PGY1: Pharmacy - CarePathRx Pharmacy Program

CarePathRx’s PGY1 pharmacy residency program is a one-year commitment that will provide residents with the knowledge and skills to care for home infusion and specialty pharmacy patient populations.

PSHP Residency Showcase (virtual)
Tuesday October 22nd
form 5-7PM 
Join the meeting now

Site/Location

CarepathRx Pharmacy Services

Program Overview

The CarePathRx PGY1 Pharmacy Residency builds on the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree to develop clinical pharmacists who excel in direct patient management, longitudinal care, and program development in the home and specialty pharmacy setting.

Residents are fully integrated into a health-system–affiliated infusion and specialty practice where they deliver patient-centered care, manage complex therapies, and contribute to advancing innovative home-based clinical programs. This program prepares graduates for board certification and PGY2 training, as well as leadership roles in diverse care environments.

Primary Site: CarePathRx Pharmacy Services (Chartwell Pennsylvania, LP) — Pittsburgh, PA
Program Length: 12 months (Start Date: July 1)

Mission & Vision

Mission

Deliver the most coordinated, comprehensive, and connected end-to-end pharmacy care model for health systems, hospitals, and provider organizations—driving better patient health, improved quality outcomes, and sustainable growth.

Vision

Position pharmacy as an active care management strategy across the continuum of care, transforming outcomes for patients and enabling provider success.

CARE Values

At CarePathRx, our values are built on C.A.R.E., guiding everything we do for our patients, partners, and learners:

• Collaboration – Work together to achieve a shared purpose.
• Accountability – Do what you say you will do.
• Respect – Treat everyone with dignity and professionalism.
• Ethics – Act with integrity. Be honest. Do what is right.

What makes us unique?

• Advanced clinical training: Residents engage in high-touch clinical monitoring — therapy evaluation, disease-based assessments, laboratory review, first-dose oversight, and evidence-based recommendations — with a focus on optimizing patient outcomes in the home setting.
• UPMC partnership: CarePathRx partners with one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers to extend care beyond the hospital and into the home. Residents gain experience managing patients referred from UPMC and work under collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) with select outpatient specialty clinics, including Gastroenterology and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT). This integration provides residents with a unique opportunity to practice at the intersection of specialty clinics and home-based care, ensuring seamless continuity and improved patient outcomes.
• Diverse patient populations: Experience managing complex therapies in oncology, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, rheumatology, neurology, pediatrics, and immunology.
• Faculty expertise: Preceptors hold advanced certifications (BCPS, BCNSP, BCCCP, BCSCP, CSP, IgCP), offering mentorship across a wide spectrum of clinical specialties.
• Program development: Residents lead quality improvement, research, and population health initiatives that directly impact access, safety, and outcomes for patients receiving care at home.
• Career readiness: Graduates leave prepared for high-level clinical roles in specialty, home infusion, and ambulatory care pharmacy.

Program Overview

Patient Care and Pharmacy Experiences

Core Block Rotations (4–6 weeks each)

• Orientation
• Home Infusion I & II
• Infectious Disease
• Nutrition Support
• Oncology
• Specialty Pharmacy

Core Longitudinal Rotations

• Clinical Support – 40 weeks
• Research – 44 weeks
• Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) – 20 weeks
• Pharmacotherapy Updates: Lecture Series & Continuing Education (PULSE) – 14 weeks
• Staffing – 48 weeks
• Medication Safety – 44 weeks
• Management and Leadership – 30 weeks

Elective Rotations (4–6 weeks each, based on resident interest & preceptor availability)

• Advanced Home Infusion
• Advanced Specialty Pharmacy
• Clinical Immunology (Virtual)
• Clinical Telepharmacy (Virtual)
• Advanced Practice

Teaching Experiences

Residents may choose to participate in the Mastery of Teaching Program through the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy (Optional, 48 weeks).

Research & Quality Improvement Experiences

• Completion of a major research project with manuscript suitable for publication and presentation at a regional/national meeting (e.g., ASHP Midyear, NHIA, Pitt Pharmacy Resident Research Day).
• Conduct at least one Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) and present findings to leadership.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, guideline development, and outcomes-focused projects that directly enhance patient care and program advancement.

Professional Development/Leadership Experiences

Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences:

• Management and Leadership

Requirements for Program Completion

To successfully complete the program, residents must:

• Obtain Pennsylvania pharmacist licensure within 90 days of the program start date (120 days may be granted only for extenuating circumstances; 90-day licensure is strongly encouraged)
• Complete all required learning experiences and evaluations
• Achieve ≥80% of program goals and objectives as “Achieved for Residency (ACHR)” with no final “Needs Improvement” ratings
• Deliver:
  • ≥3 Journal Clubs
  • ≥3 Case Presentations
  • ≥3 Topic Discussions
  • ≥1 Grand Rounds CE-level presentation (with audience assessment included in portfolio)
  • ≥1 Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) with presentation to leadership
  • ≥1 major research project with manuscript suitable for publication and presentation
• Complete ≥200 staffing hours (including one major and one minor holiday)
• Submit a comprehensive residency portfolio

Manual/Policy and Procedures

Residents are expected to comply with CarePathRx policies and ASHP standards, including:

• Duty hours and staffing requirements
• Licensure timeline
• Resident well-being support
• Attendance and professionalism expectations
• Remediation and evaluation processes

The residency manual and policies will be distributed at the time of the interview invitation and upon request.

Highlights of Policies:

Duty Hours

• Duty hours are defined as all scheduled clinical and academic activities related to the pharmacy residency program. (does not include: reading, studying, and academic preparation time for presentations, journal clubs; or travel time to and from conferences; and hours that are not scheduled by the residency program director or preceptor).
• Duty hours must be limited to 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period, inclusive of all in-house call activities and all moonlighting.
• All moonlighting hours must be counted towards the 80-hour maximum weekly hour limit. (All moonlighting hours must be approved by the program director in advance).
• Mandatory time free of duty: residents must have a minimum of one day in seven days free of duty (when averaged over four weeks). At-home call cannot be assigned on these free days.

PTO/Leave

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Accrual: Residents earn 17 days of PTO, accruing bi-weekly after a 90-day waiting period.
  • Usage: PTO must be used for all absences; not available during the last two weeks of the program.
  • Approval: Must be requested 45 days in advance and approved by the Residency Program Director (RPD) and relevant preceptor.
  • Sick Days: Must notify RPD and preceptor as soon as possible; extended sick leave may require adjustments to the learning experience.
  • Professional Days: Attendance at mandatory professional events (e.g., ASHP Midyear) is not counted against PTO.
• Leave of Absence
  • Residents may need extended leave for illness, family, or personal reasons and should inform the Residency Program Director (RPD) as soon as possible. Those requiring leave may qualify for short-term disability and other benefits. Approval from the RPD and Human Resources is necessary to maintain eligibility for a certificate of completion.
  • Given the temporary 12 month duration of employment, pharmacy residents would not be eligible for FMLA.
  • Bereavement Leave: Paid leave available for family death, with additional time requiring PTO approval.

Licensure

Residents are strongly encouraged to obtain Pennsylvania licensure before starting the residency program.

• Licensure Timeline:
  • Residents should aim to be licensed within 90 days of starting the residency
  • Extensions of up to 30 days may be granted for extenuating circumstances.
  • Failure to obtain licensure within 120 days may result in termination from the residency.
  • Extension: If an extension is needed, the Residency Program Director (RPD) and Residency Advisory Council (RAC) will review the situation and make a determination.

Dismissal

The following may be considered for dismissal from the residency program:

• Unsatisfactory Performance defined as failure to meet program requirements
• Academic or professional misconduct
• Endangering the health and safety of others, including patients, employees, or other persons
• Failure to comply with hospital, departmental or UPMC policies, practices, and directives
• Abandonment of position/employment

Remediation Plan: The Resident Program Director (RPD) will create a remediation plan for those receiving an NI in any objective or inability to Earn Achieved for Residency (ACHR) in ≥80% in a sufficient time to complete the program.

Moonlighting

Moonlighting must not interfere with educational goals or patient safety. The Residency Program Director (RPD) has the authority to grant or revoke moonlighting privileges.

• Approval Process:
  • Residents must submit a Request for Moonlight Privileges form for pre-approval, detailing:
    • Type of moonlighting (internal or external)
    • Proposed hours and dates
    • Current rotation
    • Confirmation of communication with the RPD
• Performance Monitoring:
  • If moonlighting negatively affects performance, the RPD or Residency Advisory Council (RAC) may withdraw moonlighting permissions.
• Documentation:
  • Residents must document all moonlighting experiences in their duty hour reporting.

Well-Being

Residents facing fatigue or emergencies can utilize support without fear of repercussions.

• Employee Assistance Program: Provides confidential counseling and support for personal issues affecting job performance.

Resident well-being is regularly assessed through duty-hour tracking and quarterly development plans, with results reviewed by the Residency Program Director (RPD) and Residency Advisory Committee (RAC).

• Preceptor Education: Preceptors are trained to recognize burnout signs and provide resources for at-risk residents.
• Mentorship Program: Residents are assigned mentors for regular check-ins to foster open communication and support.

Events

PSHP Virtual Residency & Fellowship Showcase
Date/Time: October 23 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Join via Teams

ACCP – 2025 SNPhA x ACCP Residency Showcase (Virtual)
Meeting ID: 250 977 054 252 4 | Passcode: kW7kZ6Nk
Date/Time: November 11 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Join via Teams

Pitt/Duquesne Residency Showcase (In Person)
Meeting ID: 215 224 277 568 0 | Passcode: 68fc9sM3
Date/Time: November 12 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Salk Hall

CarepathRx Open House (Virtual)
Date/Time: November 20 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Join via Teams

ASHP Midyear Residency Showcase (In Person)
Meeting ID: 264 604 154 709 7 | Passcode: 9Es79CG3
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9 | 8:00 – 11:00 AM

Employment Information

Start Date: July 1

Term of Appointment: 12 months

Stipend and Benefit Information

                Yearly Stipend: $52,797 (2024–2025)
                Paid Time Off: 18 days
                Benefits: Health, dental, eye care, life, and disability insurance available
                Travel: Travel-related costs for required conferences (2024–2025 included ASHP and NHIA) will be covered at 100%

Application & Interview Information

Applications must be completed through PhORCAS by January 2.
Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

Submit:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Academic transcript
• Letter of intent
• Three references (≥1 from a clinical preceptor)

Eligibility: Licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Interviews: January–February

Meet Our Team

Program Leadership

Residency Program Director 
Leita Frey PharmD, BCPS

Preceptor Faculty

• Stephanie Pancheri, RPh
• Shelby Schott, PharmD
• Andrew Sobek, PharmD
• Krysta Cornyn, PharmD
• Emily Stipanovich, PharmD
• Kayla Szabo, PharmD, BCNSP
• Rebecca Tokarski, PharmD, BCNSP
• Michael White, PharmD, CSP
• Megan Zielke, PharmD, BCCCP
• Tanya Ring, PharmD, IgCP
• Claire Meredith, PharmD
• Jesse Baldoni, PharmD, CSP
• Aviva Bodek, PharmD, BCPS

Current Residents

Kathryn Mazeski, PharmD

Alumni & First Positions

• Jake Burkhalter, PharmD (Class of 2021–2022) – Home Infusion Pharmacist
• Claire Meredith, PharmD (Class of 2022–2023) – Specialty Pharmacist
• Sarah Masri, PharmD (Class of 2023–2024) – Clinical Pharmacist, PipelineRx (sister company)
• Erika Howard, PharmD (Class of 2024–2025) – Pursuing a career in Home Infusion Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA