Residents completing the ASHP-accredited Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Residency Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center will acquire expertise in medication therapy management and clinical leadership while developing the necessary skillset to become a leader in transplant.
Program preceptors (from left): Kenneth Saunders, Kaitlyn Legg, Tracy Sparkes, Bethany Lane, Karen Huang, Ian Booth
Pharmacists have had an integral role in the multidisciplinary transplant team at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) for more than 20 years, providing care to both abdominal and cardiothoracic transplant recipients through a robust collaborative practice agreement.
The solid organ transplant program at UMMC performs approximately 300 transplants annually, and has nine transplant clinical specialists and one transplant pharmacy billing coordinator dedicated to the care of transplant recipients.
The resident will be accountable for promoting safe and effective drug usage and achieving optimal drug therapy outcomes through an established collaborative practice agreement that allows for independent management of immunosuppression, infection prophylaxis, and other specified agents.
Attend a virtual recruitment event to learn more about our transplant pharmacy residency program.
These online events offer a great way for prospective trainees to learn more about our program. Please note that registration is required to attend the Zoom Open Houses and Zoom Showcases hosted by the UM Residency and Fellowship Program.
Additionally, we will be participating in virtual PPS. Request an interview here. We look forward to meeting you!
As part of its accreditation by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), this program is committed to the following general purpose:
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.
Additionally, our program adheres to the goals and objectives for a post-graduate year two program in solid organ transplant pharmacy set forth by ASHP. These goals and objectives can be found in the ASHP Residency Accreditation Regulations and Standards.
Description of Site:
The University of Maryland Medical Center will serve as the primary site for pharmacy practice experiences. Located in downtown Baltimore, UMMC was 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 including a large solid organ transplant program completing approximately 300 transplants annually, a comprehensive cancer center with a bone marrow transplant unit, a dedicated HIV medicine service and the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. 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 interests and goals of the resident.
Learning Experiences:
Core Rotations Experiences:
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Orientation | 4 weeks |
| Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgery I | 4 weeks |
| Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgery II | 4 weeks |
| Liver Transplant Surgery I | 4 weeks |
| Liver Transplant Surgery II | 4 weeks |
| Transplant Internal Medicine I | 4 weeks |
| Transplant Internal Medicine II | 4 weeks |
| Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgery I | 4 weeks |
| Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgery II | 4 weeks |
| Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Ambulatory Care Clinic | 4 weeks |
| Transplant Transitions of Care Ambulatory Clinic | 4 weeks |
Core Longitudinal Experiences
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Liver and Lung Transplant Ambulatory Care Clinic | 12 months |
| Transplant Literature/Topic Curriculum | 12 months |
| Transplant Clinical Weekend Staffing/Pager Coverage | 12 months (approximately every 3rd weekend) |
Elective Practice Experiences (1 month)
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Surgical ICU | 4 weeks |
| Cardiac Surgery ICU | 4 weeks |
| Advanced Heart Failure Service | 4 weeks |
| Rotational Transplant Elective | 4 weeks |
| Transplant Infectious Diseases | 4 weeks |
| Organ Procurement Organization (Infinite Legacy) | 1-2 days |
| Transplant Pathology | 1 day |
| Transplant HLA Lab | 1 day |
Each resident will have the opportunity to customize their residency experience with the residency program director and coordinator.
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 20 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 additionally have the opportunity to participate in the P1 Immunology course and P3 transplant pharmacy elective at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Residents will also deliver the following professional presentations:
- Pharmacotherapy Rounds
- UMMC Case Conference
- Transplant Grand Rounds
For more information about these specific activities, please visit the Residency and Fellowship Requirements webpage.
Research/Scholarship Experiences
The resident will be expected to conduct a longitudinal research project over the course of the training experience. A final manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal is required for residency graduation. Presentation of interim or final results at a professional meeting is strongly encouraged.
Additionally, the resident will be required to complete a medication use evaluation at UMMC in the area of solid organ transplant.
Leadership and Professional Development Experiences
The resident will also participate in the following longitudinal activities:
- Committee Participation, including Transplant Selection, Transplant Quality Improvement Committees, and Abdominal and Cardiothoracic Transplant Pharmacy Committees
- Professional Development Series
- Public Health/Community Service Activity
Preceptors
All preceptors have completed specialized PGY2 training in solid organ transplant at various institutions across the country. Preceptors are involved in transplant and pharmacy professional organizations and have active roles in multiple research projects. Please review a list of our preceptor publications.
- Ian Booth, PharmD, BCTXP (Residency Program Director)
School of Pharmacy: Temple University (Philadelphia, Pa.)
PGY1 and PGY2: University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore, Md.)
- Bethany Lane, PharmD, BCTXP (Residency Program Coordinator)
School of Pharmacy: St. John Fisher University (Rochester, NY)
PGY1: Cleveland Clinic (Akron, Ohio)
PGY2: Ochsner Medical Center (Jefferson, La.)
- Karen Huang, PharmD, BCTXP
School of Pharmacy: University of Maryland (Baltimore, Md,)
PGY1: Penn State Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa.)
PGY2: University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore, Md.)
- Kaitlyn Legg, PharmD
School of Pharmacy: West Virginia University (Morgantown, WVa.)
PGY1: University of Illinois Chicago (Chicago, Il.)
PGY2: University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore, Md.)
- Kenneth Saunders, PharmD
School of Pharmacy: University of Maryland (Baltimore, Md.)
PGY1: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC)
PGY2: University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore, Md.)
- Chelsey (Chenxi) Song, PharmD, BCPS
School of Pharmacy: University of Maryland (Baltimore, Md.)
PGY1 & PGY2: The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, Md.)
- Tracy Sparkes, PharmD, BCPS, BCTXP
School of Pharmacy: University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
PGY1 & PGY2: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Number of Available Positions: 2
Qualifications: The resident must possess a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and be a graduate of an accredited college of pharmacy with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (requirement waived if completed a pass/fail curriculum). The PharmD degree and Maryland Pharmacy licensure are required. Residents must complete an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency prior to starting.
Application Process:
Applications for this program will only be accepted through PhORCAS. Reference writers should use the standard reference template in PhORCAS.
Application requirements:
- Letter of intent
- Curriculum vitae
- Letters of recommendation (3)
- Official transcripts
International students and permanent residents should contact P-SHORResidencyandAdministrativeSupport@rx.umaryland.edu before applying.
The application deadline is Jan. 2.
Program Director:
Ian Booth, PharmD, BCTXP
Clinical Specialist, Transplant
Residency Program Director — PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
University of Maryland Medical Center Department of Pharmacy
22 South Greene Street, Room S8A05C
Baltimore, Md. 21201
Phone: (410) 328-7279
Email: ian.booth@umm.edu
Program Coordinator:
Bethany Lane, PharmD, BCTXP
Clinical Specialist, Transplant
Residency Program Coordinator — PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
University of Maryland Medical Center Department of Pharmacy
22 South Greene Street, Room S8A05C
Baltimore, Md. 21201
Phone: (410) 328-49257
Email: bethany.lane@umm.edu
Past Residents:
2023-2024: Celina Ferey
- Residency Research Project: Impact of Delayed Graft Function on Risk of Rejection in Elderly Kidney Transplant Recipients Receiving Basiliximab Induction
- Position Upon Graduation: Solid Organ Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
2023-2024: Courtney Moshos
- Residency Research Project: One-year Graft Outcomes after Conversion to Belatacept in Patients with Delayed Draft Function Compared to Tacrolimus Continuation
- Position Upon Graduation: Solid Organ Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, University of Virginia Health University Hospital
2022-2023: Kaitlyn Legg
- Residency Research Project: Short Term Alcohol Abstinence Prior to Liver Transplantation and Impact on Rejection
- Position Upon Graduation: Solid Organ Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, University of Maryland Medical Center
2022-2023: Kenneth Saunders
- Residency Research Project: Impact of Calcineurin Inhibitor Use after Graft Failure on Sensitization in Repeat Kidney Transplant Recipients
- Position Upon Graduation: Solid Organ Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, University of Maryland Medical Center
2021-2022: Karen Huang
- Residency Research Project: Three-Year Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event in Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney vs Deceased-Donor Renal Transplantation: A Single Center Experience
- Position Upon Graduation: Solid Organ Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, University of Maryland Medical Center
2021-2022: Emily Garcia
- Residency Research Project: Outcomes of Elderly Black Renal Transplant Recipients Receiving Basiliximab Induction and Early Steroid Withdrawal
- Position Upon Graduation: Thoracic Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, University of Wisconsin Health
2020-2021: Sara Farghaly and Dawn Pluckrose
- Residency Research Project: Rejection Outcomes of Liver Transplant Recipients Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy
- Position Upon Graduation: Solid Organ Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Montefiore Medical Center
2019-2020: Ian Booth
2018-2019: RoseMerrie Lynn
2017-2018: Sari Freedman
2016-2017: Jacqueline Clark
2015-2016: Idris Yakubu