PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Practice

Setting

Stanford Hospital & Clinics is world-renowned for advanced patient care, particularly for the treatment of rare, complex disorders in areas such as cardiac care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. It is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” and currently ranked #15 in the U.S. Stanford Hospital & Clinics has a close relationship with both the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, an adjacent pediatric teaching hospital providing general acute and tertiary care. The hospital is located on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California; it is about 20 miles north of San Jose and about 40 miles south of San Francisco.

Clinical pharmacists at Stanford Hospital & Clinics cover all acute patient care areas, including Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, Cardiology, Critical Care, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Solid Organ Transplant. In addition, ambulatory care clinical pharmacists are responsible for Oral Anticoagulation, Transplant Diabetes, and Oncology clinics.

Program Overview

The Hematology/Oncology Residency at Stanford Hospital & Clinics is a PGY2 specialty training program that offers extensive hematology and oncology experiences at Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center currently ranked top 10 in the nation.  One applicant is accepted per year.

The program is designed to transition PGY1 residency graduates from generalist practice to specialized practice focused on the care of patients with cancer and on the care of patients with hematologic disorders.  Residency graduates will be equipped to participate as integral members of interdisciplinary teams caring for individuals with cancer, assuming responsibility for pharmaceutical care.  They will be able to manage the range of facilities that prepare and distribute anticancer medications – including the safe preparation, handling, and disposal of those which are hazardous.

The wealth of residency graduates’ knowledge of neoplastic diseases, cancer-related and cancer treatment-related disorders, and the participation on interdisciplinary teams involved with the treatment of individuals with cancer will produce a pharmacist who can successfully serve health care organizations as the ultimate resource for information about anticancer medications and for decision-making affecting the care of these patients. This includes leadership in formulary decision-making for cancer-related medications.  Because of the prominent use of investigational drugs in the treatment of individuals with cancer, the resident will also possess the skills to practice effectively in clinical environments participating in clinical research efforts.

Groomed for practice leadership, oncology pharmacy residency graduates can be expected to continue their pursuit of expertise in practice; to possess advanced skills to identify the pharmacotherapy and medication-use training needs of other health care professionals caring for individuals with cancer; to deliver effective training to those health care professionals; and to contribute to public health efforts for health improvement, wellness, and cancer screening and prevention. 

Program Structure

The Hematology/Oncology Specialty Residency is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The program follows the ASHP Residency Learning System (RLS) and its goals and learning objectives are consistent with standards developed by ASHP. Residency experiences will be as follows:

Required Program Activities

Elective Rotations:

Program Goals

  1. To serve as an authoritative resource on the optimal use of medications used to treat patients with cancer.
  2. Optimize the outcomes of the care of individuals with cancer by providing evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team.
  3. Manage and improve the medication-use process in hematology/oncology patient care areas.
  4. Demonstrate excellence in the provision of training or educational activities for health care professionals and health care professionals in training.
  5. Promote health improvement, wellness, and cancer prevention.
  6. Sustain the ongoing development of expertise and professionalism in the practice of hematology/oncology pharmacy.
  7. Conduct hematology/oncology pharmacy practice research.
  8. Function effectively in hematology/oncology settings participating in clinical investigations. 

Specialized Residency Requirement

  1. Complete and present a research project at the Western States Conference and/or HOPA annual meeting.
  2. Participate in teaching activities with PGY1 residents and pharmacy students
  3. Prepare and present drug monograph for the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
  4. Staff 16 hours every 4 weeks
  5. Attend hematology/oncology related committee meetings and teaching sessions

Preceptors

Alice Chang, Pharm.D., received her degree from the University of Colorado in 1998. She completed an ambulatory care residency at University of Illinois at Chicago and worked at Olive-View UCLA Medical Center for 4 years before joining Stanford Hospital and Clinics in 2003. She is currently practicing as a clinical oncology pharmacist in the outpatient Cancer Center.

Ya-Hwei Cheng, MS, Pharm.D., (Bone Marrow Transplant) received her MS in health system management from Union University, NY and pharmacy degree. from University of Florida. She joined Stanford Hospital and Clinics in 1997. She has practiced in medicine, critical care, cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology and investigational drug services. She is currently a clinical pharmacist specializing in BMT.

Magdalena Cudny, Pharm.D., BCPS, received her degree from the University of California, San Francisco in 2006.  She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics.  She worked as a clinical pharmacist for 2 years before transitioning into hematology and oncology at Stanford Hospital and Clinics.

Latanya Dean, Pharm.D., (Lead Pharmacist) received her degree from the University of Washington in 2001. She completed a general practice residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in June 2002. After residency she accepted a clinical position at SHC and currently works in the Cancer Center as a Lead Pharmacist overseeing the inpatient and outpatient oncology pharmacy services.

Michelle Ho, Pharm.D., received her degree from University of the Pacific in 2008. She completed her pharmacy practice residency and PGY2 hematology/oncology pharmacy residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics.  Upon the completion of her PGY2 residency in 2010, she accepted a position at SHC as a clinical pharmacist specializing in hematology and oncology.

Ann Le, Pharm.D., received her degree from the University of California, San Francisco in 2009.  She completed a pharmacy practice residency at University of California, San Diego. She completed a hematology/oncology residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in 2010 and currently works as a clinical pharmacist in the inpatient hematology/oncology area.  

Fu-ying Lee-Lam, R.Ph., received her B.S from St. John’s University, New York in 1988. She worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering for five years before moving to California.  Currently she works at Stanford Hospital and Clinics as a Bone Marrow Transplant pharmacist.  BMT has been her focus of practice for the last 15 years.

Kathi Lucas R.Ph., BCOP, received her pharmacy degree from Auburn University and a Master’s in Public Health from San Jose State University. She came to Stanford Hospital and Clinics as a BMT pharmacist in 1988. She is currently a clinical pharmacist in Hematology/Oncology.

Samit Patel, Pharm.D., graduated from the University of Houston in 2007. He completed his pharmacy practice residency at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas/Texas Tech University Health Science Center.  He completed a hematology/oncology residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics and currently works as a clinical pharmacist in hematology/oncology. 

Faye Tsung, Pharm.D., received her Bachelors in Pharmacy at University of Toronto in 1989. In 1990, she completed an Industrial Pharmacy Residency at Eli Lilly Canada Inc. In 1994 she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. The following year she completed an oncology residency at University of Illinois at Chicago.  She joined Stanford Hospital and Clinics in 2002 and currently works as a BMT/Oncology pharmacist.

Ann Vongspanich, Pharm.D., received her BS degree in Biology at Santa Clara University then obtained her pharmacy degree at University of the Pacific. She completed her pharmacy practice residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in 2005. She currently works in the ambulatory care anticoagulation clinic and cancer center pharmacy.

Joanna Wang, Pharm.D., received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of California, Irvine and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California in 1991.  She completed her residency at University of California, Los Angeles in 1992 and currently works as a clinical pharmacist in Bone Marrow Transplant & Oncology.

Compensation and Benefit

PGY2 residents receive a competitive annual stipend of $84,000 with full benefits, including an excellent healthcare benefits package and 10 days paid time off. In addition, the PGY2 resident will enjoy educational leave and a stipend to attend and participate at various pharmacy conferences throughout the year.

Qualifications

Participation in our Hematology/Oncology Specialty Residency Program requires a Pharm.D. degree from an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy and completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency program. California Intern license must be obtained prior to the first day of residencyand California licensure must be obtained within 3 months of start date of residency. Candidates must enroll in the ASHP Residency Match Program. 

Application Process

  1. Complete the online SHC application process at www.WeStandForCare.com, job #20673. Please attach your Curriculum Vitae to the online application.
  2. Submit the following to pgy2hemeonc@stanfordmed.org
    1. Personal statement outlining career goals, areas of interest and reasons for applying to the residency program at Stanford Hospital and Clinics
    2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Letter of recommendation (from 3 different recommenders) submitted to pgy2hemeonc@stanfordmed.org with the subject line “LOR for Joe Smith”
  4. Recommenders must also fill out evaluation form located here
  5. College of Pharmacy transcript submitted directly from your school to:

    Samit Patel, Pharm.D.
    Stanford Hospital and Clinics
    Department of Pharmacy

    300 Pasteur Drive, Room H0301
    Stanford, CA 94305-5616

Selected applicants will be required to visit Stanford Hospital and Clinics for an on-site interview in February 2012. The candidate is required to give a 15 minute Powerpoint presentation on any pharmacy-related topic (oncology topic preferred). For consideration, the online application and all supporting documentation must be received by January 13, 2012.

On-Site Interview

After all application materials are reviewed, the candidate will be contacted for a half-day on-site interview. The date of the interview is negotiable based on candidate and interview team schedules. The candidate is required to give a 15 minute Powerpoint presentation on any pharmacy-related topic (oncology topic preferred).

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