The two year Combined Pharmacy Practice Management Residency/ Masters Degree Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) provides opportunities for the resident to develop leadership and expert pharmacy management skills in an academic medical center setting. Residents will develop a strong foundation in pharmacy services management through flexible rotations in health-system and hospital pharmacy operations management, outcomes research, information technology, automation, finance, asset management, drug use management, and medication safety and education. Integration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy will allow for interaction with faculty and students and other experiences necessary for success in an academic health system.
The resident will be integrally involved in research opportunities and education of students and other healthcare professionals. Formal seminars, management cases, journal clubs, and education for UPMC pharmacy staff are mandated throughout the year. Through affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh, the resident will have didactic and experiential teaching responsibilities to PharmD students during their clinical clerkships. One pharmacy management-focused research project suitable for presentation and publication will be completed each year.
Residents will enroll in the Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration through the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. This rigorous course of study will focus on the management of health services with an emphasis on health system pharmacy management and leadership. Specially designed courses in advanced health systems pharmacy administration highlight the theoretical and didactic components of health system pharmacy management. The courses, coupled with a dynamic experiential rotation schedule, will culminate in a terminal Masters of Science Degree in Pharmacy Administration which will serve as the foundation for a career in Academic Medical Center Pharmacy Administration.
Highly motivated individuals with a strong interest in pharmacy management who are committed to providing optimal pharmaceutical care within a team-oriented setting are encouraged to apply. We invite you to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
Program Director: Scott Mark, PharmD, MS, M.Ed., FACHE, FASHP, FABC
Required Rotations
Following the completion of the Departmental Orientation, the resident will be required to complete the following core administrative rotations
1st year
- Clinical Pharmacy Rotations (x4) Choice of:
- Central Pharmacy Operations
- Clinical Services Management I and II
- Advanced Drug Use and Disease State Management
- Five, 1-week Mini Rotations focusing on:
2nd Year
- Community Hospital Pharmacy Operations Management
- Corporate Pharmacy Administration
- Finance/Budgeting
- Inventory Management
- Pharmacy Operations Rotations I
- UPMC Shadyside Pharmacy Advanced Operations Management
- Purchasing and Distribution
- Teaching, Education and Professional Development
- Pharmacy Information and Informatics
Elective Rotations
Residents may choose elective rotations based upon professional interests and previous experiences. Residents also have the opportunity to design their own electives. Elective rotations include, but are not limited to:
- Medication Safety
- Corporate Risk/Patient Safety
- Long Term Care Pharmacy Management
- Ambulatory Pharmacy Management
- Academic Administration
- Contracts and Asset Management
- Advanced Healthcare Finance
- Drug Information
- Technician Training Program Administration
- Clinical Services Development
- Advanced Technology and Automation
- Regulatory Compliance
- Professional Organization Leadership
About the Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is the leading health care system in Western Pennsylvania and one of the largest nonprofit integrated health care systems in the United States. UPMC enjoys a strong national and international clinical and research reputation, drawing patients from throughout the United States and dozens of countries across the globe. UPMC is consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report in the magazine’s “Best of the Best” rankings. The health system’s academic partner, the University of Pittsburgh, is among the top recipients of National Institutes of Health research funding. UPMC’s consortium of health care facilities includes 20 tertiary care, specialty care, specialty, and community hospitals.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s department of pharmacy is nationally recognized as a provider of state-of-the art, progressive pharmaceutical care and services. The Department of Pharmacy is a national leader in pharmacy automation, robotics, bar coding, and medication safety. Comprehensive pharmacy services are provided through a combination of central pharmacy and decentralized pharmacy services. The distribution system is supported by central robotics and decentralized automated medication dispensing cabinets.
Clinical pharmacy services are a major component of the innovative and comprehensive pharmaceutical services offered at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Services include therapeutic drug monitoring, medication therapy management, pharmacokinetics, and discharge counseling. Our clinical staff pharmacists and faculty are involved with the care of patients in a variety of services including infectious diseases, critical care, solid organ transplant, neurology, and cardiology. They provide clinical support on patient rounds, teach, and conduct clinical research.
Application Process
Eligible candidates will have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy and will be eligible for Pennsylvania licensure prior to beginning the residency program. An on-site interview is required. Application materials include: letter of intent, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and college transcripts. All application materials should be forwarded by January 10 to:
Scott Mark, PharmD, MS, M.Ed., FACHE, FASHP, FABC
Program Director, Pharmacy Management Residency Program
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
G119 PUH
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-647-5929
Fax: 412-647-9694
E-mail: marksm@upmc.edu
Note: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for admission to the Master of Science program, but this does not have to be taken prior to applying to the residency.
Residency Program
Duration/Type: 24 months
Number Positions: 3
Application Deadline: January 10
Starting Date: July 1
Estimated Stipend: $34,000
Benefits: Health, life, dental, and disability insurance; 2 weeks vacation; minimum of one-week professional travel; some travel support available.
Interview Required: Yes
Training Site Type: Hospital
Owner/Affiliates: Private
Model (type): Teaching, Tertiary
Professional Staff: 48
Total Beds: 1093
