The post graduate year two (PGY2) Cardiology Residency at Nebraska Medicine offers a unique and progressive learning environment to provide comprehensive clinical training in cardiology pharmacy practice. This program is designed to provide training in all necessary areas of cardiology with the goal of graduating competent practitioners qualified to function as highly skilled cardiology pharmacists.
The resident will be integrally involved with cardiovascular health-care professionals throughout the continuum of patient care. Working with a variety of pharmacy clinicians, the resident will also have the opportunity to gain experience serving as a preceptor for pharmacy students and PGY1 pharmacy residents. Residents will provide compassionate, evidence-based, progressive medical care. The program allows tailored instruction for the individual based on interest and past experiences.
Staffing
PGY2 residents are required to fulfill the service commitment (staffing) designed to ensure that residents gain experience and can function as competent clinical practitioners. Each resident will train with preceptors and basic training will take place during the first month of residency. At the conclusion of the basic training period, the designated preceptors and the resident will mutually determine if the resident is ready to function independently as a pharmacist.
As part of the service commitment for PGY2 residents, the following staffing requirements apply:
- The PGY2 cardiology resident will staff 39 shifts per year (about every 3rd weekend), including one holiday
- Staffing will occur on the cardiovascular units
Research Project
Residents are required to develop and complete a research project. Residents will select a research topic based on their clinical interests. Faculty and clinical staff will present project ideas during orientation. An appropriate preceptor will be selected to guide and supervise the resident. Residents will develop a formal research proposal. If necessary, the resident will submit the proposal for IRB approval. A completed research project form, formal proposal, completed IRB (if required), oral presentation at a RAC-approved conference and final written manuscript are required for successful completion of the project.
Poster Presentation at University HealthSystem Consortium
Each resident will present a poster on their research topic at the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) meeting held in conjunction with the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Pharmacy Grand Rounds
Each resident will present one formal Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) accredited seminars during the residency program. Grand Rounds are scheduled between August through June (excluding portions of December and February). The goal of the seminar is to improve the resident’s communication skills and techniques, literature evaluation and understanding of the continuing education process. The topic will be selected by the resident with guidance from at least one pharmacist or faculty member.
Cardiology Research Conference and Journal Club
Each resident will be participate in a bi-monthly seminar where they will present on landmark cardiology studies and journal club presentations. The articles and topics will be chosen by the resident to allow them to further explore areas that they want to gain a deeper understanding of, including disease states, pharmacology and primary literature evaluation.
Teaching Certificate Program
This is voluntary for PGY2 residents, but strongly encouraged if the PGY2 resident did not complete a teaching certificate program as a PGY1. The Teaching Certificate Program will allow the resident to participate in a wide-variety of activities related to pharmacy education and explore the external forces that impact the educational process. The focus is to introduce pharmacy residents to the many aspects involved in teaching including both didactic and clinical instruction. Residents will gain a broad understanding of pharmacy education on an institutional and national level. Residents will develop their own teaching portfolio and teaching philosophy.
Participation in Teaching Activities
Resident involvement in all teaching activities fosters the development and refinement of the resident’s communication skills and knowledge base. This experience can build confidence and promote the effectiveness of the resident as a teacher. Residents will serve as co-preceptors for P-4 pharmacy students on clinical rotations and are expected to act as role models for our future practitioners. In addition, residents will collaborate with the UNMC College of Pharmacy by participating in activities including inservices, didactic lectures, case studies and small group discussions throughout the year. In all circumstances, each resident will work under the guidance of a preceptor.
Chief Pharmacy Resident
The chief pharmacy resident is a specialty pharmacy resident (PGY2) who coordinates and keeps track of activities associated with all concurrent pharmacy residents. The chief resident also provides leadership, support and encouragement to all residents as a peer in clinical practice. The chief pharmacy resident serves as the secretary on the Residency Advisory Committee (RAC) and works closely with all program directors.
Rotations
Rotational experiences are designed to integrate clinical practice, teaching and research.
Core Rotations
- Orientation (July)
- General Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiovascular ICU / CTS
- Heart Failure / Transplant
- Cardiac Cath Lab
Elective
- Academia
- Anticoagulation
- General cardiology (II)
- Electrophysiology Clinic
- Heart Failure / Transplant (II)
- Heart Failure / Transplant Clinic
- Lung Transplant
- Emergency Medicine
- Infectious Disease
Longitudinal Rotations
- Clinical Decision Support (MUE)
- Journal Club
- Pharmacy Grand Rounds
- Leadership Development Series
- Research
- Staffing (every 3rd weekend)
Practice Area
Nebraska Medicine is a nationally recognized cardiovascular center. It currently serves as the state’s only cardiac transplant institution and offers one of the largest ventricular assist device programs in the country. The Structural Heart Disease and Interventional programs practice on the cutting edge of medicine, with growing volumes in TAVR, MitraClip, ASD closure, Watchman, and complex high-risk PCI. Nebraska Medicine also acts as a large tertiary referral center in advanced electrophysiology, offering complex ablation, device implantation and lead extraction.
Nebraska Medicine is the clinical partner of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), which includes the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry and Allied Health. UNMC, with an enrollment of more than 4,000 students, is the only public academic health science center in Nebraska and is internationally recognized as a leader in patient care, research and education. The not-for-profit hospital is known for excellence and innovation in medicine.
Nebraska Medicine is an 809-bed health network. As the primary teaching hospital for UNMC, Nebraska Medicine is a respected leader in neuro-critical care, solid organ transplantation, blood and marrow transplantation, oncology and cardiovascular care. The hospital brings together the expertise of private practice medicine with the strengths of an academic health center. By combining state-of-the-art research, education and exceptional patient care, we offer the best of both worlds.
The working relationship between Nebraska Medicine and the UNMC College of Pharmacy provides a solid foundation for a quality pharmacy residency program. The program provides an excellent mixture of clinical experiences, one-on-one interaction with faculty and preceptors, and the flexibility to modify the program to meet each resident’s needs. In addition, the residency provides many opportunities for educating and precepting students.
Contact
Heidi Brink, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP
Clinical Coordinator – Cardiology
PGY1 Cardiology Residency Program Director
Adjunct Associate Professor, UNMC College of Pharmacy
Nebraska Medicine
981090 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-1090
Phone: 402.559.3221
Email: hbrink@nebraskamed.com