The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and the University of Maryland Medical Center offer a one-year post-graduate residency training experience in cardiology pharmacy practice.

  • ASHP-Accredited PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency
  • One position per year

On this page

Program Curriculum | Site & Training Environment | Core Preceptors | Application Process | Program Contacts

Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available. 

The goal of this program is to impart the knowledge and skills necessary for obtaining a position as a clinical pharmacy specialist or non-tenure track cardiology faculty member. Through the unique partnership between the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and University of Maryland Medical Center, the resident will interface with experts in the field of cardiovascular medicine, engage in a diverse array of advanced pharmacy practice experiences, conduct collaborative practice-based research, and mentor student and resident trainees in pharmacy and other health disciplines.

Additionally, our program adheres to the Goals and Objectives for a Post-Graduate Year Two Program in Cardiology set forth by ASHP. These Goals and Objectives can be found in the ASHP Residency Accreditation Regulations and Standards. 

Site & Training Environment

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) will serve as the primary site for pharmacy practice experiences. Located in downtown Baltimore, UMMC is one of the nation’s first academic medical centers. Today, it provides a diverse array of health care services to patients throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. The integrated approach to patient care, research, and education at UMMC and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy provides a unique opportunity to engage in an innovative training experience that may be individually tailored to the interest and goals of the resident.

Program Curriculum

Learning Experiences

The residency program consists of 12 months of care practice experiences, which exist as rotations (i.e., 1-8 week blocks) and/or as longitudinal experiences (i.e., 3-12 months). A variety of elective opportunities are also available depending on the resident’s interest.

 Core Practice Experiences (Required)

  • Advanced Heart Failure I (4 weeks)
  • Advanced Heart Failure II (4 weeks)
  • Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (4 weeks)
  • Cardiovascular Imaging (1 week)
  • Clinical Pharmacy Specialist/Preceptorship (8 weeks)
  • Electrophysiology (2 weeks)
  • Orientation (4 weeks)
  • Primary Cardiology Service I (4 weeks)
  • Primary Cardiology Service II (4 weeks)

*The durations above represent the minimum length for each experience. Some experiences may be extended based on resident interest or individualized needs.

Core Longitudinal Experiences (Required)

  • Advanced Therapies Clinic (left ventricular assist device and heart transplantation; 2 months each)
  • Cardiology Topic Discussion Curriculum (12 months)
  • Pharmacokinetic and Anticoagulation Consult Service (12 months rotating)
  • Pharmacy Drug-Information On-Call Pager (PILL, 12 months rotating)
  • Pharmacy Medical Emergency Response Team Service (code blue, rapid response, airway emergency, stroke; 12 months rotating)
  • Staffing/Drug Distribution
    • 15 total weekends
    • ~70% as clinical weekends on the Medicine team
    • ~30% as drug distribution in the Trauma Weinberg Pharmacy Satellite
  • VA Cardiology Clinic (5 months)

Elective Practice Experiences (12 weeks total)

  • Cardiology Consultation Service (2-4 weeks)
  • Cardiothoracic Transplantation (4 weeks)
  • Emergency Medicine (2-4 weeks)
  • Medicine Intensive Care Unit (2-4 weeks)
  • Neurocritical Care Unit (2-4 weeks)
  • VA Blue Inpatient Cardiology Service (2-4 weeks)
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (2-4 weeks)

Other Learning Experiences

In addition to the pharmacy practice experiences outlined above, the resident will also have the opportunity to participate in the following longitudinal learning experiences:

Teaching

The resident will earn an appointment as a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and will complete a total of 40 hours of teaching activities per semester. Teaching activities may include didactic lectures, small group discussions, skills laboratories, and assisting in the preceptorship of student pharmacists and first-year pharmacy practice residents. An elective teaching certificate program is available for interested residents.

Residents will also deliver the following professional presentations:

  • Pharmacotherapy Rounds (ACPE-accredited; present 1, attend 15 sessions)
  • UMMC Literature Updates (present 1; attend monthly sessions)
  • UMMC Case Conference (present 1; attend monthly sessions)

Research/Scholarship Experiences

The resident will be expected to conduct a longitudinal research project over the course of the training experience. A final manuscript of the project must be prepared in a publishable format, although submission and/or acceptance is not required. Presentation of interim or final results at a professional meeting is strongly encouraged.

The resident will also be expected to complete an additional project through the UMMC Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee. This includes (but is not limited to) a medication use evaluation, drug-class review, or policy/medication-use guideline creation/update.

Leadership and Professional Development Experiences

The resident will also participate in the following longitudinal activities:

  • UMMC Committee Participation
  • Professional Development Series
  • Public Health/Community Service Activity

Participation in Pharmacotherapy Rounds, Journal Club, Case Conference, Professional Development lecture series, and staffing responsibilities is a requirement for all University of Maryland residents. For more information about these specific activities, please visit the Residency and Fellowship Requirements webpage.

Core Preceptors

  • Alexa Lahey, PharmD (Advanced Heart Failure Service)
  • Bethany Lane, PharmD, BCTXP (Cardiothoracic Transplantation)
  • Jocelyn Edwards, PharmD (Primary Cardiology Service, School of Pharmacy Faculty)
  • Kelsey Higgins, PharmD, BCCCP (Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit)
  • Michael Plazak, PharmD, BCCP (Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit, Ventricular Assist Device Clinic)
  • Richard Rovelli, PharmD, BCCP (Primary Cardiology Service, Heart Transplantation Clinic)
  • Stanley Otiwu, PharmD (Cardiothoracic Transplantation)

Application Process

The application deadline is January 2.

Applications for this program will only be accepted through PhORCAS. Reference writers should use the standard reference template in PhORCAS. Interviews will be conducted virtually.

Number of Available Positions: 1

Qualifications:
The resident must be a graduate of an accredited college of pharmacy with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (requirement waived if completed a pass/failure curriculum). The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and Maryland Pharmacy licensure are required. Residents must complete an ASHP accredited or candidate-status PGY1 residency prior to starting.

Applications requirements:

  • Letter of intent
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Letters of recommendation (3)
  • Official transcripts

International students and permanent resident should contact P-SHORResidencyandAdministrativeSupport@rx.umaryland.edu before applying.

Residents who match to this program will be required to come to Baltimore in advance of the July 1 start date for campus orientation; these orientation dates are not known until mid-Spring. These sessions are typically offered on Select Mondays in May and June.

Program Contacts

Program Director

Richard Rovelli, PharmD, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Primary Cardiology Service
Department of Pharmacy
University of Maryland Medical Center
22 South Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-328-3443
Email: Richard.Rovelli@umm.edu

 

Program Coordinator

Michael Plazak, PharmD, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit/Mechanical Circulatory Support
Department of Pharmacy
University of Maryland Medical Center
22 South Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-328-3746
Email: Michael.Plazak@umm.edu