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Pharmacy Residency
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Oncology Pharmacy Residency

Oncology pharmacy residents

The PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency program builds upon a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions along with board certification.

Program description

The University of Kansas Health System offers an ASHP-accredited PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency. The University of Kansas Hospital is an academic teaching hospital with 1,000+ beds, and 116 of those are dedicated to hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and has 2,600+ outpatient cancer care visits weekly. This residency centers on the development of pharmacists who will become dynamic patient advocates who collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based pharmacotherapy and heighten patient-centered results. Through various clinical, practice management and project experiences, residents will become competent at providing optimal drug therapy for patients with cancer and act as a leader in advancing patient care.

Length of program: 12 months, starting in July
Number of positions: 4
PGY2 Oncology Residency Supplemental Manual

Current benefits

  • Annual salary: $56,000
  • Benefits include PTO, paid holidays, health/dental/life/liability insurance
  • View more information

Contact us

The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Pharmacy
2330 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Suite 305, Mailstop 5028
Westwood, KS 66205
Shelbie Gibbs

PGY2 Oncology residency director

Shelbie Gibbs, PharmD, BCOP(she/her/hers)

Maggie Nelson

PGY2 Oncology residency coordinator

Maggie Nelson, PharmD, BCOP (she/her/hers)

Meet our residents

Kayla Dodson

Kayla Dodson, PharmD

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Pharmacy school: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

PGY1: Centennial Medical Center

Clinical interests: Solid tumor oncology, BMT, cellular therapy, immunocompromised infectious diseases

Hobbies: Reading, trying new restaurants, traveling

Research project: Assessing the Impact of Vincristine Omission on Patient Outcomes in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: I chose The University of Kansas Health System due to the robust oncology rotation experiences available and opportunity to work with diverse and complex patient populations. During my interview, I saw firsthand how both leadership and preceptors are deeply committed to supporting the residents and fostering their growth.

Kristina Hall

Kristina Hall, PharmD

Hometown: Redlands, California

Pharmacy school: Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy

PGY1: The University of Kansas Health System

Clinical interests: BMT, CAR T

Hobbies: Embroidery, travel, reading

Research project: Effect of debulking chemotherapy on incidence and severity of rituximab infusion reactions given inpatient

Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: When searching for a residency program, I knew I wanted to be challenged by complex clinical cases, be exposed to a large variety of high-level-of-care patients with diverse backgrounds, and have the opportunity to be a pharmacist that practices as part of an interdisciplinary team. After doing my PGY1 at the health system, I was confident the PGY2 in oncology would provide me the training I need to become a pharmacist that can provide the best care possible for patients. Additionally, everyone in the program is so friendly, supportive and happy, which made me feel confident that not only would I grow as a pharmacist, but have fun doing so!

Allison Mermelstein

Allison Mermelstein, PharmD

Hometown: Blue Springs, Missouri

Pharmacy school: University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Pharmacy

PGY1: The University of Kansas Health System

Clinical interests: Malignant hematology, solid tumor oncology, cardio-oncology

Hobbies: Reading, spending time with friends and family, playing board games, doing puzzles, trying new restaurants and traveling

Research project: Real World Data on Elacestrant Use in Second Line and Beyond for HR+ HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: I chose The University of Kansas Health System because I had such a great experience here as a PGY1 resident. Pharmacists are an integral part of the healthcare team here and pharmacists’ recommendations are welcomed and valued. I wanted to do my oncology residency at a large academic center that treated complex patients with a variety of cancers so I would be able to learn as much as possible. It was clear to me that everyone involved in this program truly cares about their residents and wants them to succeed. I knew I would grow the most as a new pharmacist where everyone was eager to learn, teach.

Jessica Tran

Jessica Tran, PharmD

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Pharmacy school: University of Missouri-Kansas City

PGY1: The University of Kansas Health System

Clinical interests: Hematology, BMT, palliative care

Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and playing pickleball

Research project: Tarlatamab versus standard of care chemotherapy for second line treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: From my experience with The University of Kansas Health System as a PGY1, I was drawn to the culture, innovation and extensive opportunities that are offered for cancer care that I knew would allow me to grow my knowledge and skill set in oncology/hematology. Additionally, the cancer care pharmacy team was a pivotal reason why I chose the health system, with its welcoming and family-like community that created a vibrant learning environment. It is evident that the residency program, from its leadership, preceptors and mentors, provides the utmost support and cultivates a truly well-rounded learning experience and outstanding care for their patients.

The oncology pharmacy residency learning experience

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is 1 of fewer than 60 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide.

Additional facts about the cancer center include:

  • More than 50 cancer care clinical pharmacists on staff
  • Clinical Research Center focuses on early preclinical and phase I trials
  • Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer since 1934
  • QOPI®-certified practice
  • URAC-accredited
  • More than 300 hematopoietic stem cell transplants performed annually
  • FACT-accredited (immune effector cell, BMT autologous/allogeneic program)
  • National Marrow Donor Program-accredited
  • Certified CAR T-cell therapy center for commercial and investigational products

Required learning experiences

  • Orientation (3 weeks)
  • Inpatient/outpatient adult hematology (6 weeks: 3 weeks inpatient, 3 weeks outpatient)
  • Inpatient adult acute leukemia (4 weeks)
  • Inpatient medical oncology (2 weeks)
  • Inpatient adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (4 weeks)
  • Inpatient adult autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant / chimeric antigen receptor (CAR- T) therapy (2 weeks)
  • Cancer center pharmacy (3 weeks)
  • Breast medical oncology clinic (3 weeks)
  • Genitourinary medical oncology clinic (3 weeks)
  • Gastrointestinal medical oncology clinic (4 weeks)
  • Head, neck and lung medical oncology clinic (4 weeks)
  • Advanced independent practice (AIP)* (4 weeks)

*The AIP learning experience is a 4-week experience in which the resident covers a service independently. The goal is for the resident to gain the confidence and experience of covering a service independently prior to entering the workforce. This is done once the resident has sufficient experience in an area of practice.

Elective learning experiences

Each resident has 6 weeks for electives. These can be split into two 3-week rotations or one 4-week rotation and one 2-week rotation.

Elective learning experiences include:

  • Outpatient adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant clinic
  • Palliative care
  • Infectious diseases
  • Oncology administration
  • Outpatient hematology clinic
  • Outpatient solid tumor clinic
    • Breast medical oncology
    • Head, neck and lung medical oncology
    • Gastrointestinal medical oncology
    • Genitourinary medical oncology
    • Gynecologic oncology
    • Melanoma

Staffing requirement

The PGY2 oncology resident will staff 1 evening each week from 3 to 7 p.m. inpatient and approximately every 4th weekend (Saturday and Sunday) where they will staff independently with the hematology inpatient rounding service. Residents receive 1 day off as a compensation day the week following their weekend staffing.

Longitudinal experiences

  • Longitudinal administration rotation
    • This is a longitudinal experience that incorporates many aspects of practice leadership and exposes residents to a variety of topics with cancer care pharmacy leadership.
    • Each resident will have a longitudinal administration project based on the needs of the department.
    • There are approximately 6 dedicated longitudinal administration project days throughout the year for these discussions and project work beginning in September.
    • Each resident will present at least one new drug formulary review at a Hematology/Oncology/BMT Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting.
    • Residents will participate in one cancer center committee each quarter during the residency year:
      • Cancer Care Pharmacy Practice Council
      • Cancer Center Medication Safety Subcommittee
      • Hematology/Oncology/BMT P&T Subcommittee
      • Protocol Review Monitoring Committee
  • Research
    • Poster presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association national meeting or a similar meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication
  • Presentations
    • Grand rounds continuing education presentation to multidisciplinary oncology audience
    • Oncology resident lectures (approximately every 4 weeks)
  • Teaching
    • Residents will prepare a supportive care topic discussion for students on rotation at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and will present this topic discussion each month a student is on rotation with the team.
    • Residents gain teaching experience through leading a hematology/oncology pharmacotherapy lecture at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
    • Residents may precept students from the University of Kansas and/or the University of Missouri – Kansas City schools of pharmacy on clinical rotations, if desired.
    • An optional teaching certificate program is available.

Residency Manual – PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency Supplemental Manual

Application information

Informational sessions

Requirements and deadlines

  • An ASHP midyear PPS interview is required prior to the application deadline.
  • If not participating in PPS, please contact the residency program director to set up a virtual interview.
  • Application must be submitted no later than January 2.
  • Must have a valid pharmacist license in the state of Kansas preferably prior to residency start date but within 60 days of the start of residency at the latest.

Checklist for application

National matching services (NMS) code: 618660
We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.

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