Overview
Pharmacy residency program
Fairview Hospital is a 488-bed community teaching hospital on the west side of Cleveland, which is recognized in the region and in Ohio for its expertise and care. Fairview Hospital also supports medical residencies in internal medicine, family practice and general surgery as well as a PGY2 in Emergency Medicine.
The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is ASHP accredited and focuses on the development of general pharmaceutical patient care expertise. The residency provides exposure to many different acute and ambulatory care patient populations. Fairview Hospital’s PGY1 residency is uniquely positioned to provide training for residents in both inpatient and clinic settings to allow each resident to fully evaluate different career options.”
- Required Rotations: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship, Pharmacy Leadership and longitudinal rotations in Ambulatory Care and Staffing.
- Elective Rotations: Family Medicine Inpatient, Critical Care, Investigational Drug Services, Oncology, Obstetrics and Neonatal Intensive Care, Nephrology, and Adolescent Psychiatry. Other electives may be offered based on preceptor availability.
Benefits
The pharmacy residency program offers the following benefits:
- Dedicated office space for pharmacy residents.
- Free parking.
- Cleveland Clinic issued laptop computer and iPhone (must be returned at completion of residency).
- Up to 14 days paid time off.
- Funding to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.
- Funding to attend local and regional residency conferences or other venues as determined by the program.
- ACLS/BLS certification.
- Reimbursement for professional memberships.
- Exercise facility access.
- Health insurance.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision care.
- Prescription drug coverage.
- Optional life insurance.
Department of Pharmacy
The Department of Pharmacy consists of approximately 100 dedicated total staff and provides 24-hour services. An electronic medical record/CPOE supports pharmacy services. Pharmacy department description and services as follows:
- Central pharmacy distribution.
- Sterile and non-sterile compounding.
- Computerized intravenous admixture and unit dose dispensing.
- Advanced technology support, including networked remote devices, automated dispensing devices (Pyxis) and clinical decision support tools.
- Decentralized pharmacist practice.
- Patient education programs.
- Clinical pharmacy specialist practices.
- In-service education.
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee participation.
- Investigational drug studies.
- Fairview Hospital utilizes a computer-based provider order entry program (EPIC) that integrates data from pharmacy, admissions, laboratory, radiology, nursing, medicine and microbiology.
Residency program training site
- Type: Hospital, Acute Care.
- Owner/Affiliate: Cleveland Clinic.
- Model Type(s): Community/Tertiary Care.
- Patients Enrolled: Not applicable.
- Tax Status: Non Profit.
- Pharmacist Staff: 50.
- Support Staff: 54.
- Total Beds: 488.
- Average Daily Census: 380.
Residents
Aleksandra Cassill, PharmD
Education: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Clinical Interest Area: Pediatrics, Internal Medicine
Research Title: Assessment of prescribed antimicrobial durations of therapy for community-acquired pneumonia at hospital discharge
Why Fairview: I chose Fairview because it is the perfect size, it is a community hospital but also has a cardiology unit, birthing center and neonatal intensive care unit. From my interview, I could tell how passionate the pharmacists are for the profession and how dedicated they were to my learning. I knew it would be a great fit for me because of how friendly the whole team was and the opportunities that the rotations provided.
Email: majstoa@ccf.org
Madeline Hutchins, PharmD
Education: University of Findlay
Clinical Interest Area: Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Research Title: Predictors of resident success
Why Fairview: Fairview is a great environment for learners. It incorporates the personability of working in a community hospital, but it also provides high-acuity patient care. Additionally, there are constantly learners rotating throughout the hospital on various services, so the entire pharmacy department and healthcare teams are very learner-friendly.
Email: hutchim8@ccf.org
Alyssa Millen, PharmD
Education: Butler University
Clinical Interest Area: Infectious Diseases, Ambulatory Care
Research Title: Accuracy of gram-negative blood culture nucleic acid test at a large multicenter institution
Why Fairview: I was drawn to Fairview because of the wide variety of rotations available and the diverse patient population. I was looking to be part of a program that was involved in multidisciplinary learning. Since Fairview is an academic learning center, I am able to participate in multidisciplinary rounds and work closely with medical residents as well. Fairview provides a community feeling while still being a large hospital and has provided lots of great learning opportunities.
Email: millena@ccf.org
Michael Stoffiere, PharmD
Education: The Ohio State University
Clinical Interest Area: Emergency Medicine
Research Title: Pharmacy Opportunities in the Medication Management Process
Why Fairview: Fairview has always had a special place in my heart as I was born there, had family members work there, and grew up in the communities it served across the western suburbs of Cleveland. I love having access to the world-class resources of the Cleveland Clinic while still serving patients at a true community hospital setting.
Email: stoffim3@ccf.org
Program Personnel
Lori Rose, PharmD, BCPS
Lori Rose is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Cardiac ICU in addition to PGY1 Residency Program Director. She received her PharmD from University of Toledo. Lori participates in daily rounds in the cardiac ICU, and is an active member of Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee and ICU operations committee. Lori’s professional interests include preceptor and resident development, patient education, multi-disciplinary rounds and coronary artery disease.
Hobbies: spending time with family and dogs, scrapbooking, and traveling to any beach.
Rotation: Cardiology
Email: lorose@ccf.org
Lauren Bajbus, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Residency Program Coordinator
Ohio Northern University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cone Health
Rotations: Pharmacy Practice, Nephrology
Email: bajbusl@ccf.org
Betsy Walters Burkey, PharmD, BCPPS, BCPS
Women and Children’s Clinical Specialist
Ohio Northern University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Rotations: Obstetric and Neonatal care, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Email: bewalt@ccf.org
Catherine Cappetto, BS/BS, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
The University of Dayton and Northeast Ohio Medical University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
Rotation: Pharmacy Practice
Email: cappetc2@ccf.org
Bernadette Clark, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS
Oncology Clinical Specialist
Ohio Northern University
ASHP Oncology Traineeship at MD Anderson
Rotation: Oncology
Email: beclar@ccf.org
Stephanie Dister, PharmD, BCPS
Lead Pharmacist
University of Toledo
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital
Rotation: Orientation
Email: disters@ccf.org
Kelly Fargo, PharmD, BCPS
Investigational Drug Services Pharmacist, Resident Research Committee Chair
Ohio Northern University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Rotation: Investigational Drug Services
Email: fargok@ccf.org
Amanda Foley, PharmD, MBD
Inpatient Pharmacy Manager
Ohio Northern University
Combined PGY1/PGY2 HSPA at Parkland Health and Hospital System
Rotation: Pharmacy Leadership
Email: foleya@ccf.org
Jennifer Harklerode, PharmD
Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist
Ohio Northern University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Ohio Health Grant Medical Center
PGY2 Emergency Medicine at The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Rotation: Emergency Medicine
Email: harklej2@ccf.org
Erin Harpster, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
Purdue University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
PGY2 Ambulatory Care at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Rotation: Staffing
Email: harpste@ccf.org
Maria Kahle, PharmD, BCPS
Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, PGY2 Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director
University of Findlay
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
Rotation: Emergency Medicine
Email: kahlem@ccf.org
Morgan King, PharmD, BCPPS
Women and Children’s Clinical Specialist
Northeast Ohio Medical University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital
PGY2 Pediatrics at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
Rotations: Obstetric and Neonatal care, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Email: kingm11@ccf.org
Brian Kurish, PharmD, BCCCP
Critical Care Clinical Specialist
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Michigan Medicine
PGY2Critical Care at Michigan Medicine
Rotation: Critical Care - SICU
Emal: kurishb@ccf.org
Ashley Stuart, PharmD, MPH
Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Specialist
The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Lawrence Memorial Hospital
PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Rotation: Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship
Email: stuarta2@ccf.org
Sarah Milkovich Carroll, PharmD, BCACP
Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
University of Toledo
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
PGY2 Ambulatory Care at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Rotation: Ambulatory Care
Email: milkovs@ccf.org
Jennifer Misencik, PharmD
Critical Care Clinical Specialist
University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Ascension St. Thomas West Hospital
PGY2 Critical Care at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Rotation: Critical Care - MICU
Email: misencj@ccf.org
Kevin Omerza, PharmD, MS, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
University of Toledo
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at MetroHealth Medical Center
Rotations: Staffing
Email: omerzak@ccf.org
Stephanie Planisek, PharmD, MS, BCGP
Clinical Pharmacist
University of Findlay, University of Florida
Rotation: Staffing
Email: planiss@ccf.org
Shannon Prater, PharmD, MS, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
The Ohio State University
Rotation: Pharmacy Practice
Email: praters@ccf.org
Cristal Stoll, PharmD, BCPS
Internal Medicine Clinical Specialist, Residency Recruitment Chair
Ohio Northern University
Rotations: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine Inpatient
Email: stollc3@ccf.org
Rachel Stulock, PharmD, BCACP
Primary Care Clinical Specialist
University of Toledo
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
PGY2 Ambulatory Care at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Rotations: Ambulatory Care, Family Medicine Inpatient
Email: stulocr@ccf.org
Sara Shuss, PharmD, BCPS
Emergency Medicine Clinical Specialist
Northeast Ohio Medical University
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Rotation: Emergency Medicine
Email: shusss@ccf.org
Katherine Triesel, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Lead Pharmacist
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Syracuse VA Medical Center
PGY2 Infectious Diseases at St. Joseph Hospital Health Center
Rotation: Orientation
Email: triesek@ccf.org
Andrea M Wetshtein, PharmD, MHSA, BCPS, CPE
Inpatient Pharmacy Manager
Lake Erie College of Medicine
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital
PGY2 Pain Management and Palliative Care at Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Rotation: Leadership
Email: wetshta@ccf.org
Zhe Xie, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
The Ohio State University
Rotation: Staffing
Email: xiez@ccf.org
Requirements
Meetings and conferences
Travel to pharmacy professional meetings is an important component of the Fairview Hospital pharmacy residency. All residents will attend ASHP Midyear meeting as CCF travel policy allows. Residents formally present their research projects at a fall and spring venue as determined by program. Accommodations, travel, and expenses will be reimbursed for local, state and national meetings as allowed per CCF travel policy.
Research
Residents are required to complete a year-long research project on a pharmacy related topic. The goal is to expose the resident to the research process. An assigned mentor along with the research committee will help the resident with the project throughout the year. The resident will have the opportunity to complete Institutional Review Board (IRB) training in addition to writing and submitting a research protocol to the IRB. The research project will entail several months of work culminating with the creation of a manuscript suitable for publication. The resident will present the research project at selected venues.
Staffing requirements
Our goal is that any resident graduating from our program will feel confident to staff in all distribution and clinical generalist positions. As a result, we will assure residents have ample pharmacist practice experience throughout their residency.
Residents will gain proficiency in staffing both centralized and decentralized pharmacist positions. Staffing requirements are as follows:
- Rotational responsibilities will generally be during 1st shift Monday through Friday. After licensure, residents will complete a minimum of 8 weeks of weeknight staffing consisting of one 4 hour shift per week after rotational responsibilities are complete.
- Residents are required to staff every other weekend and up to 3 holidays with rotating 1st and 2nd shift positions.
- Pharmacists in the assigned practice areas are resources for the resident and will be queried by the preceptor for the staffing rotation for quarterly evaluations.
Evaluations
During the year, residents will be evaluated by rotation preceptors as well as complete self-evaluations. Residents are required to complete all assigned evaluations with specific feedback so that they, our program, and our preceptors can continue to improve. Residents and preceptors will complete the evaluations independently and then meet to discuss the evaluations. All evaluations will be completed in PharmAcademic.
PGY1 pharmacy residency graduation requirements
- Pharmacist license in the State of Ohio is required within 90 days of the start of the program.
- Failure to obtain license by August 1st may impact resident’s staffing and clinical rotations and may extend the residency program length to meet program requirements.
- Failure to pass Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Licensure requirements within first 90 days of start date or two failed attempts of the same examination occurring within first 90 days of start date will result in termination from the program. Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis.
- Completion of a residency research project.
- Presentation of at least one formulary monograph and/or other P&T presentation.
- Written manuscript (in publishable form) and submitted to the residency director and journal selected (during your project defense) prior to the end of the residency year.
- Present 3 journal clubs.
- Present 3 patient case presentations.
- Present topic at Noon Conference or comparable venue.
- Abstract, podium, and poster presentations for research project at venues selected by the program.
- Complete MUE and present results to appropriate subcommittee.
- Successful completion of all rotations.
- No objective marked as needs improvement.
- Successful achievement of all patient care objectives and at least 85% of other learning objectives.
- Complete staffing requirements - 8 weeks of evening staffing, a minimum of 20 weekends, and up to 3 holidays.
Application
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 3 standard reference forms in PhORCAS, official college transcripts), 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 recommendation.
- 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. Essay prompt: You’re 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).
Deadline for receipt of these materials to be considered for an interview is January 2, 2024 at 11:59PM.
Additional information
Residency applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States. Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy does not sponsor applicants for work Visas.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate OPT (Optional Practical Training) Visas for the Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy Residency Program as the program extends beyond 12 months.
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.
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 within 90 days of start date, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen, including testing for cotinine.)
Cleveland Clinic requires all employees to demonstrate proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.
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.
FAQs
How much orientation is provided?
You will be welcomed as a Cleveland Clinic Caregiver through an enterprise-wise orientation on your first day of employment. Soon thereafter, you will be afforded time to complete a variety of online educational modules vital for successful completion of the residency. You will be oriented to the residency program and pharmacy department for six total weeks including one week of specific Neonatal ICU training at the beginning of your residency year.
How many hours will I be on duty?
Duty hours are limited to 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period, inclusive of all hospital-based activities and any additional work time (”moonlighting”). Duty hours do not include reading, studying, academic preparation time for presentations and journal clubs, travel time to and from conferences or meetings or hours that are not scheduled by the residency program director or preceptor The resident will be provided at least one day in seven free of duty averaged over a 4 week period. In general, the resident will have 10 hours free of duty time between scheduled duty (from time leave one day till time needed to return to work).
How much excused time is available?
Residents are provided a total of 14 days of paid time off during the residency year. This includes time off for licensure examination and interviews.
What projects or presentations are required in addition to daily clinical activities?
Residents will be responsible for a medication use evaluation (MUE), research project, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Monograph as well as completion of drug information questions, journal club presentations, formal presentations to various levels of hospital staff, and case presentations.
Do I attend professional conferences throughout the residency?
Residents will attend ASHP Midyear. Research presentations will be completed at venues selected by the program. Travel reimbursement is provided for attendance at these conferences and venues as per CCF travel policy.
What other educational opportunities are available?
Pharmacy residents will have the opportunity to precept students from various pharmacy schools. Residents will have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of leadership and employee engagement activities during the residency year. Fairview Hospital has an active medical residency program that affords the pharmacy resident an opportunity to not only learn and teach medical residents but also presents an opportunity to meet and network with these medical professionals on a daily basis.
What teaching opportunities are available at Fairview Hospital?
Opportunities to make presentations to the medical staff members of the hospital will be available throughout the year. The resident will also take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the active community outreach programs at Fairview Hospital. The resident may participate in the teaching certificate program available through Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). In addition, pharmacy residents participate in Pharmacy APPE student lectures and assist with precepting students as opportunities arise
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 or to have completed the Board licensure examination at the time of application. Failure to achieve Ohio licensure will result in dismissal from the residency program (within 90 days of your start). It is strongly encouraged for you to be licensed prior to the start of your residency.
Is the residency accredited?
The residency program is fully accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.
How many residents are selected?
Currently, Fairview Hospital selects four residents each year.
Does this program participate in the match?
Yes, Fairview Hospital participates in the match.
When is the application deadline?
All application materials are due January 2, 2024 at 11:59PM. All materials are submitted through PHORCAS. This includes letters of recommendation. All applicants are urged to allow enough time for persons writing letters of recommendation and to inquire about the timeliness in which letters are sent. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Is an interview required?
Yes, an on-site or virtual interview is required.
When will interviews take place?
Interviews take place as scheduled. Candidates that are being offered an interview will be contacted in January.
When does the residency begin and end?
Residents will start with the completion of Cleveland Clinic orientation in mid-June. Our residency ends no later than June 30th of the following year.
How are residents evaluated?
Residents are evaluated utilizing the PharmAcademic system. Learning Experience, Preceptor and Summative evaluations should be completed and discussed by the final day of the rotation. Residents will also be evaluated quarterly by the program director, and by preceptors who are working with residents in longitudinal experiences such as staffing and Family Medicine Clinic.
Will the residency program be showcased at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting?
Yes, the residency is showcased at the ASHP Midyear Meeting. The Fairview Hospital Residency Program will be showcased with all other Cleveland Clinic Residency Programs.
How will this residency prepare me for board certification?
In addition to the critical thinking skills you develop during patient care, the required rotations of Fairview Hospital's PGY1 residency offer an excellent preparation for the pharmacotherapy specialist certification (BCPS) exam. Fairview Hospital also offers a number of continuing education opportunities throughout the year on a wide variety of topics which help reinforce the resident’s general range of knowledge and experience acquired in your PGY1 year.
