The PGY-2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency conducted by Denver Health in Denver, Colorado is accredited by ASHP.
Purpose
The purpose of the PGY-2 pharmacy residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency training to develop clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice.
PGY-2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently by integrating accumulated experience and knowledge into advanced patient care settings.
Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY-2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification.
Description
This 52-week postgraduate curriculum offers training in critical care, emergency medicine, and pharmacy leadership and management. The program is based on four ASHP-defined competency areas.
Denver Health is an integrated, efficient, academic health care system serving as a model for other safety net institutions across the nation. Denver Health is home to the Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center, a Level I Trauma Center for adults and Level II Trauma Center for Children, Rocky Mountain Regional Poison Center, as well as residency and fellowship training site for the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our critical care and emergency medicine pharmacy services are provided 24/7.
The PGY-2 will have the opportunity for teaching throughout their residency year, including co-precepting and mentoring PGY-1 residents and APPE students as well as interdisciplinary education. A staffing component in critical care areas will be required (staffing every third weekend) as well as several projects (i.e., major research project, transitional research project, and medication use evaluation) with results to be presented at both local and national meetings. The resident will be involved with at least one committee related to critical care as well as respond to various medical emergencies when on site.
Resident Learning Experiences
The residency includes nine required learning experiences, multiple longitudinal experiences, and a variety of electives that vary in duration based on resident interests and availability.
Required Learning Experiences
- Orientation (4 weeks)
- Medical ICU I (4–5 weeks)
- Medical ICU II (4–5 weeks)
- Surgical ICU I (4–5 weeks)
- Surgical ICU II (4–5 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
- Toxicology – Rocky Mountain Poison Center* (4 weeks)
- Advanced Infectious Diseases (4 weeks)
- Nutrition Support (2 weeks)
Required Longitudinal Experiences
- Major Project (52 weeks)
- Clinical Staffing (48 weeks)
- Medication Use Evaluation (52 weeks)
- Medical Emergency Response (48 weeks)
- Leadership and Practice Management (52 weeks)
- Presentations and Preceptorship (52 weeks)
Elective Learning Experiences
- ICU PM (4 weeks)
- Pediatric ICU (4 weeks)
- Cardiac ICU / Heart Failure & Transplant – UCHealth* (4 weeks)
- Burn ICU – UCHealth (4 weeks)
- Pediatric ICU – Children’s Hospital Colorado* (4 weeks)
- Cardiac ICU – Children’s Hospital Colorado* (4 weeks)
- Opioid Stewardship (2–4 weeks)
- Academia – Regis University School of Pharmacy* (2–4 weeks)
*Rotations marked with an asterisk are located off the Denver Health campus. No additional financial support is provided. Parking availability is determined by the practice site.
Application Information and Requirements
Applicants must be a PharmD graduate or candidate for graduation of an Accredited Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited degree program, completed or in progress of completing an ASHP accredited or candidate-status PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency. Applicants must be licensed and in good standing, or eligible for licensure in the state of Colorado by Nov. 1 of the starting year.
Denver Health participates in the ASHP National Matching System. The NMS number for our program is 760052. Applications should be submitted electronically through PhORCAS. Necessary application materials include...
Letter of intent (maximum of 1 page) highlighting the following:
- Your goals and reason for doing an advanced PGY-2 specialty residency in critical care
- Why you chose to apply for the Denver Health residency program
- Your short- and long-term goals in pharmacy practice
- Your strengths and weaknesses at this point in your career and how a PGY2 residency in critical care will help you develop and achieve your goals
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of reference using the PhORCAS Standardized Reference Template with at least one from a preceptor in emergency medicine or critical care
- Official college of pharmacy transcript
Current PGY-1 Residents at Denver Health Medical Center may early commit to a Denver Health Medical Center PGY-2 Residency Programs.
All completed applications will be reviewed by the Residency Advisory Council to determine which candidates will be invited for an interview.
Resident applicants are responsible for submitting all required materials online through PhORCAS.
ASHP Code: 82024
NMS Number: 760052
Current PGY-2 Critical Care Pharmacy Resident
Stevie Sloan, PharmD
Dr. Sloan is from Broomfield, Colorado and earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2024. He completed his PGY-1 residency at Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital. His interests include critical care, high-acuity patient populations, and serving underserved communities.
Major Research Project: Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury or Spinal Cord Injury
Medication Use Evaluation: Threshold for Initiation of Dextrose-Containing Fluids in Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Contact
Katie Dionne, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Surgical Critical Care
Program Director, PGY-2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency
Denver Health Medical Center
790 Delaware Street, MC 0056
Denver, CO 80204
303-602-6995
Catherine.Dionne@dhha.org
