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PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

Our program trains pharmacists to be independent, well rounded clinicians with the ability to work collaboratively to maximize positive clinical outcomes in a diverse patient population.

The Baylor Scott & White Health PGY1 Pharmacy Residency is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Our program is based on the Residency Learning System (RLS) developed by ASHP and managed by the Residency Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC closely follows residents' progress through the training program and provides direction when necessary.

We accept four PGY1 residents each year. We also have one PGY2 position in each of the following areas: Critical Care, Oncology and Transplant.

What makes our program unique

Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, provides a wide variety of experiences that would be challenging to encounter at smaller facilities. As the flagship hospital for a 26 hospital health system, BUMC is an integral part of driving change within the system. We are a Level 1 Trauma, comprehensive stroke center and receives some of the sickest patients in the Dallas area. Our medicine, cardiology, and ICUs often receive patient transfers for higher levels of care, always ensuring our residents see the most interesting cases in the system. We are always looking for additional experiences to add to the program so it can be tailored to your interests. We recently have been able to send residents on a transplant rotation to a local clinic where they can experience the transitions of care and ambulatory setting from a different perspective.

Curriculum

Our pharmacy department offers you an ideal learning environment as a pharmacy resident. You have the flexibility to tailor your residency experience to your specific interests. Your clinical experiences will offer myriad opportunities to pursue your professional goals while you prepare to become an independent clinician, pursue a PGY2 or fellowship in a specialized area, or serve as a preceptor for pharmacy students.

Our decentralized services are provided by service line teams, which include clinical pharmacists, clinical specialists, and technicians in the areas of critical care, internal medicine/surgery, solid organ transplant, women's and children's health, oncology and cardiology. The staff in these areas are directly engaged in providing pharmaceutical care to our patients and serve as an immediate resource for the medical and nursing staffs concerning drug information and drug therapy review.

Additional services provided by the department include a pharmacokinetic consult service, drug therapy management, formulary management, therapeutic substitution, patient education, drug information and protocol development.

Mentorship

Each resident can select an advisor who guides and mentors the resident throughout the year. During orientation, you will choose a personal mentor to help guide and support you both professionally and personally through the year. Additionally, your seminar and research advisors will serve as project mentors. The RPD and RPC in addition to our Leadership Team will serve as mentors throughout your residency. While it’s a big place you are always supported!

Staffing Requirements

PGY1 residents staff every other weekend to gain proficiency in our hybrid clinical staffing model. Residents will also work one summer and one winter holiday. Additionally, each resident will progress into taking on-call drug information responsibilities. The on-call consists of the resident assisting in the resolution of clinical issues primarily by phone or computer. Remote access to the electronic medical record as well as drug information references are made available to the resident.

Teaching Opportunities

Residents have numerous opportunities to assist in the teaching of students and residents from multiple disciplines including pharmacy, medicine, nursing, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. BUMC is a clinical rotation site for students from the University of North Texas, Texas Tech and the University Of Texas College of Pharmacy. Residents will co-precept the longitudinal pharmacy students. A teaching certificate is offered in conjunction with the University of North Texas College of Pharmacy. The teaching certificate is a comprehensive, longitudinal experience that begins with didactic and web-based curriculum. It also involves presenting a lecture and facilitating small group learning.

Schedules

Schedules are based on resident preference, elective choices, career goals and preceptor availability. The initial schedule is set during orientation and evaluated quarterly based on the resident's customized plan. The program complies with the ASHP Accreditation Standards for PGY1 Pharmacy Residencies and the ASHP duty-hour requirements.

Throughout the residency you may discover new areas of interest. Our program is extremely flexible with elective rotation experiences to accommodate the resident’s interests and goals. Our goal is to provide each resident with a well-rounded but individualized experience that will enable them to achieve their career goals. Residents are asked to choose their elective choices as soon as possible to ensure preceptor availability for top choice rotations. We also make every effort to schedule top choice rotations for residents considering a PGY2 prior to December.

Each resident will complete 10 rotational learning experiences that are 4-5 weeks in length. Orientation, medicine I and order entry training completed during the first two months of the residency. During orientation a customized development plan and rotation schedule is created based on the resident's initial interests, career goals, and prior experience as well as the resident's strengths and opportunities for improvement. The development plan and schedule are evaluated quarterly and adjusted when needed in effort to accommodate as many requests as possible.

Sample Schedule

R1
7/6/20 – 8/7/20

OE Training
8/8/20 – 8/28/20

R2
8/31/20 – 9/25/20

R3
10/5/20 – 10/30/20

R4
11/2/20 – 11/27/20

R5
11/30/20 – 1/8/21

R6
1/11/21 – 2/5/21

Interviews
2/8/21 -2/19/21

R7
2/22/21 – 3/19/21

R8
3/22/21 – 4/23/21

R9
4/26/21 – 5/21/21

R10
5/24/21 – 6/18/21

Medicine I

ED

ID

Hem/Onc

BMT

MICU

Admin

Medicine II

TOC

SOT

Medicine I

MICU

CTICU

ED

Admin

ID

TOC

Hem/Onc

SOT

Medicine II

Medicine I

MICU

ID

Heart Failure

SOT

TOC

Hem/Onc

Medicine II

Admin

ED

Medicine I

SOT

Admin

BMT

Medicine II

ID

MICU

TOC

IDS

STICU

Required Areas of Training

Our four- to five-week rotations include:

  • Hospital pharmacy orientation
  • Medicine 1
  • Medicine 2
  • Transition of care
  • Administration
  • Critical care
  • Infectious diseases

Electives

Elective rotations are tailored to each individual resident's needs and desires. Our four-week elective opportunities may include:

  • Antimicrobial stewardship
  • Bone marrow transplant
  • Cardiovascular/surgical/trauma ICU
  • Emergency medicine
  • Transplant (abdominal/thoracic)
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Investigational drug services
  • Neonatal ICU
  • Oncology
  • Cardiology

Longitudinal Experiences

Residents are exposed to these longitudinal experiences throughout the duration of the residency:

  • Code blue
  • Drug information
  • Teaching certificate
  • Research
  • Seminar
  • Staffing

Code Blue

The PGY1 residents rotate in one-week cycles, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents are accompanied by the primary preceptor or PGY2 in critical care resident during all code situations until signed off to attend independently. Residents' primary responsibilities include preparing crash cart medications and overall assistance throughout the code.

Drug Information

The PGY1 residents rotate in one-week cycles through this 24/7 service. Residents respond to drug information inquirers from the pharmacy staff and evaluate non-formulary requests from management. No overnight staffing is required.

Professional Meetings

Our residents attend ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) Annual Seminar to present their poster and research.

Projects and Presentations

We strive to provide our residents with every learning opportunity possible. Each resident will be responsible for completing a research project and medication use evaluation/quality improvement project which provides two potential opportunities for publication. Residents will also complete a CE seminar presentation, drug formulary review, and at least two formal patient case and journal club presentations. Additionally, residents will complete drug information questions and contribute to the monthly Baylor Mailer newsletter.

Residents will have the opportunity to select projects from a list created by the Residency Research and Presentation Committees in effort to ensure projects are impactful to the Resident and Hospital. Residents can submit ideas for consideration; however, we always offer an array of diverse topics to meet the different resident interests. Throughout the year our goal is to provide projects that encompass many specialties to maximize your knowledge to ensure you have a well-rounded experience.

Our department provides support services for clinical research involving investigational drugs. Our pharmacists, in conjunction with the Institutional Review Board, help to assure that policies and procedures for the safe use of these drugs are established and followed.

Major areas of research include:

  • Anticoagulation
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Critical Care
  • Internal Care
  • Operational efficiencies
  • Oncology
  • Pain Management
  • Transplantation

Posters:

  • Nguyen P, Sam T, Colley P, Van Zyl J, Berhe M, Meyer D. Selection of Antibiotics for Prophylaxis of Left Ventricular Assist Device Surgical Infections: More is Not More. Accepted abstract and poster presentation. IDWeek October 25, 2020, Virtual.
  • Patel H, Parker CR, Hernandez O, Schwartz G, Meyer D, Tecson KM, Roden-Foreman J, Vaughan N. Comparison of the adjunctive use of ketamine versus standard of care in sedation and analgesic management in patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO). Accepted abstract and poster presentation. ELSO Conference September, 14 2019, Austin, TX.
  • John R, Colley P, Nguyen H, Berhe M. Outcomes Analysis in Patients with Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) Bacteremia Empirically Treated with Piperacillin/tazobactam versus Carbapenems. Accepted abstract and poster presentation. IDWeek October 6, 2018, San Francisco, CA. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofy210.2095
  • Bast C, Colley P, Roth J, Nguyen H, Naftalis R, Berhe M. Incidence of Infection in Patients Receiving Short versus Long Duration of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Neurosurgery. Accepted abstract and poster presentation. IDWeek October 6, 2018, San Francisco, CA. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofy210.1799
  • Carr A, Berhe M, Colley P; Risk Factors for Candidemia as Compared with Patients with Negative Blood Cultures Placed on Empiric Micafungin, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Volume 4, Issue suppl_1, 1 October 2017, Pages S79, https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofx163.021

Published Manuscripts

  • John R, Colley P, Nguyen H & Berhe M (2019). Outcomes analysis in patients with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase bacteremia empirically treated with piperacillin/tazobactam versus carbapenems. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 32:2, 187-191, DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2019.1582466
  • Carr A, Colley P, Berhe M, Nguyen H (2018). Evaluating predictors of invasive candidiasis in patients with and without candidemia on micafungin. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 31:1, 30-34, DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2017.1396164

Here is a selection of the benefits we provide. (For a complete list, view our Benefits page)

  • Paid Time Off: 15 days
  • Free parking, discounted bus passes available and a DART rail station on campus
  • Professional leave: Residents will be allowed professional leave and travel expenses for attendance at professional seminars and meetings such as the ASHP Clinical Mid-Year Meeting, the Spring Residency Leadership Conference and the Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists Annual Meeting
  • Dedicated office and computer
  • Access to Baylor Health Sciences Library and electronic references

Residents

Leah Amundson, PharmD

Hometown:
Prior Lake, Minnesota
Pharmacy:
Drake University, Des Moines, IA
Research:
Incidence and outcomes of infusion related reactions among biosimilar agents and parent compounds (bevacizumab) in oncology patients
Seminar:
CRE Treatment Updates: Diagnostics, Mechanisms, New Agents, and Agents in the Pipeline

Carrigan Belcher, PharmD

Hometown:
Cordele, Georgia
Pharmacy:
Mercer University, Atlanta, GA
Research:
Evaluation of Unfractionated Heparin Dosing by Anti-Xa during Targeted Temperature Management Post Cardiac Arrest
Seminar:
Future approaches to relapsed Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia patients

Jenny Lee, PharmD

Hometown:
Houston, Texas
Pharmacy:
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX
Research:
Antimicrobial prophylaxis in liver transplant - long and broad vs short and narrow
Seminar:
Antithrombotic therapy updates: direct oral anticoagulants in renal failure, cancer, triple therapy

Words from our Residents

Having the opportunity to be a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Resident at Baylor University Medical Center has been a truly invaluable experience. The opportunities afforded to me at this institution have not only expanded my clinical knowledge base but have also given me the tools and resources I need to become a professional and confident practitioner.

Throughout the year I have been challenged to provide optimal patient care, be an active member of the healthcare team, and develop my independence.

The culture of Baylor is centered around inclusivity, which has allowed me as a learner to exponentially improve upon my weakness and further develop my strengths.

Witnessing my progression through this residency has been very inspiring and it has motivated me to continually develop my skills so that I can be an asset to the department and the profession as a whole. I am grateful for all of the lessons I have learned this year and will continue to carry them forward in my career.

If you had asked me in 2018 where I would be in one year, I would have told you I didn't think I was going to match with such a prestigious healthcare institution, such as Baylor Scott & White.

Nonetheless, like several fortunate others I opened my email to find that I had matched with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. I was elated, to the brink near tears.

What school can’t prepare you for is what I call the "365-day rule." 365 days is the time allotted to garner the necessary skills to transform yourself into a safe and effective pharmacist clinician that works interdependently with the medical team to maximize positive clinical outcomes.

It was amongst the whirlwind of patient care activities and projects that I found myself being transformed into the person I am today, an effective clinician.

I can confidently say that Baylor Scott & White Health has instilled both the core values and equipped me with a wide variety of tools aimed at optimizing patient care, and I know that I will take what I have garnered over the past year into the next phase of my training as an aspiring critical care pharmacist

Like any residency-bound fourth-year pharmacy student, I had my list of what I was looking for in a residency program: a high-volume hospital with an acute and diverse patient population, experienced preceptors, and an in-house Starbucks to name a few. Check, check, and check!

Now, sitting here at the end of my PGY1 experience, I realize that the real reasons that have made my time here at BUMC so special goes far beyond those items on my initial checklist.

There have been too many unforgettable and impactful moments to name: talking to my favorite BMT patient about her love for painting birdhouses, mentoring students on rotation, joking around with my preceptors, meeting the medical residents for happy hour, having potluck dinners with my co-residents, exploring Dallas on the weekends—the list goes on!

I’ve come to realize that the people make the place, and while there are many reasons this past year has been amazing, the best part of it all was simply becoming a part of the Baylor family!

How to Apply

We use the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PHORCAS) to accept applications, transcripts and other supporting application materials.

Application deadline is January 1.

Visit PHORCAS to apply

Application Requirements

Looking for well-rounded candidates with research, leadership, work and presentation experience.

Eligible Candidates must have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, minimum GPA 3.0 and Texas licensure eligibility.

Applicants must also submit:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • A letter of intent detailing reason for interest in completing a pharmacy practice residency, short and long-term career goals and how our program will assist in meetings those goals
  • Three ASHP recommendation forms, with at least one completed by a supervisor/manager
  • Academic transcripts for professional pharmacy education

Residency Recruitment Plan

We are committed to our candidates and preceptors safety. We will be attending virtual showcases and hosting a program-specific open house. Please check back for details.

Visit the ASHP site for program information

Interviews

Travel restrictions can be unpredictable at this time. Therefore we will be conducting virtual interviews. We know it can be difficult to choose a program in a city or hospital you haven’t visited but we will ensure you get to know our residents, preceptors and program culture throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

The PGY1 pharmacy residency program at Baylor University Medical Center was established in 1903 and officially accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in 1990.

We understand applying to Residencies can be a daunting task. We want you to stand out on paper so this is what we look for:
  • Grades: In order to ensure you have a solid clinical knowledge base a GPA of 3.0 is our cutoff.
  • Leadership and Professional Involvement: Demonstrates your ability to lead and multitask throughout school. If you were involved in organizations outside of Pharmacy be sure to include those (e.g. student athlete). Explain your contribution to the organization or activity.
  • Research: It’s extremely had to get published as a student. However, the journey to publication is a valuable learning experience. Some research questions are drawn from an MUE or quality improvement project. Ask for these experiences if your rotations do not offer them.
  • Presentations: We look for presentations that are given beyond your rotation experiences (e.g. CE, professional meetings, grand rounds, etc.)
  • Projects: Highlight formulary reviews, MUEs, development of clinical services.
  • Work and Volunteer Experience: Include not just Pharmacy and research related work as we value diverse experiences.
  • Rotations: We have applicants from across the country so we don’t know how all Rotations are laid out. Ensure your experiences are highlighted in your CV. Preference is given to those candidates who take challenging patient care directed clinical rotations.
  • Letters of Recommendation: We look for letters where it is clear the writer knows the candidates. Verify they can comment on your strengths and opportunities beyond a numerical score. If you are passionate about a Specialty and have taken that rotation then preference would be to have that preceptor write a letter. Ensure your letter writer has enough time to complete and will submit your Letters of Recommendation on time. We only evaluate letters submitted via Phorcas. Do not have your letter writers email additional content.
  • Letter of Intent: Make these FUN! Don’t just transcribe your CV or information you’ve found on our website. Communicate your “Why” and how your experiences set you apart from other candidates. We want to get to know you! Keep letters to about a page.

Absolutely. The resident must communicate this intention to the respective residency program director (RPD) and submit a written letter of intent. Pursuant to the receipt of the application, the RPD will conduct an interview of the candidate and follow ASHP Residency Matching Program guidelines. Candidates not choosing to early commit or those who are not offered early commitment by the PGY2 program may still apply to the PGY2 program but are required to participate in the ASHP Match.

We accept applications from non-US citizens, but we are unable to sponsor visas or green cards for residents. In order to apply, a candidate must be able to secure an appropriate visa for employment, as well as ensure they will be qualified to take licensure examinations.

Yes, please ensure your transcripts include an explanation of grades so it can be compared to a 4.0 scale. We strongly suggest you have preceptors write robust letters of reference (in Phorcas) detailing your drug knowledge, clinical experience and accomplishments in addition to sending your undergraduate transcripts.

We ask for a letter from you supervisor/manager is order to assess your ability to follow a schedule, work with others and be a team player outside of school, manage conflict and work through problems not in a guideline or on a test. Some options for letter writers include: volunteer supervisor or research advisor.

PharmAcademic will be utilized for all formal residency related evaluations. A customized development plan is created based on the resident's initial interests, career goals, and prior experience as well as the resident’s strengths and opportunities for improvement during orientation. The development plan is evaluated quarterly and adjusted when needed to ensure resident growth and progression. Each preceptor will evaluate the resident based on the learning experience goals and objectives and the level of improvement from the last performance assessment. For each learning experience the residents will be responsible for assessment of their own performance, the preceptor, and learning experience. All assignments, including journal clubs and presentations will be evaluated by attendees.

Yes, the residents have a dedicated office space with a personal computer, phone and printer.

Unfortunately, due to the number of requests we are not able to offer onsite visits at this time. However, we want to ensure that all your questions are answered regarding our program so we are available at recruiting events as well as via email or phone. Please don't hesitate to reach out!

BUMC is a community teaching hospital affiliated with Texas A&M College of Medicine. The Pharmacy department is not associated with a particular College of Pharmacy, but we do have longitudinal P4 students from University of Texas, University of North Texas and Texas Tech rotating throughout the year. Despite its name, the hospital it is no longer affiliated with Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Our program is tailored to help residents achieve their career goals. Some of our residents have pursued specialized PGY2 programs, while others have become clinical specialists, managers, coordinators, and directors of pharmacy. While some of our residents have stayed with BSWH as clinical pharmacists, others have chosen to impact patient care across the country.

Contact Us

Angela Straza, PharmD
Phone: 214.820.9797
Angela.Straza@BSWHealth.org

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
Baylor University Medical Center
3500 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75246

Working at Baylor Scott & White Health

Compensation and Benefits

The stipend for our pharmacy residents is set at $47,476 paid in 24 installments over a 12-month period. In addition to a competitive stipend, we offer our residents a full menu of employee benefits. We help offset the cost of many of these benefits; others are options you can choose to pay for yourself.

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Life in Dallas

Dallas provides access to metropolitan entertainment and culture while maintaining the lowest cost of living among the top 10 largest U.S. cities.

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Why Baylor Scott & White

As the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, Baylor Scott & White Health includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 patient care sites, more than 6,000 active physicians and more than 40,000 employees.

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