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Pharmacy Residency
Oncology Pharmacy Residency
The PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency program builds upon a 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 along with board certification.
Program description
The University of Kansas Health System offers an ASHP-accredited PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency. The University of Kansas Hospital is an academic teaching hospital with 1,000+ beds, and 116 of those are dedicated to hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and has 2,600+ outpatient cancer care visits weekly. This residency centers on the development of pharmacists who will become dynamic patient advocates who collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based pharmacotherapy and heighten patient-centered results. Through various clinical, practice management and project experiences, residents will become competent at providing optimal drug therapy for patients with cancer and act as a leader in advancing patient care.
Length of program: 12 months, starting in July
Number of positions: 4
Current benefits
- Annual salary: $56,000
- Benefits include PTO, paid holidays, health/dental/life/liability insurance
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Contact us
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Pharmacy
2330 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Suite 305, Mailstop 5028
Westwood, KS 66205
Pharmacy
2330 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Suite 305, Mailstop 5028
Westwood, KS 66205
Meet our residents
Elizabeth Nash, PharmD
Hometown: Warrenton, Missouri
Pharmacy school: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
PGY1: HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital
Clinical interests: Solid tumor oncology and pain and palliative care
Hobbies: Listening to live music, spending time with friends and family and jamming to Taylor Swift
Research project: Outcomes of Chemotherapy Desensitization
Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: The people who work at the health system are special. They always have the patient at the center of any discussion and are excited to incorporate emerging data. I dreamed of a residency that would expose me to as many parts of hematology and oncology as possible and The University of Kansas Health System does just that! I am most excited about getting to experience all of the outpatient cancer clinics.
Kamyar Kian, PharmD
Hometown: Rasht, Iran
Pharmacy school: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
PGY1: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Oregon
Clinical interests: Neuro-oncology and palliative care
Hobbies: Writing, playing music and boxing
Research project: Comparison of standard versus reduced initial dose of cabozantinib in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): A retrospective analysis of tolerability and clinical outcomes
Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: I was drawn to our program from the very start, captivated by the prospect of experiencing both hematology and oncology rotations, along with a dynamic mix of inpatient and outpatient opportunities that would undoubtedly guide my career path. The camaraderie of 3 co-residents promised a sturdy foundation for my PGY2 residency, while the renowned cancer center brimming with clinical oncology pharmacists offered a fertile ground for growth in clinic, teaching and research. The interview sealed the deal, affirming that this program resonated with my values and aspirations like no other. And let's not forget the allure of Kansas City, a vibrant city I've come to cherish, offering the perfect backdrop for personal and professional adventures.
Megan McCarron, PharmD
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York
Pharmacy school: The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy
PGY1: Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis
Clinical interests: Hematology, oncology, BMT
Hobbies: Exploring new restaurants, attending football games and long-walks with my bichon, Beau
Research project: Real-world comparative evaluation of ibrutinib, acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib tolerability in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: I was initially drawn to the program with the multitude of learning experiences, as well as inpatient and outpatient settings offered. From the moment I met with the preceptors, it was obvious that they are dedicated to the learning and growth of residents, which is truly unmatched.
Rebecca Zodrow, PharmD
Hometown: Austin, Arkansas
Pharmacy school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
PGY1: The University of Kansas Health System
Clinical interests: Malignant hematology, nonmalignant hematology, CAR T, BMT
Hobbies: Spending time with family, reading, eating chips and salsa, and watching football
Research project: Posaconazole Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: I chose The University of Kansas Health System for its wealth of clinical rotations, diverse patient population, and challenging yet supportive preceptors and mentors. Hosting an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, the health system brings well-practiced and engaging preceptors, investigational drugs and clinical trials, and some of the most unique patient cases in the Midwest. Meeting the cancer care pharmacy team solidified my choice. With over 50 clinical pharmacist team members, I knew I would not only be challenged but also continuously supported.
The oncology pharmacy residency learning experience
The University of Kansas Cancer Center is 1 of fewer than 60 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide.
Additional facts about the cancer center include:
- More than 50 cancer care clinical pharmacists on staff
- Clinical Research Center focuses on early preclinical and phase I trials
- Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer since 1934
- QOPI®-certified practice
- URAC-accredited
- More than 300 hematopoietic stem cell transplants performed annually
- FACT-accredited (immune effector cell, BMT autologous/allogeneic program)
- National Marrow Donor Program-accredited
- Certified CAR T-cell therapy center for commercial and investigational products
Required learning experiences
- Orientation (4 weeks)
- Inpatient/outpatient adult hematology (6 weeks: 3 weeks inpatient, 3 weeks outpatient)
- Inpatient adult acute leukemia (4 weeks)
- Inpatient medical oncology and melanoma clinic (3 weeks: 2 weeks inpatient, 1 week melanoma)
- Inpatient adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (4 weeks)
- Outpatient adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant clinic (2 weeks)
- Cancer center pharmacy (2 weeks)
- Breast medical oncology / gynecologic oncology clinic (4 weeks)
- Genitourinary medical oncology clinic (3 weeks)
- Gastrointestinal medical oncology clinic (4 weeks)
- Head, neck and lung medical oncology clinic (4 weeks)
- Advanced independent practice (AIP)* (4 weeks)
*The AIP learning experience is a 4-week experience in which the resident covers a service independently. The goal is for the resident to gain the confidence and experience of covering a service independently prior to entering the workforce. This is done once the resident has sufficient experience in an area of practice.
Elective learning experiences
Elective learning experiences are designed to provide training in areas of interest. Each resident has 4 weeks for electives. It is their choice whether they would like to complete 1 or 2 electives in that time and in discussion with the RPD/coach to determine how long each will be.
Elective learning experiences include:
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy
- Palliative care
- Infectious diseases
- Oncology administration
- Outpatient hematology clinic
- Outpatient solid tumor clinic
- Breast medical oncology
- Head, neck and lung medical oncology
- Gastrointestinal medical oncology
- Genitourinary medical oncology
- Gynecologic oncology
- Melanoma
Other elective learning experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability.
Staffing requirement
The PGY2 oncology resident will staff 1 evening each week in an oncology operational shift and every 4th weekend (Saturday and Sunday) where they will staff independently with the hematology inpatient rounding service. Residents receive 1 day off as a compensation day the week following their weekend staffing.
Longitudinal experiences
- Longitudinal administration rotation
- This is a longitudinal experience that incorporates many aspects of practice leadership and exposes residents to a variety of topics with cancer care pharmacy leadership.
- Each resident will have a longitudinal administration project based on the needs of the department.
- There are approximately 6 dedicated longitudinal administration project days throughout the year for these discussions and project work beginning in September.
- Each resident will present at least one new drug formulary review at a Hematology/Oncology/BMT Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting.
- Residents will participate in one cancer center committee each quarter during the residency year:
- Cancer Care Pharmacy Practice Council
- Cancer Center Medication Safety Subcommittee
- Hematology/Oncology/BMT P&T Subcommittee
- Chemotherapy Council
- Research
- Poster presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association national meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication
- Presentations
- Grand rounds continuing education presentation to multidisciplinary oncology audience
- Oncology resident lectures (approximately every 4 weeks)
- Regional residency conference presentation
- Teaching
- Residents will prepare a supportive care topic discussion for students on rotation at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and will present this topic discussion each month a student is on rotation with the team.
- Residents gain teaching experience through leading a hematology/oncology pharmacotherapy lecture at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
- Residents may precept students from the University of Kansas and/or the University of Missouri – Kansas City schools of pharmacy on clinical rotations, if desired.
- An optional teaching certificate program is available.
Residency Manual – PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency Supplemental Manual
Application information
Informational sessions
- See social media for links and dates
- Instagram: @tukhspharmres
- Facebook: @tukhspharmres
Requirements and Deadlines
- An ASHP midyear PPS interview is required prior to the application deadline.
- If not participating in PPS, please contact the residency program director to set up a virtual interview.
- Application must be submitted no later than January 5.
- Must have a valid pharmacist license in the state of Kansas preferably prior to residency start date but within 60 days of the start of residency at the latest.
Checklist for Application
- Please submit your application through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) including:
- Letter of intent
- Curriculum vitae
- Official college transcripts
- Reference form in PhORCAS from three references
- PhORCAS residency program application
- ASHP resident matching program registration
National matching services (NMS) code: 618660
We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.