Frequently asked questions
What is a PGY1 pharmacy residency program?
Geisinger's PGY1 Pharmacy Residency is designed to train and educate pharmacists like you in the fundamentals of exemplary pharmacy practice in organized healthcare systems. Your residency focuses on total pharmacy practice, including the concepts and philosophies of contemporary pharmaceutical care. It builds upon practice experience and academic education and acts as the foundation for practice competence. Your residency will provide experiences and knowledge that can’t easily be achieved in a staff role — which will boost your career when you graduate. If you’re a more seasoned pharmacist, your residency will accelerate a career move to a higher level of practice.
How is the Geisinger Lewistown Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency designed to meet my individual career aspirations?
As a PGY1 pharmacy resident, you’ll complete all core learning experiences. And you select all elective learning experiences to meet your career goals. The sequence facilitates your goal achievement. You’re free to change elective selections throughout the year as you discover new areas of interest, and to design acute care and ambulatory care-focused curricula based on your unique goals and aspirations. You’ll have many opportunities to promote professional development and self-discovery. And throughout it all, your residency director will work closely with you to make sure your year is successful.
How is the residency offered at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital?
The residency is a full-time, approximately 12-month program that is conducted in accordance with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) duty hour requirements through the accomplishment of formal learning objectives and activities. The start date is Monday, June 17, 2024.
Is participation in the ASHP Matching Program ("the Match") required?
Yes, participation in the Match for the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is required. Our program code number for the Resident Matching Program is 23115.
How many resident positions are available and what are the requirements?
There are currently two PGY1 pharmacy resident positions at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital. A PharmD degree is required, along with an interview.
What are the staffing requirements?
As a pharmacy resident, you’ll participate in staffing activities every other weekend, alternating morning and evening shifts in addition to a four-hour shift one evening every other week. The residents will also have exposure to the remote order verification process for other hospitals while staffing. Your staffing learning experience fosters the achievement of the residency goals outlined by the ASHP. Staffing promotes your growth and professional practice maturity.
What is the stipend, and what benefits are included?
The stipend is $47,476 per year. This is paid in two-week intervals and is taxed as salary. Other benefits include an excellent healthcare benefits package, paid time off and paid administrative leave for educational meetings (ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Eastern States Residents Conference). You’ll have dedicated workspace with access to a computer and wireless rounding computer.
What clinical services does your program provide to your patients?
Currently, we have pharmacists practicing in anticoagulation, cardiology, critical care medicine, emergency medicine, heart failure transitions of care, hematology and oncology, internal medicine, psychiatry and medication therapy disease state management. Our pharmacists are involved in drug therapy management, multidisciplinary patient care, decentralized pharmacy practice, pharmacokinetic consultations, adult code team, stroke response, medication utilization and outcome evaluation. Pharmacists also lead educational programs geared toward nurses, nursing students, providers, medical students, pharmacists and pharmacy students.
What should I expect at the time of the interview?
All interviews for the 2024-2025 residency candidates will be conducted virtually. More information regarding the interview process will be provided prior to the interview. Interviews will take place in January-February 2024.