Monument Health (MH) is the largest health care system in western South Dakota, encompassing five hospitals and over 40 clinics and specialty centers. Serving patients from South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming, MH Rapid City Hospital is the largest facility within a 350-mile radius, with 417 beds, a level II trauma center, a primary stroke center, and the state’s busiest ED with over 57,000 annual visits.

MH Rapid City Hospital provides comprehensive care across adult, pediatric, and neonatal populations. Recent state-of-the-art expansions to MH Rapid City Hospital include a new ED (2019) and the Heart and Vascular Institute (2020). MH Rapid City Hospital is also home to the MH Cancer Care Institute, built in 2023, offering cutting-edge cancer therapies through partnerships with renowned research groups, including the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Of note, MH has earned the Platinum Performance Achievement Award for quality cardiovascular care, the American Heart Association’s Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, and the American Hospital Association’s Equity of Care Award.

Residency Overview

Established in 2012, the PGY1 pharmacy residency at MH Rapid City Hospital is dedicated to excellence in training the next generation of clinical pharmacists. Programs include three PGY1 pharmacy residents, one PGY2 critical care resident, and one PGY2 oncology resident. The program’s mission is to develop capable, confident, and independent pharmacists through impactful learning experiences led by preceptors who challenge, inspire, and support residents.

The following rotations are currently available for the PGY1 pharmacy residency experience:

Training Experiences

PGY1 pharmacy residents rapidly enhance their personal and professional skills through diverse clinical experiences. Residents collaborate closely with department leadership, routinely participate in a breadth of hospital committee meetings, and contribute to interdisciplinary education and the advancement of clinical pharmacy services within the institution. Throughout the year, pharmacy residents are given the opportunity to provide patient care in a variety of settings. These include interdisciplinary team rounds, bedside patient education, pharmacy consults, pharmacist-led clinic visits, and central pharmacy operations. Collaboration with the South Dakota State University (SDSU) College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions provides opportunities for layered learning and mentorship from SDSU faculty.

Leadership Certificate

PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents are given the opportunity to participate in additional leadership training experiences beyond the longitudinal requirements of the management rotation. The intent of this learning experience is to foster the capacity for personal growth and resilience. Pharmacy residents work closely with a leadership mentor of their choosing. Each month, residents develop a discussion for a small group of participating pharmacists to discuss topics of interest (e.g., resiliency, focus, failure). Throughout the year, residents also participate in other flexible activities related to volunteerism and leadership (e.g., community outreach, diversity meetings). In addition, residents create a personalized leadership webpage documenting their progress.

Research

The core research experiences at MH Rapid City Hospital focus on two projects: a major research project and a medication use evaluation. Residents gain experience in project design, protocol development, IRB submission, data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation of data, and presentation of research in concise, digestible formats. Research is presented at state, regional, and national meetings, with the expectation of developing a manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal by the end of the program.

Teaching Certificate

SDSU College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions offers a teaching certificate to all PGY1 pharmacy residents within South Dakota. Residents are given the opportunity to participate in and receive mentorship from one of the four on-site college of pharmacy faculty members. Training experiences include a monthly lecture series provided to residents by faculty members, as well as resident development of one didactic lecture and associated lab, facilitation of labs throughout the academic year, and precepting of APPE (advanced pharmacy practice experience) students later in the residency year. Near the end of the year, a teaching certificate portfolio is completed to summarize all teaching experience activities.

Rapid City and The Black Hills

Rapid City, South Dakota, with a population of around 80,000, offers year-round activities and attracts almost 3 million visitors annually. The region is known for its beautiful summers, vibrant autumns, and mild winters. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, skiing, and more. Notable attractions include Mount Rushmore and the scenic Black Hills. For more information, go to visitrapidcity.com.

Past Resident Experience, Nicholas Hohensee PGY1 Resident 2023–2024

The PGY1 residency program at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital offers a robust, immersive training experience hidden in the hills of western South Dakota. Program leadership is deeply invested in creating a structured and adaptable environment that fosters accelerated resident growth while offering opportunities tailored to personal interest areas in pharmacy practice. Preceptors are well-established experts in their practice areas, not only dedicated to advanced pharmacy training, but also flexible in accommodating individual learning styles to ensure the success of each resident on rotation.

What stood out the most to me was the commitment of each preceptor and program leader to both resident professional and personal development. This dedication has given me the confidence to be successful in the next phase of my career as a PGY2 resident and the skills necessary to grow through new challenges along the way.

Additional Information/Contacts:

For more information about the PGY1 pharmacy residency experience at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, please visit our website or contact:

Katie Hayes, Pharm.D., BCPS

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director

[email protected]

Submitted by: Former PGY1 Resident Nicholas Hohensee, Pharm.D. (current PGY2 cardiology resident at another facility)