Pharmacy Residency Program

Overview

Post-graduate year 1 pharmacy residency program

PGY1 pharmacy residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

Mercy pharmacy residency summary

An in-depth, professional, patient-centered pharmacy training experience where you can develop your professional expertise as a clinical practitioner, as well as the skills required to deliver safe and effective pharmaceutical care.

As a resident at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, you will be involved in direct patient care and daily rounds as applicable to your monthly rotation. You will be responsible for the safe, effective, and economical use of medications in individual patients through the application of specialized skills, knowledge, and functions, taking into account patient specific and age-related needs. You will also have the unique opportunity to further support our community outreach through providing care to underserved populations including (but not limited to) those with financial needs and large immigrant population (Hispanic/Latinx community).

In addition, you will be exposed to the management of a pharmacy department and gain insight into the responsibility of accepting leadership and making a contribution back to the profession of pharmacy.

While working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist and/or other licensed preceptor, you will:

• Evaluate, recommend and monitor medication related therapy.
• Recommend and evaluate criteria for and perform medication use evaluations.
• Communicate with prescribers regarding medication-related therapy.
• Provide the safe storage, preparation and dispensing of medication.
• Provide counseling to patients and drug information to health care providers.
• Act as a mentor to pharmacy students and pharmacists.

Other opportunities include:

• Drug information.
• Precepting APPE pharmacy students.
• Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee.
• Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
• Cardiac rehabilitation course teaching.
• Presentations.
• Professional meetings.
• On-call program.

Research project: Residents will complete a self-directed project. The scope, magnitude and type of project may vary according to individual interests, but must be completed within the residency year and in a manner suitable for presentation and publication. To assist with building research skills, the residents will participate in research curriculum that takes place throughout the year.

Core required experiences:

• Administration (all year starting in August, longitudinal).
• Ambulatory Care (4 weeks).
• Critical Care (4 weeks).
• Emergency Medicine (4 weeks).
• Infectious Disease/Stewardship (4 weeks).
• Internal Medicine (4 weeks).
• Medication Safety (all year starting in August, longitudinal).
• Orientation (6 weeks).
• Precepting (4 weeks).
• Research (all year, longitudinal).
• Staffing (18 weekends plus 3 holidays, longitudinal).

Elective experiences: Elective experiences include Oncology, as well as other elective experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability. Off-site electives may also be coordinated with another Cleveland Clinic Hospital (based on availability).

Stipend/benefits/vacation: $51,000 stipend. Health insurance (medical, vision, and dental) and life insurance are available. Free access to Mercy Employee Fitness Center. Residents are allotted 14 time off days plus 7 wellness days. Professional membership stipend of up to $250, in addition to reimbursement for any required conferences.

Optional certificate programs: Residents are highly encouraged to complete the teaching certificate program offered through Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and/or leadership certificate program offered through ASHP.

Residency accreditation

The PGY1 Residency program at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and complies with the officially published accreditation standards of ASHP.

Candidate minimum requirements

To be part of Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital's pharmacy residency, you must achieve a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from an Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited college of pharmacy and licensure in Ohio within 90 days of start date.

Additional program details

Competency areas, goals, and objectives: As outlined by ASHP

Positions available: 2 positions

Start date: June 16, 2025

Pharmacy Preceptors

Meet our pharmacy preceptor team. Together, they are dedicated to making your post-graduate year 1 pharmacy residency (PGY1) an exceptional learning experience and career development opportunity.

Sunita R. Patel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Internal Medicine
patels47@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• Northeast Ohio Medical University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Summa Akron City Hospital

Kyle Sobecki, PharmD, MBA, BCPS
Administrative Director of Pharmacy Services
sobeckk@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• Northeast Ohio Medical University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Theodore R. Rhodes, BSP, RPh
Director of Pharmacy Operations
rhodest3@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• University of Toledo

Matthew Reale, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Critical Care
realem3@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• Northeast Ohio Medical University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Summa Akron City Hospital
• PGY2 Critical Care Residency: University of Toledo Medical Center

Jeremy Hall, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine
hallj24@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• Northeast Ohio Medical University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Southwest General Health Center

Mackenzie Tenkku, PharmD, BCEMP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine
tenkkum@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• Northeast Ohio Medical University
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Jennifer Winters, PharmD, BCACP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Ambulatory Care
winterj2@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• The Ohio State University

Akshith Dass, PharmD, BCIDP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship
dassa2@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• University of Toledo
• PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General
• PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency: M Health Fairview, University of Minnesota Medical Center

Kathleen M. Robinson, RPh, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Oncology
robinsk26@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• University of Toledo

Jacob Thorpe, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist – IV Room Coordinator
thorpej3@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• Ohio State University

Jordan Wanner, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist – Transitions of Care
wannerj2@ccf.org

Education & Training:

• University of Findlay

Current & Past Residents

Current PGY-1 residents

2024-2025

Benjamin Spoerke, PharmD
School: Ohio Northern University

Giancarlo Dino, PharmD
School: Western University of Health Sciences

Past PGY-1 residents

2023-2024

Kayla Rektor, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist — Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital
Dover, OH

2022-2023

Yahira L. Diaz Cardona, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist — Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital
Hillcrest, OH

2021-2022

Peter Tran, PharmD
Specialty Practice Pharmacist — Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, OH

Enri Ismaili, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist — Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital
Hillcrest, OH

2020-2021

Sai Karwande, PharmD
Critical Care Pharmacist – Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle, WA

2019-2020

Carrie Cicirale, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP
Cardiology/Transitions of Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist — Barnes Jewish Hospital
St Louis, MO

2018-2019

Molly Triner, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist — Summa Rehab Hospital
Akron, OH

Lisanne McMullen, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - CICU/CTICU – Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, NY

2017-2018

Briana Mlady, PharmD, BCOP
System Oncology Pharmacist — OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital
Mansfield, OH

Christopher Miller, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Critical Care/Operating Room — MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC

2016-2017

Greg Hauler, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Coordinator Pharmacy Services — Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital
Euclid, OH

Rachel Gresko, PharmD
Pharmacist — Wooster Community Hospital
Wooster, OH

2015-2016

Keith Posendek, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator — Firelands Regional Medical Center
Sandusky, OH

Application

Cleveland Clinic is 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.

How to apply

Interested applicants must be actively enrolled or 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 transcript), along with:

• 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 recommendations.

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

Deadline for receipt of these materials to be considered for an interview is January 3, 2025 by 11:59 PM. In-person interviews are preferred; however a virtual option will be also be offered to any applicant unable to participate in person.

Appointments of applicants to residency positions are contingent upon the applicants satisfying certain eligibility requirements [e.g., graduating from an accredited college of pharmacy, obtaining a pharmacist license in Ohio within 90 days of the start date, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen, including testing for cotinine and attendance of an onboarding appointment on-site in Ohio, or as otherwise directed by Occupational health at least two weeks prior to the residents start date]. Residency applicants must be authorized for employment in the United States at the time they apply for the residency. Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy does not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate OPT (Optional Practical Training) visas for the Residency Program as the program extends beyond 12 months. TN (Trade NAFTA) visas are acceptable, however, the candidate is responsible for the application process and all necessary fees. Cleveland Clinic cannot extend the candidate an employment letter until the candidate has matched with the Cleveland Clinic program and signed an acceptance letter. Any employment letter will state the length of the program (12 months if PGY1 or PGY2, 24 months if HSPAL or Pharmacotherapy)

Graduates of international pharmacy schools will be considered if they meet the ASHP criteria for application to residency (“To be eligible for pharmacist licensure, candidates must be graduates or candidates for graduation from an ACPE accredited degree program (or one in the process of pursuing accreditation) or have a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certificate from the NABP”).

Appointments of applicants to residency positions are contingent upon the applicants satisfying certain eligibility requirements (e.g., graduating from an accredited college of pharmacy, obtaining a pharmacist license in Ohio within 90 days of start date, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen, including testing for nicotine, and attendance of an onboarding appointment on-site in Ohio, or as otherwise directed by Occupational health at least 2 weeks prior to the start date).

Additional Resources

• We are hosting an in person open house at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital on December 4, 2024 from 1:00 – 3 p.m. Please RSVP to patels47@ccf.org.
• Cleveland Clinic Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
• Cleveland Clinic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Health.
• Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program Manual.

Contact Us

For questions or more information, please contact:

Sunita R. Patel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Director
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Internal Medicine
patels47@ccf.org