Critical Care Pharmacy Residency

PGY2 Program Purpose: The PGY2 pharmacy residency program builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) 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 into the provision of patient care that improves medication therapy. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency should possess competencies that qualify them for a clinical pharmacy specialist position and eligible for attainment of board certification in critical care.

Pharmacists completing the Critical Care PGY2 Pharmacy Residency at Henry Ford Hospital are qualified for clinical pharmacy specialist positions within a broad range of critical care specialty areas. They will be proficient in the education of students, patients, and health care professionals. Graduates will also be competent in practice-based research.

The PGY2 Critical Care Residency program is an ASHP accredited 12-month learning experience with one position available per year. 

Available rotations:

Residents complete 13 four-week rotations including an orientation session in July.

Eleven required rotations are completed in core areas of critical care pharmacy practice.

• Orientation
• Medical Critical Care #1
• Medical Critical Care #2
• Surgical & Trauma Critical Care #1
• Surgical & Trauma Critical Care #2
• Neurosurgical Critical Care
• Cardiovascular Critical Care
• Cardiothoracic Surgery Critical Care
• Parenteral Nutrition Support
• ICU Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Emergency Medicine

Two rotations are completed in elective areas. Elective options include:

• Repeat above critical care rotation experience
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Solid Organ Transplant
• Neonatal Critical Care

Additional activities:

• Present an ACPE-accredited continuing education seminar to the pharmacy staff 
• Present journal clubs and patient cases to students and pharmacy staff 
• Participate in Code Blue coverage
• Participate in staffing and clinical pharmacy services every third weekend
• Participate in precepting pharmacy students
• Participate in the pharmacy resident on-call program
• Participate on a multidisciplinary hospital committee 
• Complete a medication use evaluation 
• Evaluate and present a medication for formulary review 
• Design and complete a residency project and participate in a structured research training program
• An optional teaching certificate program is available in collaboration with Wayne State University

Residents receive a competitive stipend and benefits including health insurance, sick and professional leave, free parking, and professional travel reimbursement.

Application information:

Applicants must be a graduate of an ACPE-accredited College of Pharmacy, have completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residency, and be eligible for Michigan licensure. Academic transcripts, letter of intent/personal statement, three professional references, and curriculum vitae should be submitted to PHORCAS. The application deadline is January 2nd.

Program director:

Zachary R. Smith, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, FCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care
PGY2 Critical Care Program Director
Henry Ford Hospital
2799 W. Grand Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 916-7880
Fax: (313) 916-1302
Email: zsmith1@hfhs.org