Clinic regional hospital designed and built to accommodate future advances in medical care. Avon Hospital provides a variety of services to the community including emergency medicine, general and orthopedic surgery, and acute care. In 2019, Avon Hospital was awarded Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke by The Joint Commission and 2019 Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award. Avon Hospital also achieved Level 2 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation by The American College of Emergency Physicians in 2021.

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

The Avon Hospital Pharmacy Residency (PGY-1) is a one-year postgraduate training program based in a state-of-the-art community hospital practice setting. Residents will complete rotations spanning all facets of pharmacy practice including, but not limited to:

Required Rotations

• Orientation, unit-based pharmacy practice, internal medicine, critical care, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, practice management, and research.

Elective Rotations

• Examples include: outpatient hematology/oncology, ambulatory care, pediatrics, and drug information. Other elective opportunities are based on preceptor availability at other Cleveland Clinic Hospitals in a variety of clinical practice areas.

Longitudinally, the resident will have every-other weekend staffing and clinical responsibilities, and will develop leadership skills through a practice management experience and hospital committee involvement. The resident will be involved in educational activities, including presentations to pharmacy staff, provider and nursing in-services, co-precepting pharmacy students, and completion of an elective teaching certificate facilitated by Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Research experience will be gained through completion of a major research project, and the resident will have the opportunity to present their research on a regional and national level.

Department of Pharmacy

The Department of Pharmacy consists of approximately 25 dedicated staff members, and provides 24-hour pharmaceutical services from the inpatient pharmacy with decentralized pharmacist coverage in the emergency department, intensive care unit, and general medical and surgical floors. A unique healthcare delivery model allows for around-the-clock bedside coverage utilizing hospitalist physicians and advanced practice providers. Pharmacists are integral members of the interdisciplinary care team leveraging collaborative practice agreements focusing on drug therapy optimization, medication reconciliation, and patient education. Pharmaceutical services continue after hospital discharge at the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center where patients can fill prescriptions through prescription bedside delivery service or at the outpatient pharmacy, follow-up for anticoagulant therapy monitoring and chronic disease state management at pharmacist-staffed ambulatory care clinics, and receive select parenteral therapy at the outpatient infusion center.

Residency Program Training Site

Type: Hospital
Number of Positions: 2
Owner/Affiliate: Cleveland Clinic
Model Type(s): Acute Care, Community Hospital
Tax Status: Non-Profit
Professional Staff: 11
Non-Professional Staff: 9
Total Beds: 126
Average Daily Census: 100

Application

Interested applicants must be PharmD graduates of accredited college of pharmacy, be eligible for licensure in the State of Ohio, and submit the standard application materials through PhORCAS (i.e. Letter of Intent, CV, the 3 standard reference forms in PhORCAS, official college transcripts), along with:

1. We request a minimum of one (two is preferred) of your three references should come from a preceptor who you have worked with in a clinical setting, related to an APPE in acute or ambulatory care. The clinical preceptor should be able to comment on your scope of responsibility, total patient load, level of autonomy, clinical abilities, and organizational and time management skills. All 3 reference writers should use the standard PhORCAS template to submit their candidate recommendation and comment on a minimum of 7 of the 13 listed candidate characteristics.
2. A response to the following essay statement is required for acceptance: (Essay response should be no longer than one page in length. An application will not be reviewed without an essay submitted. Please note that the essay is separate from your letter of intent.)
• "You are a pharmacy resident starting a new rotation in a practice area where you initially felt confident in your clinical skills and knowledge base. You should be following 6 patients by the end of week one. However, by the end of week one, you are only able to fully follow and manage 4 patients. How do you handle this situation? Describe the steps you would take to improve performance."

Please submit all application materials via Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).

Note:

1. Residency applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States. Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy does not sponsor applicants for work Visas.
2. Appointments of applicants to residency positions may be contingent upon the applicants satisfying certain eligibility requirements [e.g., graduating from accredited college of pharmacy, obtaining pharmacist license in Ohio (for Ohio sites) or Florida (for Florida sites) within 90 days of start date, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen, including testing for cotinine].
3. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate OPT (Optional Practical Training) Visas for the Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy Residency Program as the program extends beyond 12 months.
4. The Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy Residency Program does not meet the qualifications of an OPT STEM employer because Cleveland Clinic is not enrolled in E-Verify.

Deadline for receipt of these materials to be considered for an on-site interview is Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 11:59 p.m EDT.

• Access PhORCAS

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

"Cleveland Clinic, The Center for Health Sciences Education and The Department of Pharmacy are committed to valuing all people through our organization, regardless of background or culture. A diverse and inclusive environment for students and staff and culturally appropriate care for our patients, are essential to fulfilling our vision to be the best place for care anywhere and the best place to work in healthcare. We welcome students from diverse backgrounds and cultures."

More information

Please direct further questions regarding the PGY1 program to:

Carl Buchwald, RPh, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, PGY1 Residency Program Director
Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital
33300 Cleveland Clinic Blvd
Avon, Ohio 44011
Phone: 440.695.5280
Fax: 440.695.5059
Email: buchwac2@ccf.org

Benefits, Travel, and Compensation

General

• Personalized lab coats and business cards.
• Resident office space.
• Laptop computer and cellphone.
• Registration and reimbursement for travel to ASHP Midyear Meeting, Ohio College of Clinical Pharmacy Meetings, and regional residency conference.
• Professional membership reimbursement.
• BLS/ACLS certification.
• Online library access.
• Continuing education.
• Immunizations.
• Free parking.

Health Benefits

Eligible for:

• Standard comprehensive medical coverage.
• Prescription drug coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Disability.
• Dental.
• Vision.

Leave

• Personal days: 14 (not including Cleveland Clinic holidays)
• Wellness days: 4

Salary

• $51,000

Program Personnel

Carl Buchwald, PharmD, BCPS
Residency Program Director
Clinical Pharmacist
buchwac2@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Orientation, Internal Medicine, NEOMED Teaching Certificate (Longitudinal), Research (Longitudinal)
Education & Training:

• PharmD, University of Toledo
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital

Margaret Andersson, RPh, MBA
Director of Pharmacy
mmorgenstern@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Pharmacy Administration, Committee (Longitudinal), Leadership (Longitudinal)
Education & Training:

• BS, Pharmacy, Purdue University
• MBA, Cleveland State University

Jennifer Dela-Pena Clifton, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Infectious Diseases & Antimicrobial Stewardship
cliftoj@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Infectious Diseases
Education & Training:

• PharmD, University of Michigan
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, Detroit Medical Center
• PGY2 Infectious Diseases, UW Health

Meredith Cory, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
corym@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Orientation, Pharmacy Practice (Staffing)
Education & Training:

• PharmD, Ohio Northern University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital

Karissa Kusick Dominick, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Ambulatory Oncology
kusickk@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Outpatient Hematology/Oncology
Education & Training:

• PharmD, The Ohio State University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, Cleveland Clinic
• PGY2 Oncology, Cleveland Clinic

Brian Rose, RPh
Pharmacy Manager
brrose@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Pharmacy Administration, Leadership (Longitudinal)
Education & Training:

• BS, Pharmacy, University of Toledo

 

Dominic Ruta, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
rutad@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Unit-based
Education and Training:

• PharmD, Regis University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, University of Toledo Medical Center

Susan Seiti, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Critical Care
seitis@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Critical Care, Committee (Longitudinal)
Education & Training:

• PharmD, University of Findlay

Neil Turco, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Primary Care
turcon@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Ambulatory Care
Education & Training:

• PharmD, University of Pittsburgh
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, University of Pittsburg Medical Center St. Margaret Hospital
• PGY2 Ambulatory Care, University of Pittsburg Medical Center St. Margaret Hospital

Madeline Volk, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist, Emergency Medicine
volkm3@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Emergency Medicine
Education & Training:

• PharmD, University of Nebraska
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, University of Tennessee Medical Center
• PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency, University of Wisconsin (UW) Health

 

Rachel Ward, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
wardr8@ccf.org
Rotation(s) Precepted: Unit-based
Education and Training:

• PharmD, The University of Toledo
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, University Hospitals St. John Medical Center

Current Residents

2023-2024 PGY-1 Pharmacy Residents

Emmanuel Livchak, PharmD
Email: LIVCHAE2@ccf.org

• Hometown: Sheffield Lake, Ohio
• Education: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
• Residency Goals: My major goal for residency is to develop into an independent pharmacist capable of effectively guiding a team to provide high quality patient care. Through my time here at Avon Hospital, I aim to grow in my leadership abilities, teaching skills, and clinical expertise to allow not only an invaluable start to my career, but also to facilitate continued growth.
• Post-Residency Goals: Through school and into residency, I have a passion for psychiatric pharmacy, and my aim for after PGY-1 is to seek a PGY-2 in this field. I intend to grow into this specialty and bring compassionate patient care to my future practice, be it within the Cleveland Clinic Foundation or elsewhere.
• About Me: Being back close to my hometown, I am thrilled to catch up with the Cleveland area that I had missed so dearly while in school. While not working, my main hobby is maintaining terrariums for reptiles and various other critters (currently planning a shrimp tank!) I also regularly attend local concerts or bike to get some activity in. Otherwise, I generally will relax at home with a good book, board game, or video game with friends.