Program Overview
Sanford Health is an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas. It is one of the largest health systems in the nation, with 44 hospitals, over 400 clinics, and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and nine countries. Sanford Health’s 48,000 employees, including 1400 physicians, make it the largest employer in the Dakotas.
Sanford Medical Center Fargo is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and is affiliated with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Sanford Medical Center Fargo hosts a wide range of emergency services as a regional health care hub, with the area’s only level I trauma center, a level II pediatric trauma center, and a Joint Commission–approved advanced comprehensive stroke center. In addition, the Sanford Broadway Medical Center and the Sanford South University Medical Center are located in Fargo. Between the three campuses, Sanford Health Fargo offers comprehensive services in many specialties, including pediatrics, behavioral health, orthopedics, neurology, cardiology, transplantation, critical care, and ambulatory care.
The PGY1 residency at Sanford Medical Center Fargo is an ASHP-accredited, structured/goal-oriented program designed to meet each resident’s needs. The PGY1 residency offers two tracks: adult inpatient and pediatrics. The pediatrics track tailors learning experiences to the pediatric population and offers electives through Sanford Children’s Hospital within Sanford Medical Center Fargo. In addition, there is a unique opportunity for a nontraditional PGY1 residency position where the resident must have 1 year of pharmacist experience at Sanford Medical Center Fargo and be at least 0.5 FTE before the nontraditional residency. Sanford Fargo’s pharmacy residency programs also include a PGY1 in ambulatory care, a PGY2 in critical care, and a PGY2 in oncology. Each program consists of rotations individually tailored to the resident’s goals and interests.
Required Learning Experiences
- Critical Care
- Hospital Adult Medicine
- Health System Administration
- Pediatrics/Pediatric Intensive Care*
- Neonatal Intensive Care*
- Anticoagulation, Dialysis, Medical Home, or Specialty Pharmacy**
*Residents choose ONE as a required pediatric experience.
**Residents choose ONE as a required ambulatory care experience.
Elective Learning Experiences
- Infectious Disease
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Outpatient Infusion Center Oncology
- Inpatient Oncology
- Nephrology/Transplant
- Home Infusion
- Pharmacogenomics
- Enterprise Formulary Management
- Informatics
- And more
Longitudinal Experiences
- Drug Information
- Medication Safety
- Research Project
- Professional Development
- Hospital Pharmacy Practice
Teaching Opportunities
- Teaching certificate program (in conjunction with North Dakota State University College of Health and Human Sciences)
- Layered resident/student learning
- Small group leading
- ACPE-accredited Grand Rounds
- Medical education
My Experience
The PGY1 pharmacy residency at Sanford Health has been an excellent place for me to transition from being a student to becoming a practicing pharmacist. The highly trained preceptor group really sets Sanford Fargo apart. They are all well-poised to provide mentorship and help residents build their clinical knowledge and skills. Many of the preceptors have completed a Sanford residency program as well, so they have the added impact of being exactly where we are now.
With such diverse opportunities, I’ve had the ability to tailor my residency year to my interests. These have included unique experiences in administration, pharmacy informatics, enterprise formulary, a full medication safety block, and 340B. The support I have received from program leadership has been wonderful. My pharmacy practice interests are less clinical than a traditional PGY1 resident’s would be. As such, I’ve been encouraged to seek all opportunities in these areas, and new experiences have been coordinated.
Overall, my experience as a Sanford Health Fargo PGY1 resident has been very positive and has prepared me well for continuing practice and pursuing PGY2 training. Any applicant looking for a well-rounded, high-achieving program would do great at Sanford Health Fargo.
Rebecca Aubart
PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Sanford Medical Center Fargo
Program Leadership
Carlina Grindeland, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS
PGY1 Residency Program Director
[email protected]
Find more information on our website:
https://www.sanfordhealth.org/residency-programs/pharmacy-residency