The PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is a one-year postgraduate training program with ASHP candidate accreditation status.

Program Purpose and Goals

PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

The program consists of rotations throughout a variety of infectious diseases specialty areas and antimicrobial stewardship experiences designed to develop advanced skills and competencies necessary to be competent and confident practitioners of pharmaceutical care in infectious diseases and leaders in antimicrobial stewardship.

Graduates of this PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency will be trained to practice as a highly qualified clinical pharmacy specialist or clinical faculty member, capable of effectively managing complex infectious diseases patients and leading an antimicrobial stewardship program in an academic medical center, community hospital, or health system. The resident will also develop the skills needed to provide education to health care professionals and trainees, while producing high quality clinical research.

About Our Program

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is an academic, tertiary care medical center, located within the Texas Medical Center (TMC) and serves as the primary teaching hospital for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) McGovern Medical School. It is also part of the Memorial Hermann Health System, one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in Texas, which includes 15 hospitals and numerous specialty programs throughout the greater Houston area.

Our hospital is uniquely positioned as an academic medical center within a hospital system, allowing PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residents to learn from the complex cases at our institution, while understanding the intricacies of performing antimicrobial stewardship at a community hospital and at the hospital-system level. Patient populations regularly encountered at Memorial Hermann-TMC include severe trauma, burns, solid organ transplant, HIV, oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, OBGYN, and pediatrics. Our close affiliation with the UTHealth McGovern Medical School offers many opportunities to educate and learn alongside physician trainees within their robust structure of clinical conferences, journal clubs, and lectures, in addition to those offered with pharmacy trainees. This affiliation also enables the resident to collaborate with world-renowned infectious diseases and microbiology faculty on research projects. A unique collaboration among infectious diseases pharmacists across the Texas Medical Center affords the resident the chance to present to and learn from ID pharmacy trainees and clinical specialists at multiple sites.

Rotations and Experiences

PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residents will be exposed to a broad range of experiences and activities intended to build the skills necessary to practice as a clinical pharmacist in infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship. Residents are required to complete an orientation month, along with 8 month-long core rotations. The remaining months will consist of a research project month and 2 month-long elective rotations.

Residents will conduct a longitudinal research project throughout their residency year that includes presenting the results at a regional residency conference and preparing a written manuscript. Presentation skills will be enhanced by giving an ACPE-accredited seminar presentation along with other formal presentations throughout the year. Residents will also gain experience with teaching and precepting through the opportunity to complete a Teaching Certificate program and by co-precepting pharmacy students on clinical rotations.

Required Learning Experiences (Month-Long)
  • Orientation
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases Consults - Academic Service
  • Infectious Diseases Consults - Private Service
  • Transplant Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship I & II
  • Community Hospital Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship (Off-Site)
Elective Learning Experiences (Month-Long)
  • Transplant Infectious Diseases II
  • Infectious Diseases Consults - Academic Service II

Required Longitudinal Experiences

  • ID Clinic (one half-day weekly)
    • Aug. - Dec.: General ID
    • Jan. - Jun: Transplant ID
  • LCEP Student Menor (8 months)
  • Major Research/QI Project (year-long)
  • Professional Development (11 months)
    • Short Topic Presentation (30 minutes)
    • Seminar CE Presentation (1 hour)
    • UT ID Journal Club - 2 Presentations
    • Residency Journal Club - 1 Presentation
    • TMC ID Pharmacy Trainee Joint Antimicrobial Pharmacology Curriculum - Lead 4 Discussions
    • PGY2 Topic Discussion - Lead 1 Discussion
    • UT ID Fellow Lectures - Lead 2 Lectures
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Administration and Formulary Management (11 months)
    • Medication Use Evaluation (1)
    • Drug Monograph/Antimicrobial Class Review (1)
    • Clinical Guideline or Protocol Development/Update (1)
    • Pharmacist or Health Care Provider Written Education (1)
    • Attend ≥ 75% of MH-TMC Antimicrobial Stewardship Subcommittee Meetings (6 meetings total)
    • Plan and lead final ASP meeting of the year
  • Clinical Weekend Coverage (~16 weekends per year)

Benefits

Office: Dedicated pharmacy resident office space with personal laptop computer, SpectraLink mobile hospital phone, and pager
Stipend: Approximately $55,000
Vacation: 10 days plus 6 holidays (Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Memorial Day)
Meetings: Financial support is offered to attend IDWeek and the Annual Texas Medical Center Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference
Health Insurance: Health, dental and vision plans are available
Taxes: Texas has no state income tax

ASHP Midyear Information

  • The PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency will be at the Residency Showcase at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in December. Please visit with us to learn more about our residency opportunities.

Application Requirements

  • A strong academic record and a demonstrated desire for professional accomplishment.
  • Graduated from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy with a Pharm.D.
  • Completed a one-year ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency.
  • Eligibility for licensure as a pharmacist in Texas
    • See the Texas State Board of Pharmacy website for licensure requirements.
    • All residents MUST be licensed within 60 days of the residency start date.
  • Registered with PhORCAS and the ASHP Residency Matching Program.

Application Process

  • To apply for this program, you must submit the following through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS):
    • Letter of Intent
      • Should be 1 to 2 pages, using a 12-point font and 1 inch margins.
      • The letter of intent should address all of the following:
        • Explain why you want to pursue a PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency
        • Discuss your long-term career goals and why you believe this program will help you achieve these goals
    • Curriculum Vitae
      • Please include a list of all completed and anticipated PGY1 rotations and completed APPE rotations.
    • Three Letters of Reference
      • Only the PhORCAS standardized reference form is required.
    • College of Pharmacy Transcripts
      • Should be submitted directly to PhORCAS
  • Application deadline is January 2nd

Applicants considered for a position will be invited for a formal interview with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center during January or February. If possible, applicants will be given a tour of the facilities and will have a chance to meet with the Residency Program Director, clinical pharmacy staff, and current pharmacy residents.

Memorial Hermann recognizes the health benefits of a tobacco-free lifestyle as well as the special duty to maintain and promote a healthy and safe environment for our patients, visitors, physicians, and employees. In an effort to further this goal, Memorial Hermann will no longer hire individuals who use tobacco products in any form.

For further information, contact:

Jessica BabicJessica T. Babic, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Program Director, PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center
Phone: (713) 704-8895
E-mail: Jessica.Babic@memorialhermann.org

 

Texas Medical Center Residency Programs