Pharmacy Residency Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Program Overview
The purpose of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s PGY-1 pharmacy residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. Our program’s training emphasis is on acute care in a hospital setting. The program has been accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists since 1994. Our preceptors are clinical coordinators and clinical specialists who work in their area of specialty.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a 912-bed, private, not-for-profit teaching hospital. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the Hospital Center’s cardiology and heart surgery program as one of the nation’s best. Respected specialty areas include MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, Transplantation services, MedSTAR shock/trauma, and The Burn Center.
The Hospital Center is among the100 largest hospitals in the nation, and is renowned for handling the Washington region’s most complex cases. As one of the largest teaching hospitals in the Washington area, the Hospital Center trains more than 300 medical residents and fellows in more than 30 specialties annually. The Hospital Center is a member of MedStar Health, a regional health care delivery system serving the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
Pharmacy residents work with the health care team by collaborating during interdisciplinary rounds, monitoring drug therapy, providing drug information and educating patients, health care professionals and students. The program provides opportunities for residents to gain experience in delivering educational programs, participating in performance improvement projects as well as designing and completing a residency project. Residents have the opportunity to participate in the P&T committee as well as enhance leadership skills via one of the department’s Shared Governance Councils. The pharmacy department offers weekly onsite educational conferences including educational programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to enhance pharmacists’ knowledge and skills.
Graduated residents have pursued PGY-2 residencies, became clinical pharmacists, clinical specialists, preceptors, and leaders. Some have pursued opportunities at ASHP and the FDA.
Learning experiences
There are longitudinal learning experiences in staffing and residency project. In addition, each resident is required to complete core rotations and 4 elective learning experiences.
Core Rotations:
- Orientation
- Internal Medicine Antimicrobial Stewardship Medication-Use Safety & Policy Cardiology Surgical Intensive Care Practice Management Advanced Heart Failure & Heart Transplant
Elective rotations
Based on the resident’s progress and interests, resident may choose 4 elective learning experiences that include:
- Medical Intensive Care
- Emergency Medicine
- Oncology
- Ambulatory Oncology
- Infectious Disease Consults
- Palliative Care
- Neuroscience Intensive Care
- Burn/Trauma
- Informatics
- Compounding Preparations
- Pharmacogenomics
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Health System Administration
- Primary Care Mental Health Integration
Projects
Residents complete projects throughout the program. These projects are in areas that are relevant to contemporary pharmacy practice and pharmacy management. Each project is an opportunity for residents to develop skills in collecting, analyzing and presenting data. Completion of a residency project is a requirement of the program. Residents present their residency projects at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear clinical meeting, our pharmacy department’s conference and Eastern States Conference for Pharmacy Residents and Preceptors.
Service
Residents fulfill a service commitment on weekends by working with one of the pharmacy teams to provide pharmaceutical care.
Teaching
Residents provide education to healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and pharmacy students. This is an opportunity to develop teaching and presentation skills. A teaching certificate is available.
Benefits
Resident benefits include a generous salary, health/vision/dental insurance, 10 paid vacation/sick days, seven holidays, stipend for attending professional pharmacy meetings, and free onsite ACPE educational programs.
Applicant requirements
All candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Possess a PharmD from an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy
- Be eligible to apply for pharmacist license in the District of Columbia
- Have completed 1,500 hours of professional pharmacy practice as a student or graduate pharmacist
- Have completed an additional 400 hours of independent pharmacy work in distribution of medicines and prescriptions. This is work experience that is outside of school, a DC Board of Pharmacy requirement.
- Participate in the ASHP PGY-1 Residency Matching Program
- Eligible to work in the United States
Application requirements
Applicants are required to submit the following documents via PhORCAS:
- Completed application
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement indicating professional goals and interests
- Three standard recommendation forms
- College of pharmacy transcripts
Application process
Individuals interested in applying should apply via the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application System (PhORCAS) www.ashp.org/phorcas. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Candidates are selected based on professional competence, scholastic achievement, communication skills, interpersonal skills and comprehension of current standards of pharmacy practice. Candidates are matched via the ASHP Resident Matching Program.
Our program code is 174713
Program Director
Lama Kanawati, PharmD, BCPS
110 Irving Street, NW Room B147
Washington, DC 20010-2975
Phone: 202 877-3407
Lama.Kanawati@medstar.net
Residency projects
-
2023
Evaluation of ketamine for adjunctive pain management in sickle cell crisis: A single center, intra-comparison study
Naidelyn Medina, PharmD; Minhee Kang, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP; Lama Kanawati, PharmD, BCPSProvider adherence to monitoring recommendations for oral anticancer medications at outpatient oncology clinics within a large academic medical system
Anas Hanini, PharmD; Pauline Guthrie, PharmD, Joshua Bailey, PharmDIdentification of oncology providers interest, use-cases, and barriers to use of pharmacogenomic testing
Meghna Bhatt, PharmD; Max Smith, PharmD, BCPSEvaluation of the safety and efficacy of warfarin compared to DOACs following bioprosthetic valve replacement
Caitlin Benkart, PharmD; Victoria Ly, PharmD, BCCP; Wafaa Abou-Zeineddine, PharmD, BCPS -
2022
Evaluation of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and/or Beta-Blockers in Primary Prevention of Cardiac Dysfunction Caused by Anthracyclines and Trastuzumab in African American Breast Cancer Patients
Serena Mitaly, PharmD; Victoria Ly, PharmD, BCCP; Quan Li, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, DPLAMarijuana and Dietary Supplement Use in African American Hematology/Oncology Patients
Humam Alkhaled, PharmD; Quan Li, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, DPLAEffects of Immunosuppression Titration by Single Point Immune Cell Function Assay in Heart Transplants
Rita Chen, PharmD; Bolanle Lawuyi, PharmD, BCCPEvaluation of the Safety of the New Alcohol Containing Cyclophosphamide Formulation
Tonya Wright, PharmD; Quan Li, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, DPLA -
2021
Evaluation of patients switching from direct oral anti-Xa inhibitors to parental anticoagulation in tertiary care hospital
Betlihem Semma, PharmD; Lisa Peters, PharmD, BCPSImpact of pharmacist driven patient education on acute coronary syndrome patient outcomes
Rohina Bayat, PharmD; Lisa Peters, PharmD, BCPSImpact of ketamine use on pain management in the emergency department
Manraj Kalkat, PharmD; Lama Kanawati, PharmD, BCPSPharmacist managed anticoagulation in LVAD patients in a large tertiary care hospital
Jessica Szatkowski, PharmD; Victoria Ly, PharmD -
2020
Evaluation of moderate sedation outcomes in procedural areas by non-anesthesiologists
Nancy Tang, PharmD; Cynthia Willis, PharmDAppropriateness of empiric antimicrobial treatment of septic patients transferred from skilled nursing facilities to a tertiary hospital
Dilbi Hussein, PharmD; Lama Kanawati, PharmD, BCPSEvaluation of fentanyl transdermal systems for pain management in a tertiary hospital
Carlette Cavenaugh, PharmD; Diana Stewart, PharmD, BCPSEvaluating the impact of nasal screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on vancomycin therapy in the intensive care unit
Roshani Patel, PharmD; Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, FASHP, BCCCP -
2019
Impact of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction system on antibiotic optimization Assessing the incidence of medication-related patient safety events
Gayle Unhjem, PharmD, MHS; Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, FASHP, BCCCPTrace Element Supplementation in Burn Patients
Annmarie Cristiano, PharmD; Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, FASHP, BCCCPEvaluation of ketamine use for postoperative pain management
Inna Perinskaya, PharmD; Lama Kanawati, PharmD, BCPSAssessing the incidence of medication-related patient safety event reports
Lisa Pickmans, PharmD; Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, FASHP, BCCCPImplementation of operating room pharmacy services in a tertiary care hospital
Inna Perinskaya, PharmD; Cynthia Willis, PharmD -
2018
Evaluation of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity before and after implementation of an intensive pharmacist monitoring program
Sarah El-Gendi, PharmD; Zetta Leftridge, PharmDMedication Safety events secondary to pump programming errors before and after implementation of an infusion management system
Taylor Kravatz, PharmD; Cynthia Willis, PharmDAppropriateness of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis before and after guideline implementation
Erin Grannan, PharmD; Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, FASHPDe-escalation of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the intensive care unit
Mary McIntyre, PharmD; Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, FASHP
Why train here
Tailored toward residents’ interests
Our program is tailored toward the residents’ interests. Incoming residents have complete autonomy over their required and elective rotation choices. In addition, they have a strong required core rotation schedule.
Small class size
One of the main benefits of our program is that the small size of the residency class enables preceptors to focus solely on residents’ learning and growth throughout each rotation block.
Distinctive elective rotation blocks
The program offers many unique elective rotation opportunities not commonly seen across the nation, such as:
- Pharmacogenomics
- Informatics
- Investigational drug service
- Medication safety
- Transplant
- Antimicrobial Management
- Palliative Care
Tailored toward growth
Every learning experience is tailored towards residents’ professional growth. The MedStar Georgetown PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency program will prepare all resident candidates to be successful at inpatient care and also will sharpen a candidate's skills in research and pharmacy innovation.
Academic excellence
MedStar Georgetown is a 650-bed hospital nationally recognized for exceptional patient care in solid organ transplant, liquid/solid tumors, critical care, orthopedics, and internal medicine. The department of pharmacy is well-integrated into each interdisciplinary medical team, and the overall pharmacy culture is highly progressive.
As a result, residents’ learning experiences become more enriched, because pharmacists are constantly relied upon by each medical team to ensure appropriate medication use and patient safety.
Also, our pharmacy residency program has been accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists since 2006.
Curriculum
-
Required Rotations
- Orientation to Pharmacy
- Pharmacy Administration and Practice Management
- Antimicrobial Management
- Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant
- Intensive Care
- Internal Medicine
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care/Transplant
- Solid Organ Transplant
-
Longitudinal Rotations
- Antiretroviral Inpatient Monitoring
- Code Response/Management of Medical Emergencies
- Staffing and Drug Distribution
-
Required Activities
- ACPE Accredited Continuing Education Seminar
- Drug Utilization Evaluation Presentation at Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
- Drug Monograph Presentation at Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
-
Elective/Advanced Rotations
- Advanced Pediatric Intensive Care and Abdominal/Liver Organ Transplant
- Ambulatory Care - Anticoagulation/Adult Primary Care
- Anticoagulation Stewardship Monitoring
- Pharmacy Informatics
- Drug Policy
- Emergency Medicine
- ICU – Surgical Intensive Care
- ICU – Medical Intensive Care
- Advanced Internal Medicine
- Investigational Drug Service/Research Pharmacy
- Advanced Solid Organ Transplant
- Pharmacogenomics
- Pain and Palliative Care
- ICU – Neurocritical Care
- Specialty Pharmacy
- System Informatics, Med Safety and Operational Impacts
-
Teaching Certificate Opportunities
- Participation in the University of Maryland Teaching Certificate Program
Rotations
Advanced Informatics, Medication Safety, & Operational Impacts
Antimicrobial Management
Ambulatory Care: Anticoagulation & Adult Primary Care
Critical Care
Ambulatory Care: Anticoagulation
Internal Medicine
Clinical Informatics
Orientation to Pharmacy
Critical Care: Neuroscience (NSICU)
Pediatric & Neonatal
Drug Information/Drug Policy
Solid Organ Transplant
Emergency Medicine (ED)
Antiretroviral Inpatient Monitoring (longitudinal)
Hematology/Oncology
Management of Medical Emergency – Code Response (longitudinal
Infectious Diseases (consult service)
Operating Room/Anesthesia
Palliative Care (consult service)
Pediatric Ambulatory Hematology/Oncology
Pediatric Intensive Care & Transplant
Pharmacogenomics (consult service)
Research/Investigational Drug Services
*Any required rotation can be repeated.
Additional requirements and activities
To complement their learning, residents must also participate in the following aspects of our program:
- Drug distribution/staffing
- One weeknight per week
- One weekend per three weeks
- One major holiday and two minor holidays
- Preceptorship of PharmD students from affiliated schools of pharmacy
- Preparation of Drug Monograph for presentation at corporate Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
- Collaboration with corporate MedStar Health Administrators for special projects and committee meetings
- Organizing monthly journal club
- Present two journal club articles during the course of the residency
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) training and certification
- Participation in the Washington Metropolitan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (WMHSP) Pharmacy or University of Maryland Teaching Certificate Program
- Drug Utilization Evaluation (DUE)
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) continuing education presentation
- Conferences/meeting attendance:
- ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (December)
- Annual Eastern States Residency Conference (April/May)
- WMHSP Pharmacists Residency Seminars
Training locations
MedStar Georgetown is a world-renowned, not-for-profit, acute-care teaching and research hospital located in Northwest Washington, D.C.,
3800 Reservoir Rd. NW
Washington, D.C., 20007
Contact us
We welcome your questions about our program. For additional information, please contact:
Residency Program Director
Geoffrey R. Cox, PharmD
Directory of Pharmacy, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Department of Pharmacy
3800 Reservoir Rd, NW
Washington, D.C., 20007
Residency Program Administrative Director
Varintorn (Bank) Aramvareekul, MHSA, MBA, RPh, CPHQ, CSSGB, CPHIMS, PMP, SHIMSS, FACHE
varintorn.aramvareekul@gunet.georgetown.edu