PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy - UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

PGY2 Purpose: PGY2 residency programs build upon 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, and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

The mission of our residency program is to train highly motivated pharmacists, increase professional development, clinical involvement, and develop independent critical thinking skills needed to function as a proficient pediatric pharmacist. The residency program will provide the resident with the flexibility to adapt experiences to meet their specific learning needs and goals.

Wide variety of patients

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) is a 325 bed free-standing pediatric hospital. The hospital serves the community as a level I trauma center, level IV NICU, and is the home of the first US pediatric transplant program. It is ranked nationally in all eleven specialties according to the US News & World Report. Our institution is a leader in the treatment of pediatric disease states, a pioneer in the development of new and improved therapies, and top educator for the next generation of healthcare professionals. The pharmacy department provides 24/7 operational and clinical services. 

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Tour

Residency Program Director

Jennifer R. Shenk, PharmD, BCPPS, Jennifer.shenk@chp.edu

Residency Program Coordinator

Ann Carl, PharmD, BCPPS, carlal2@upmc.edu

Preceptors

• Meyer Aschkenas, PharmD, Pharmacy operations
• Ann Carl, PharmD, BCPPS, Inpatient pediatric solid organ transplant
• Elizabeth Ferguson, PharmD, BCPPS, General pediatrics
• Alex Kibler, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, Pediatric/cardiac critical care
• Olya Lovell, PharmD, BCTXP, BCPS, Outpatient pediatric solid organ transplant
• Shawn Meehl, PharmD, BCPPS, Pediatric BMT
• Melinda Miller, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, Neonatal critical care
• Kevin Ordons, PharmD, BCCP, Pediatric/cardiac critical care
• Jordan (Serio) Stork, PharmD, BCPPS, Pediatric critical care
• Serene Sheikh, PharmD, Pediatric antimicrobial stewardship/infectious disease
• Jennifer Shenk, PharmD, BCPPS, Neonatal critical care, Precepting rotation
• Erin Tamulonis, PharmD, Pediatric emergency medicine
• Beth Travers, PharmD, BCOP, Pediatric oncology
• Patrick Watchorn, PharmD, Pediatric critical care
• Chris Yang, PharmD, Outpatient pediatric complex care 

Current Residents

• Salvatore Richetti, PharmD

Patient Care and Pharmacy Experiences

Required Experiences (4 weeks unless noted)

• Pharmacy orientation (6 weeks)
• General pediatrics
• Pediatric oncology
• Neonatal critical care/nutrition support
• Pediatric critical care
• Pediatric cardiac critical care
• Pediatric emergency medicine

Elective Experiences (4 weeks unless noted)

• Pediatric infectious disease/antimicrobial stewardship
• Pediatric solid organ transplant
• Pediatric bone marrow transplant
• Precepting (5-6 weeks)

*Learning experiences above are examples (not all inclusive) and are subject to change based on availability.

Teaching Experiences 

• Teaching experiences are made available to the resident.  If the resident has not completed a teaching certificate during their PGY1 residency year, the resident is highly encouraged to participate in the Mastery of Teaching Certification offered through the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.  If the resident does not complete the teaching certificate program, they are encouraged to participate in teaching opportunities as available such as didactic lectures, small and large group facilitations, and APPE pharmacy student precepting. 

   
Research/Quality Improvement Experiences

• Medication use evaluation (MUE)
  • The resident is required to complete an MUE which they will select based upon their professional interest.  The resident will present their MUE as a poster presentation.
• Research/quality improvement project
  The resident is required to complete a research/quality improvement project which they will select based upon their professional interest. The resident will present their project as a platform presentation at the annual UPMC pharmacy resident research day in June and/or at a national conference. 

Pharmacy Operations

• Pharmacy inpatient operations
  • Every 4th weekend (two 8 hr shifts over 52 weeks)
  • One evening shift per week (4 hr over 46 weeks)  
  • One winter holiday (8 hr) (Thanksgiving day, Christmas day, or New Years day)
  • Memorial day (8hr)
• Clinical pharmacist on-call (during staffing weekend from 8 AM to 8 PM on Saturday and Sunday with back up preceptor (two 12 hr shifts over 52 weeks) 

Professional Development/Leadership Experiences

• Presentations
  • 1 continuing education (CE) presentation
  • 2 patient case presentations
  • 2 clinical pearls
  • 2 journal clubs
• Review and/or creation of department and/or hospital policies and guidelines
• Formulary drug/class review
• Review of appendix topics
• Hospital and pharmacy committee participation
• Encouragement to participate in professional pharmacy organizations such as PPA, ACCP, and ASHP

Requirements for Program Completion

The requirements for successful completion of the program are listed below: 

• The requirements for successful completion of the program are listed below:
• Completion of all UPMC pre-employment and orientation requirements.
• Obtain Pennsylvania pharmacist licensure prior to or within 120 days after the residency program start date
• Provide PGY1 residency certificate within 14 days but no later than 30 days from the start of residency
• Successfully achieve for residency (ACHR) 80% of the required ASHP PGY2 pediatric competencies, goals, and objectives
• Complete and provide documentation of the required pediatric appendix topics in PharmAcademic
• Complete the requirements of the individualized training plans
• Complete all rotation presentation requirements as outlined in the residency manual
• Complete all required pharmacy operations shifts as outlined in the manual
• Complete at least one drug/class review
• Complete a medication use evaluation and present as a poster presentation
• Complete   a new or update a policy or guideline
• Successfully present a formal continuing education presentation
• Complete and present a large quality improvement/clinical research project as a platform presentation at a local or national conference
• Submit a manuscript suitable for publication
• Maintain an up-to-date electronic residency portfolio and upload files to support deliverables into PharmAcademic 

Manual/Policy and Procedures 

View the manual

Start Date: July 1st
Term of Appointment: 52 weeks
Number of positions: 1
Stipend and Benefit Information

• Yearly Stipend: $58,249 (2026-2027 paid monthly)
• Paid Time Off: 20 days (vacation and sick) + 5 paid holidays

• Benefits: Health, dental, eye care, life, and disability at no cost plus an annual food stipend, free on-site parking

  GME Benefits and Stipends | Medical Education | UPMC

• Travel: A travel stipend may be available as determined on an annual basis

Application Requirements

• Graduating or have graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy.
• Current enrollment in or completion of a PGY1 residency in pharmacy
• Enrolled in the National Matching Services (NMS)
• Must be licensed or eligible for pharmacist licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Application Process

An application must be submitted through PhORCAS by January 2nd and include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of intent describing rationale for residency training and career goals
• Pharmacy school transcripts
• Three completed standardized reference forms in PhORCAS
  • At least one must be from PGY1 residency program director
  • At least one must be from a PGY1 clinical preceptor
  • Reference writers are encouraged to discuss all applicable PhORCAS characteristics, but must provide specific details regarding communication, time management, clinical problem solving skills, independence/resourcefulness, and accepting constructive criticism. 

Our Timeline

All applicants will be notified by email in early January of the potential interview dates for interview planning purposes. Select candidates will be invited for an on-site or virtual interview, which are typically conducted on select dates in late January/early February.

This residency site agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept, or use any ranking related information from any residency candidate.

• PPA Residency Showcase (Virtual)
• ACCP x SNPhA Residency Showcase (Virtual)
• ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Residency Showcase (In Person)