Residency Purpose Statement
The purpose of the PGY2 Pharmacy Residency is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) 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 and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.
Informatics Mission Statement
The mission of a PGY2 pharmacy informatics residency is to prepare the pharmacist for practice in a pharmacy informatics position. Residency training is designed to provide the resident experience in applying informatics and technology to enhance care of the patient and support healthcare professionals. This is accomplished by staffing responsibilities, appropriate clinical rotations and working with a broad range of medication systems, health care professionals, and key vendors.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
The mission of Health IT Diversity & Inclusion is to intentionally integrate and utilize our diverse workforce at all levels of the organization to deliver on Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) mission through the cultivation of teams reflective of our population, maximizing the potential of the organization and every individual. VUMC Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Program Overview
This residency is offered by Vanderbilt Health IT Pharmacy Portfolio and is in collaboration with leadership & staff of Vanderbilt Pharmaceutical Services. The residency is designed to equip the resident with the necessary tools and experiences to achieve a position in pharmacy informatics upon completion of the program. The resident will have a variety of project opportunities and thus the program is tailored to the resident's interests and the current needs of Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) and Pharmacy. The resident will also have responsibilities consistent with ASHP guidelines with other related activities, that may include but are not limited to, topic presentations, a teaching certificate, longitudinal research project, automation project, conferences, and a pharmacy staffing component.
Background
The Pharmacy Portfolio teams (video) within Health IT are responsible for the informatics solutions in inpatient and outpatient service areas. The teams provide technology tools that support a wide range of pharmacy needs of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC): ensuring care teams can order the right medications for patients, helping pharmacy staff dispense prescriptions at outpatient pharmacies, and ensuring clinical outcomes are appropriately supported through medication therapies. Various vendor-based systems are managed within the portfolio and seamlessly link to other clinical care tools. Efforts of multiple teams help ensure safe and effective medication therapy is delivered to all Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) patients. Finally, multiple data analytic tools are used to quantify the clinical value of the medication therapies and services provided.
The Pharmacy Portfolio is a part of the largest team within Health IT, Clinical Care Group (CCG), which manages informatics solutions that are directly and indirectly involved in patient care.
The Clinical Care team performs work including:
- Application updates and fixes
- Implementation of new products
- Customization of vendor-provided solutions
- Tailored upgrades to existing solutions.
Our Informatics Residency offers multiple experiences involving EHR optimization, clinical decision support integration, and automated dispensing system coordination utilized by a multi-hospital academic medical center.
Goals of Residency
View a video of our previous resident, Kyle, about his perspective of his Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) residency year.
- Understand the role of informatics in improving patient safety
- Evaluate technology integration in clinical practice
- Assess the impact of informatics systems on clinician workflow
- Assist in development of informatics business initiatives
- Communicate effectively and professionally: written and verbal
- Participate in project design and implementation
- Obtain Epic Proficiency for Willow Inpatient (video)
- Develop leadership in the development and maintenance of informatics systems
- Understand the relationship between users and vendors of software products
- Understand the process of research, development and implementation of vendor products
- Exhibit proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
Presentations
The resident is expected to present an one hour Therapeutic Exchange Continuing Education (CE) on an informatics related topic, open to all Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) pharmacy staff. Additionally, the resident will give at least two topic presentations during the year.
Teaching
The informatics resident will assist with precepting pharmacy interns, students, and fellow residents regarding informatics related projects. Completion of a resident teaching certificate program is required, with the intent of fostering the development of well rounded teaching and preceptor skills, plus being an introductory voice to pharmacy students regarding Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) informatics.
Research
The resident is required to complete one informatics longitudinal research residency project, which will include writing a project manuscript. The resident is strongly encouraged to seek publication of their research and to present their research project findings at clinical conferences and meetings. Other presentations at various venues are encouraged.
Conferences
The resident will be expected to attend the ASHP Mid-Year Clinical Meeting and ASHP Summer Meeting (or an equivalent meeting). If the resident is required to present other work completed, attendance at other meetings may be necessary. Discernment will be given to normal meeting & conference attendance and participation based on virtual or onsite venues.
Staffing/On Call
View a brief video regarding On-call and Staffing. Pharmacy practice and staffing during the residency year can vary depending on the type of residency year and requirements. Previously PGY2 residents will staff every 4th weekend in an operational role with limited clinical backup. This pharmacy practice experience occurs at the Adult Hospital and involves, but not limited to, processing orders, daily preparation and dispensing of medications for patients, and various other duties in the Sterile products area. There may be other nuances to the staffing experience that may arise depending on staffing and residency needs. Holiday staffing schedule will be discussed at the interview. Also, some rotational informatics on-call is required to support clinical systems.
How to apply
Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program, be a licensed pharmacist in any state with reciprocation to Tennessee and completed an accredited PGY1 residency program.
Submit the following materials for Pharmacy Informatics Residency before January 2 application deadline.
- Cover Letter/Letter of Intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- Pharmacy School transcripts
- Virtual Interview that will include a fifteen-minute presentation
- Application submitted via PhORCAS
Additional Links & Program Information
Application Information
Number of Positions: One residency position, Starting date: July 1, 2025
Estimated salary: $67,000
Requirements: Doctor of Pharmacy or PharmD degree,
Ability to obtain TN licensure with 120 days of start date,
Proof of residency certificate from ACPE accredited PGY1 pharmacy
residency program within 30 days of start date,
VUH pharmacy residency program is NOT able to sponsor visas for pharmacy residents.
Submit application PhORCAS with required documents:
3 letters of recommendation, letter of intent, and transcripts
Contact Information
Phillip W. Stewart, DPh, Residency Program Director
PGY2pharmacyinformaticsresidency@vumc.org | m 615.829.1347
Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Health IT | Pharmacy Portfolio
3401 West End Avenue Suite 500 | Nashville, TN 37203
Institutional Information
Private non-profit hospital/clinic | Teaching/Tertiary Model | Total Beds 1622
Professional Staff 372 | Non-professional staff 450
