Our PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency program started in 1999. Past residents are now working in oncology all across the United States and overseas along with some staying on at our institution after graduation. The residency training site is the Endeavor Health Cancer Institute, an ambulatory adult cancer clinic, located in Chicago, Evanston, Glenview, and Highland Park, IL is a part of Endeavor Health. The collaborative practice model at Endeavor Health Cancer Institute focuses on each individual's needs by providing medical, surgical, radiation, psychosocial and emotional support; thus offering comprehensive care for oncology patients and their families. The healthcare team includes: medical oncologists, oncology certified nurses, board certified oncology pharmacists, oncology research nurses, clinical nutritionists, oncology trained social workers and psychologists. The cancer institute participates in clinical research and offers a broad range of clinical trials focusing on the treatment as well as prevention of cancer. Oncology pharmacy is a key member of the multidisciplinary care team participating in all aspects of the comprehensive oncology program. There is an infusion pharmacy located within each of the cancer clinic locations.
The residency is a comprehensive specialty pharmacy program that exposes the resident to all areas of cancer patient care. The resident will participate in the care of outpatient and inpatient cancer patients as well as those receiving investigational treatments. The resident will manage oncology patients admitted into the hospital longitudinally as well as during the hematologic cancers learning experience. The program offers opportunities to learn the various roles of an oncology pharmacist. Under the guidance of experienced oncology pharmacists, the resident will learn in-depth about each cancer and its corresponding management by attending clinic with the physicians/nurses and working alongside other healthcare professionals within the multidisciplinary team. Required core rotations include: breast cancer, head neck lung cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, gynecologic cancers, genitourinary cancers, sarcomas and skin cancers, hematologic cancers and neuro-oncology. The resident will also complete the following longitudinal experiences: symptom management, service commitment, drug use & safety, teaching, research, and pharmacogenomics and precision medicine in oncology.
Required Core Learning Experiences
All core experiences are 5-6 weeks unless otherwise noted.
- Orientation
- Breast Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Genitourinary Cancers
- Gynecologic Cancers
- Hematologic Cancers (10 weeks)
- Head Neck Lung Cancers
- Neuro-oncology (2 weeks)
- Sarcomas and Skin Cancers
Longitudinal Experiences
All longitudinal experiences are 10 months in length unless otherwise noted.
- Drug Use & Safety
This longitudinal rotation will enhance the resident's understanding of drug utilization and delivery system as well as help the resident learn how to optimize medication safety. The resident will engage in the following activities such as, but not limited to, investigate adverse drug events (ADEs), participate in the cancer institute Infusion Pharmacy Operation Committee, complete performance improvement (PI) project(s), participate in departmental meetings, complete formulary requests/reviews for Oncology Drug Evaluation Committee (ODEC) and/or Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committee, complete assigned readings and discussions with preceptors. Meetings will be scheduled with the preceptor to discuss rotation progress and status of assigned projects.
- Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine in Oncology (6 months)
In this longitudinal learning experience, the resident will differentiate and learn the application of precision medicine and pharmacogenomics in the field of cancer research and in cancer treatments. The resident will attend molecular tumor board meetings, participate in patient-centered care by reviewing genome information, review and assess pharmacogenomic and next generation sequencing panel results, and help educate pharmacists and other healthcare professionals on precision medicine and pharmacogenomics topics. For precision medicine, the resident will have opportunities to observe and present patients at the Molecular Tumor Board, review next generation sequencing reports with a midlevel practitioner, and learn how to translate results of next generation sequencing into treatment among solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. The resident will learn about pharmacogenomics and explore the various role of a pharmacist in this setting.
- Research
The resident will participate in quality improvement and research in the clinical practice setting through this longitudinal learning experience. The resident is required to complete a medication utilization evaluation (MUE) and a yearlong major project. The goals of these activities are to enhance patient care, advance the practice of pharmacy, increase the resident's professional growth, and benefit the organization.
- Service Commitment
The resident will work alongside oncology pharmacists in the cancer clinic infusion pharmacy two days a week, which includes 1-2 days a month in the oral chemotherapy monitoring clinic. Establishing competency to function independently as an oncology pharmacist as well as acquiring general pharmacy practice skills is an important component of the residency training. Routine responsibilities include but not limited to: verifying chemotherapy and supportive medication orders, monitoring patients on chemotherapy or patients with disease or treatment-related complications, providing patient counseling and follow up for all new chemotherapy, ensuring continuity of care by working with inpatient pharmacy team for patients being admitted to the hospital or inpatients receiving chemotherapy. The resident will also provide drug information and education to other healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers.
- Symptom Management
The resident will manage patients with cancer disease-related or treatment-related symptoms throughout the year. Routine responsibilities include but not limited to: provide initial patient counseling on the first day of a new chemo treatment, follow-up with patients after their first new chemo treatment, managing symptoms for patients referred by physicians and/or nurses, and ensuring continuity of care by working with inpatient pharmacy team for patients being admitted to the hospital or inpatients receiving chemotherapy. The resident will have direct patient experiences with the management of Constipation/Diarrhea, Mucositis, Nausea and vomiting, Pain management, and other symptoms as required by ASHP for adult-focused pharmacy residency programs.
- Teaching
This is a longitudinal rotation exposing the resident to teaching in the clinical practice and academic settings. The resident will participate in teaching engagements for pharmacists, PGY1 pharmacy residents, students, other healthcare professionals, and patients. The resident will provide topic discussions, journal clubs, case presentations, drug seminars, in-services and didactic lectures. The resident will assume the role of a preceptor throughout the year, initially with supervision, then ultimately independently. Teaching responsibilities will be introduced progressively depending on resident progress. If not completed previously, the resident will participate in the teaching certificate program offered through Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) College of Pharmacy. Opportunities will be provided for the resident to actively participate in professional organizations at the local, state, and national level. The resident will engage in teaching while balancing patient care and other responsibilities of a pharmacist in the oncology setting. Overall, the resident will learn to become a teacher, mentor, and leader in the pharmacy profession.
Resident Activities
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of oncology pharmacy practice, the resident will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities:
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Complete a major project
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Conduct drug utilization evaluation studies
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Participate on multidisciplinary committees
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Provide in-service training for nursing/pharmacy staff
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Lead journal club discussions
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Present patient case presentations
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Attend multidisciplinary tumor conferences
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Engage in interactive drug seminars with fellow Chicagoland PGY2 oncology residents
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Write newsletter articles
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Precept PGY1 pharmacy residents and pharmacy students