Program Overview

The PGY2 pediatric residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital is designed to prepare pharmacists for impactful roles in pediatric pharmacy practice. By integrating advanced clinical practice models, using collaborative drug therapy agreements, teaching, and research opportunities, residents develop the skills necessary to provide exceptional patient care and contribute to the advancement of pharmacy practice while working at the top of their license.

This program allows residents to pursue individual professional interests, with a variety of elective rotations available. Unique experiences ranging from solid organ transplant, emergency medicine, and cardiac intensive care to bone marrow transplant allow residents to customize the program to what they would like it to be according to their short- and long-term career goals, including board certification.

Pharmacist Staff: 200

Non-Pharmacist Staff: 5000

Total Beds: 407

Site Special Features: Primary teaching site for University of Washington School of Medicine Pediatrics programs. Level 4 NICU

Rounding Setting: Depends on rotation, but often bedside rounds

Patient Population: Diverse pediatric patient population from the WAMI region (Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho)

Key Features of the Residency

Practice Areas

Pharmacy Residency Requirements

• Complete and present a research project at the Pediatric Pharmacy Association annual meeting and complete manuscript
• Participate in teaching activities with students and residents
• Present a 1-hour continuing education (CE) seminar on a pediatric topic
• Prepare and present drug monograph/projects for the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee as assigned
• Complete parenteral nutrition, pharmacokinetic, and anticoagulation competencies
• Staff every third weekend once orientation period is complete; one 4-hour night shift per week

CE Presentation

The resident is expected to give a formal 1-hour CE seminar to the pharmacy department on a pediatric topic of the resident’s choosing, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) through the Washington State Pharmacy Association.

Primary Precepting

A resident may have the opportunity to act as a primary preceptor for an APPE student or a PGY1 resident during the resident’s second half of the year. The resident will perform all aspects of precepting the student during the rotation, including, but not limited to:

• Reviewing and revising the APPE student rotation description and calendar
• Orienting the student to the rotation and electronic medical record
• Assisting the student in setting appropriate goals and objectives
• Modeling pre-rounding and rounding behavior
• Assigning patients for rounding, journal club, and formal case presentation or book of peds
• Facilitating patient case review with the student
• Determining student competence and associated level of rotation independence
• Coaching and facilitating the student on rounds
• Conducting all evaluations, including all formative and summative feedback

Lectures

Residents will participate in a pediatric pharmacy lecture during their residency year in conjunction with the pediatric elective course at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. An example of the course syllabus and schedule is available in the residency manual.

Pharmacy Resident Teaching Program (Teaching Certificate)

Seattle Children’s Hospital supports its residents by providing time away from work to attend both workshops and the skills course as desired. It is an opportunity, not a requirement; as such, the resident will pay the fees associated with the program. The University of Washington School of Pharmacy offers a variety of opportunities to enhance the resident’s experience in precepting, teaching, and facilitating small groups. Opportunities include Preceptor Training, Introduction to Teaching, Teaching Certificate in Pharmacy Education, and Co-instructing for the first- through third-year Skills courses in the Pharm.D. program.

Current Resident Project Examples

• Evaluation of Sternal Wound Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients
• Diuretic Use in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients Receiving Maintenance Intravenous Fluids
• ACCP Pedi-PRN National Journal Club Presentation of “Evaluating Gabapentin Dosing, Efficacy and Safety in Infants”
• ACCP Pedi-PRN National Journal Club Presentation of “Real-World Experience with Edoxaban for Anticoagulation in Children at Risk for Coronary Artery Thrombosis”

Reflections from Current Resident

Rachel Dittrich, Pharm.D.

• Pharmacy School: Roseman University of Health Sciences, Henderson Campus
• PGY1 (if applicable): Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
• Clinical Interest Areas: Pediatric Cardiology, Transplant, and General Medicine

• Why did you choose this residency program?
  • I selected Seattle Children’s Hospital for the welcoming environment they offer their residents, not only with exceptional preceptors but also on how the hospital strives to do their best at providing equity, diversity, and inclusion within their patient care. In addition, I loved the various collaborative drug therapy agreements within the pharmacy department because they allow pharmacists to be involved in the ordering of labs and medication adjustments for therapies such as anticoagulation, TPN, and vancomycin.
• What have you enjoyed the most about the experience?
  • The most enjoyable part of my residency experience at Seattle Children’s Hospital has been the opportunity to focus my interest area from pediatrics and narrow it down even further to specializations within my interest area. Through the variety of elective rotations offered with our PGY2 program, I have been able to identify pediatric transplant as a clinical interest area within pediatrics that I wasn’t even thinking of pursuing prior to my PGY2 program.
• How has the program helped you develop professionally?
  • One way the program has helped me develop professionally is by preparing me for my career beyond residency. Preceptors have offered me additional board certification study materials and quizzed me on various topics applicable to previous board certification exams. I believe this will set me up for success, not only in pursuing board certification but also in continuing my professional education beyond residency.
• What are your career aspirations after residency?
  • After residency, I hope to be working in a clinical pharmacist role specializing in pediatric transplant, cardiology, or general medicine at a stand-alone children’s hospital. Along with my career journey, I hope to obtain my BCPPS certification and continue to give back to the future generations of pharmacists while serving as a preceptor or maybe even a residency program director!

Andy Tsai, Pharm.D.

• Pharmacy School: Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University
• PGY1 (if applicable): Valley Medical Center
• Clinical Interest Areas: General Medicine, Neurology, and Endocrinology

• Why did you choose this residency program?

• • I selected Seattle Children’s Hospital for the culture of kindness, collaboration, and pursuit of excellent patient care. There is so much one can do here as a resident, and you see a very robust patient population that covers not only Washington but also a multitude of other states. Seattle Children’s also fosters an environment of warmth that is apparent walking down the halls and seeing kids zooming around in cars or with the custom posters that nursing creates for them.
• What have you enjoyed the most about the experience?
  • The most enjoyable part of my residency experience at Seattle Children’s Hospital has been the opportunity to think outside the box and really dive deep into different approaches on how to treat patients. As a PGY2, I feel like I have a unique experience where my background allows me to have discussions with providers and preceptors to formulate a plan together. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, and each member is valued at Seattle Children’s.
• How has the program helped you develop professionally?
  • The program allows for a fair level of autonomy once you’re ready. This allows you to practice at the top of your license even as a resident and really take ownership of your patients. In addition, projects are tailored to your interests. Depending on what you’re working on, you have many opportunities to work with other providers.
• What are your career aspirations after residency?
  • After residency, I hope to be a general medicine pharmacist working at a stand-alone pediatric hospital. I would love to take the knowledge, practice, and even collaborative drug practice agreements I’ve learned at Seattle Children’s and try implementing them elsewhere to create more opportunities for pharmacist involvement in pediatric care. I would also like to be involved in internship or residency development at whichever institution I end up.

Advice for Future Residents!

• What should candidates look for in a residency program?
  • I believe that candidates should look for a variety of rotation experiences within a residency program. With PGY2 programs, you narrow your scope to a specific interest area, but with a variety of rotation experiences within that interest area, it can open your mind up to various opportunities to pursue within your interest area that can continue to spark your interest and grow your clinical knowledge.
  • In addition, candidates should look for programs they feel are worth investing another year into—in addition to learning, think about the culture, areas for you to grow, or even areas you think you can improve. A good program should give you the space to do those things.
• How can residents make the most of their residency experience?
  • I believe you can make the most of your residency experience by prioritizing yourself and effectively communicating your needs. Many residents tend to overcommit or hesitate to express what they require from their program or program director, which can lead to burnout. It’s important to voice your concerns and provide feedback to the program while also listening to your body and recognizing when it’s okay to take a break—such as by not bringing work home for an evening or weekend. By taking care of yourself and advocating for your needs, you’ll set yourself up for success in your residency because you’re prioritizing your well-being.
• What skills or qualities are important for success during residency?
  • There are 2 key skills or qualities that I think are important for success during residency: being organized and having communication skills. When I think of being organized, I am thinking not only of time management skills but also about knowing which documents you are required to hold on to throughout your year or residency and beyond in your professional journey. With communication skills, I think you can really succeed in meeting preceptor and program expectations. In my PGY1 program, a preceptor once told me that it is better to overcommunicate than under-communicate. I continue to apply this rule in my PGY2 program.

Contact Information

Program Director/Contact Name: Dominique Mark, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS

Email: [email protected]

Website: Seattle Children’s Hospital Pharmacy Residency Programs