Pharmacy Practice Residency

About the Program

The Medina Pharmacy Residency (PGY-1) is a one-year program that takes place in the unique setting of a progressive community hospital. Graduates will help implement and enhance pharmacy services while developing the skills necessary to become integral parts of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. In addition to clinical activities, residents are involved in pharmacy case conferences, journal clubs, and seminar presentations. Residents complete a major research project over the course of the year. Residents will present their research at local and national pharmacy meetings, and they will have the opportunity to attend and participate in other state and local conferences.

The Medina Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency will prepare the resident to practice as a clinical generalist as a member of an integrated healthcare team or enter a specialty residency or fellowship.Teaching opportunities include medical and nursing in-services, as well as co-precepting introductory and advanced pharmacy students. Academia rotations and a teaching certificate may be available through local colleges of pharmacy.

Located in Northeast Ohio, Medina Hospital is a Cleveland Clinic hospital in Medina, Ohio. Medina Hospital is a 148-bed, acute care, non-teaching community hospital that has been serving the community since 1944. Known for its clinical excellence and extraordinary programs in Emergency Care, Women’s Health, Orthopedics and Surgical Services, Medina Hospital continues to invest in facility development to provide the community with enhanced services and specialized care.

• Required Rotations (10 months): pharmacy practice/orientation, internal medicine, advanced internal medicine, medication safety/administrative practice, infectious disease, critical care, emergency medicine, ambulatory care, and research.
• Elective Rotations (2 months): advanced internal medicine II, infectious disease II, critical care II, emergency medicine II, ambulatory care II, other potential offsite rotations within the Cleveland Clinic by request and availability.
• Longitudinal Rotations: drug information, medication safety/administrative practice, pharmacy practice, research, and an optional teaching certificate.

Presentations

As a pharmacy practitioner effective communication skills are integral. Many opportunities will be provided to help develop these skills, including:

• Formal presentations on patient cases, disease states or other topics of interest to be presented to preceptors, students, Medina Hospital pharmacy staff and/or other individuals from Medina Hospital
• Pharmacy or nursing in-services as needed
• Didactic lectures to pharmacy students through a teaching certificate program
• Resident research project presentation at the Ohio College of Clinical Pharmacy Fall and Spring Meetings and the Ohio Pharmacy Resident Conference

Meetings and Conferences

Travel to pharmacy professional meetings is an important component of the Medina Hospital pharmacy residency. All residents are required to attend the ASHP Midyear meeting and present their research project, during which program recruitment also occurs, and networking opportunities are available. In addition, residents will present their project at the fall and spring Ohio College of Clinical Pharmacy Meeting, Ohio Pharmacy Resident Conference, and participate in the fall Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists Residency Showcase. Accommodations and travel expenses will be reimbursed for local, state and national meetings.

Staffing Requirements

ASHP guidelines recommend that each resident complete a pharmacy practice component of the residency program. The staffing component is crucial to the development of professional practice skills and of pharmacy practice distribution skills.

Residents will gain proficiency in medication distribution skills, incorporation of clinical services, and development of personnel management skills. They also will develop insight into the operations, policies, and procedures of an acute care facility.

• Rotational responsibilities will generally be during the day shift Monday through Friday.
• Staffing responsibilities will be either Saturday or Sunday on the weekends, and rotating holidays.
• Residents may have opportunities to cover additional pharmacist shifts, which will be compensated at the standard pharmacist rate. Residents are reminded that the primary objective of the residency year relates to the residency program objectives. Achievement of these objectives should not be hindered by other activities, including extra staffing.

Residency Program Training Site

Type: Hospital: Acute Clinic
Owner/Affiliate: Cleveland Clinic
Model Type(s): Community Hospital
Tax Status: Non Profit
Professional Staff: 15
Non-Professional Staff: 15
Total Beds: 148
Average Daily Census: 100

Application

Requirements for Admission

Interested applicants must be PharmD graduates of accredited college of pharmacy, be eligible for licensure in the State of Ohio (or Florida if applicable), and submit the standard application materials through PhORCAS (i.e. Letter of Intent, CV, the three 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 three 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. The essay response should be no longer than one page in length. An application will not be reviewed if this statement is missing. Please note that the essay is separate from your letter of intent. Reflecting on your APPE rotations, please provide a piece of critical feedback you have received from one of your preceptors on a direct patient care rotation. Explain how you have incorporated this feedback into your practice and/or worked to improve in this area.

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

• Access PhORCAS

Please instruct references to complete both pages of the standard reference form within PhORCAS

More Information

Please direct further questions regarding the PGY1 program at Medina Hospital to:

Brandon Mottice, RPh, PharmD, BCPS
Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital
1000 E. Washington Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
Phone: 330.721.5771
Email: motticb@ccf.org

Benefits, Travel & Compensation

The Pharmacy Practice Residency Program provides a wide array of benefits to you during your experience as a resident.

General

• Personalized lab coats and business cards
• Resident office space
• Office personal computer access
• Registration and reimbursement for travel to ASHP Midyear Meeting, Ohio College of Clinical Pharmacy Meeting, and the Ohio Pharmacy Residency Conference
• BCLS/ACLS Certification
• Duplication services
• Online library access
• Continuing education
• Immunizations
• Parking
• Cleveland Clinic discounts at various event venues

Health Benefits

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

Leave

• 10 days of paid time off (PTO)

Salary

• $47,530 (PGY1)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much orientation is provided?

On your first day of employment, you will attend a system orientation to welcome you into the Cleveland Clinic family. Soon after you will complete a variety of online educational modules and attend an EPIC training course to learn how to navigate the electronic medical record and computerized physician order entry system (CPOE). Daily duties of a practicing pharmacist will be learned during the first three months, residents will alternate rotations between Internal Medicine and Pharmacy Practice every two weeks during this time frame. The resident will be paired with a mentoring pharmacist during orientation to learn the daily activities of pharmacy operation.

How much vacation time is available?

Residents are provided 10 days of paid time off during the resident year. Days off must be approved by the residency program director and the pharmacy manager.

What is the stipend?

The stipend is $47,500.

Are health benefits available to the residents?

Yes, the residents are eligible for health care coverage similar to other Cleveland Clinic full time employees.

What are the staffing requirements?

Residents will staff the central pharmacy either Saturday or Sunday on weekends. In addition, the resident will rotate through the major and minor holiday schedule.

What projects or presentations are required in addition to daily clinical activities?

Residents will be responsible for a research project as well as completion of drug information questions, journal club presentations, formal presentations, case presentations, and nursing in-services on a varying schedule.

Do I attend professional conferences throughout the residency?

Yes, residents will attend the ASHP Midyear meeting, Ohio College of Clinical Pharmacy meetings, and the Ohio Pharmacy Resident Conference.

Does Medina Hospital support travel to conferences?

Medina Hospital will reimburse pharmacy residents for travel to and from any required meetings.

What teaching opportunities are available at Medina Hospital?

Pharmacy practice residents will have the opportunity to make presentations to the medical staff throughout the year. In addition, the resident will have the opportunity to participate in community outreach for Medina Hospital. The resident will also have the option to participate in the teaching certificate program available through Northeast Ohio Medical University and will co-precept students from various pharmacy schools.

Will I need an Ohio pharmacy license?

Yes, you are required to be licensed by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy to practice as a pharmacist in the state of Ohio. Failure to achieve Ohio licensure by September 1 of the residency year will result in dismissal from the program.

Is the residency accredited?

The residency program is fully accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

How many residents are selected?

Currently, Medina Hospital selects two residents each year.

Does this program participate in the match?

Yes, Medina Hospital participates in the match.

When is the application deadline?

Please refer to the application deadline found in PhORCAS.

Is an interview required?

Yes, an on-site interview is required and will take place during the months of January, February, or March.

When does the residency begin and end?

The residency will begin mid-June and end no later than June 30 of the following year.

How are residents evaluated?

Residents are evaluated utilizing the PharmAcademic system. During each rotation, a snapshot evaluation and summative evaluation will be completed. Residents will also be evaluated quarterly by preceptors who are working with the residents in longitudinal experiences.

Will the residency program be showcased at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting?

Yes, the Medina Hospital Residency Program will be showcased with all the other Cleveland Clinic programs.

What is Epic?

Epic is a computer-based provider order entry system that Medina Hospital and all Cleveland Clinic facilities utilize. The program integrates data from pharmacy, admissions, laboratory, radiology, nursing, medicine, microbiology, and other disciplines.

Epic is used to perform daily pharmaceutical care duties utilizing the following:

• Patient data demographic data
• Laboratory test results
• Microbiology results
• Parenteral nutrition information
• Medication order information

In addition, daily patient progress notes, nursing care notes, and all data pertinent to patient care is available on this computer system. EPIC is used to document the pharmacist’s clinical activities, interventions, and monitoring notes.

Program Personnel

Brandon Mottice,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Pharmacy Practice Residency Director
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist
Internal Medicine
motticb@ccf.org
330.721.5771

Allison Naso,
RPh, PharmD, MBA, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Director of Pharmacy
alnaso@ccf.org
330.721.5949

Akeem O. Bale,
RPh, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Manager, Inpatient Pharmacy
balea@ccf.org
330.721.5153

Samantha Loutzenheiser,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist
Infectious Diseases
loutzes@ccf.org
330.721.5052

Doria Niedenthal, RPh

Medina Hospital
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
niedenthal@ccf.org
330.721.5152

Andrea Pallotta,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, AAHIVP

Cleveland Clinic / Medina Hospital
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist
Infectious Diseases
pallota@ccf.org
330.721.5041

Michelle Poole,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Medina Hospital
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist
Critical Care
poolem3@ccf.org
330.721.5072

Laine Vicarel,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist
Emergency Medicine
vicarel@ccf.org
330.721.5052

Kyle Stith,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist
Emergency Medicine
stithk2@ccf.org
330.721.5052

Ngoc (Kathy) Vo,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Internal Medicine
von@ccf.org
330.721.5152

Emily Fargo,
RPh, PharmD, BCPS

Medina Hospital
Primary Care Clinical Specialist I
Ambulatory Care
fargoe@ccf.org
330.721.5700

Current Residents

McKenzie Montgomery, RPh, PharmD
montgom7@ccf.org

• PharmD: The University of Toledo
• Clinical interests: Internal medicine, emergency medicine, transitions of care
• What attracted me to Medina: At my interview, the family-like atmosphere was evident throughout the hospital. I appreciated the variety of rotations and flexibility in scheduling. The structured research curriculum and preceptors are major strengths of the program. The preceptors genuinely care about the residents’ personal and professional development. They are leaders in their field, and I am so thankful that I get to learn from the best! I also heard that the Medina pharmacy staff has the best potlucks around (I can confirm this).
• Hometown: Greenwich, OH
• Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy: all things Harry Potter, Avatar the Last Airbender, Star Wars, writing things in my planner, watching sports, shopping with my mom, hunting with my dad, and going on adventures with my co-residents

Stephanie Hage, RPh, PharmD
hages2@ccf.org

• PharmD: The University of Toledo
• Clinical interests: Ambulatory care, critical care
• What attracted me to Medina: When I was at Medina Hospital as an APPE student, I felt that my learning style matched really well with the teaching style of the preceptors. They motivate their learners through constructive feedback and self-reflection. As a student, I always looked forward to going into my rotation, and while I was at the hospital, the time flew by! I had such a great experience that I knew I wanted to come back as a resident.
• Hometown: Strongsville, OH 
• Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy: Exercising, walking my dog (Bunny), Drake, half-priced sushi, and going on adventures with my co-residents

Harold Schneider, RPh, PharmD
schneih@ccf.org

• PharmD: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
• Clinical interests: Infectious disease
• What attracted me to Medina: At Medina Hospital you are a part of the team and family the moment you walk through the hospital doors. They are always organizing fun outings and encourage the residents to be involved. The preceptors are completely on your team and will go to bat for you to ensure you achieve your goals. I really enjoy the smaller community hospital aspect. It allows you to get to know your patients and other healthcare providers while developing as a new practitioner. I am so happy for the opportunity to be a resident at such a great program and look forward to what the rest of this year brings.
• Hometown: Westlake, OH
• Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy: Playing soccer, snowboarding, hiking, hanging out with my friends, playing video games, trying new food, watching movies with my family, and tolerating adventures with my co-residents