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Pharmacy Residency Program at Tufts Medical Center

These ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Residency Programs at Tufts Medical Center are comprehensive, practice-based programs that focuses on the pharmaceutical care of a diverse patient population.
Tufts Medical Center Pharmacy Residents

About this program

Residents are actively engaged in a patient-centered integrated model that includes clinical, distributive, research, and education responsibilities. The programs builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training, and specialized positions.

How to apply

To apply, applicants must:

  • Possess a PharmD degree from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy
  • Be eligible for licensure in Massachusetts
  • Register with the National Matching Service
  • Register with PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service) and provide the following application requirements:
    • Completed PhORCAS application
    • Official pharmacy college transcripts
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Personal Statement/Letter of Intent
    • Three letters of recommendation submitted from health care professionals and/or supervisors who can attest to practice abilities and aptitudes of the applicant.  Those selected to provide recommendations should be instructed to use the standardized form provided in PhORCAS.
  • Applicants applying to a PGY2 residency program will need to have successfully completed a PGY1 program

Requirements

All application materials should be submitted to PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service). Please do not send application materials to Tufts Medical Center.

Please note the residency application deadline for Tufts Medical Center is January 2nd. Incomplete PhORCAS applications will not be considered. Following our Screening Committee’s evaluation, a select number of candidates will be invited to for an introduction to our facilities and to interview with our staff.

Interviewing

Although we look forward to meeting with applicants during informal showcase sessions, such as at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, those encounters are not considered interviews. The interview at Tufts Medical Center allows the applicant to meet potential colleagues and provides an opportunity for a greater number of our staff to meet with each applicant.

We extend invitations to join us for an interview only to those applicants who are selected by our Residency Screening Committee. Interviews are scheduled only after all application materials are received and reviewed by the Screening Committee.

Affiliations

The hospital is affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. The Department of Pharmacy is affiliated with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences and Northeastern University's Bouve College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences.

These alliances provide residents the opportunity to attend and/or contribute to classroom discussions, interact with other health professional students, and to precept pharmacy interns and students.

What is the Department of Pharmacy like?

The department’s professional staff and faculty are routinely involved in providing integrated clinical, distributive, research and educational services at Tufts Medical Center and serve as skilled and experienced preceptors to our residents. Our preceptors are an integral part of the educational and clinical research programs at Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.

Why choose Tufts Medical Center?

Residents complete their training at Tufts Medical Center, a world-class academic medical center located in Boston and the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. Tufts Medical Center is a 415-bed robust organization, providing everything from routine medical care to treating the most complex diseases affecting a diverse patient population. It also sponsors nineteen specialty ACGME-accredited clinical training programs.

Tufts Medical Center provides heart, kidney, liver and bone marrow transplants, comprehensive neurological and neurosurgical care, offers cutting-edge cancer treatments, and is a level I trauma center. 

Residency program

PGY1 pharmacy residency program

Purpose

This ASHP accredited residency program builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

Description

Our program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that prepares pharmacists for a clinical practice that integrates direct patient care, drug distribution, teaching, and management.

PGY1 learning experiences

The residency provides learning experiences to help residents to meet all of the required competencies of the ASHP-accredited program. The types of learning experiences are: (1) required/core rotations; (2) elective rotations; and (3) longitudinal experiences.

Seven core rotations (all are 4-week experiences)

Internal Medicine

One of the following:

  • General medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Nephrology

AND one of the following:

  • Any listed above
  • Transplant
  • Infectious diseases

 

Critical Care

One of the following:

  • Medical ICU
  • Surgical ICU

AND one of the following:

  • Either listed above
  • Cardiothoracic ICU
  • Neuro ICU
  • Cardiac ICU
  • Advanced heart failure
  • Emergency medicine

 

Hospitalist
  • Internal medicine - hospitalist service

 

Ambulatory Care

One of the following:

  • Primary care
  • Infectious diseases
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Pediatrics

 

Operations
  • Central operations and sterile products and project management

 

Two elective rotations (4-week experiences)

Two rotations selected from:

  • Any core rotation not taken
  • Additional elective experiences may be available upon request

 

Longitudinal experiences

  • Hospital pharmacy practice (decentralized and centralized staffing)
  • Committees (e.g., pharmacy and therapeutics, medication safety, nursing/pharmacy)
  • Management topic discussions
  • Case presentations, pharmacy student conferences, teaching seminar
  • Code response
  • Resident project

 

Teaching opportunities

Experience in teaching (instruction, coaching, facilitation) is gained through active participation in numerous committees, clinical conferences, and in-service presentations. 
Residents may also be responsible for precepting students in the department's undergraduate clinical clerkship programs and they routinely participate in monthly teaching seminars held in conjunction with other Boston area residency programs.

Additional opportunities to educate others include:

  • Preparation and presentation of 2 CE programs
  • Presentation of Residency Project results to the pharmacy staff and at the Eastern States Conference for Pharmacy
  • Residents and Preceptors
  • Didactic sessions with students training in the health professions
  • Editing and publishing departmental newsletters
     

PGY1 pharmacy residency program director

Paul Abourjaily, PharmD, BCPS 
Residency Program Director – PGY1 

Specialty/Areas of Interest: Primary Care, Academia

Education and Training: 
PharmD – University of Rhode Island
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency – Tufts Medical Center
Rotations offered: Ambulatory Care Primary Care

Contact:  Paul.Abourjaily@tuftsmedicine.org

Residency outcomes

The residency program’s purpose is achieved by utilizing the four competency areas and their associated educational goals and objectives as required by the ASHP Standard. The competency areas are: (1) patient care; (2) advancing practice and improving patient care; (3) leadership and management; and (4) teaching, education, and dissemination of knowledge. A complete description of required competency areas can be found here.

PGY1 community-based pharmacy residency

Purpose

This residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

Description

Our program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that prepares pharmacists for a community and specialty pharmacy based clinical practice that integrates direct patient care, pharmacy drug distribution, teaching, and management. Tufts Medical Center has provided an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency for more than 40 years. This PGY1 community-based pharmacy residency conducted by Tufts Medical Center has an accreditation candidate status with ASHP.

Outcomes

The residency program’s purpose is achieved by utilizing the four competency areas and their associated educational goals and objectives as required by the ASHP Standard. The competency areas are: (1) patient care; (2) practice advancement; (3) leadership; and (4) teaching and education. A complete description of required competency areas can be found here.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must:

  • Possess a PharmD Degree from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy
  • Be eligible for licensure in Massachusetts
  • Be registered with the National Matching Service and the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS)

Application Process

Applicants must provide the following:

  • Official college of pharmacy transcript
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Letter of intent
  • Three letters of recommendation submitted from health care professionals and/or supervisors who can attest to the practice abilities and aptitudes of the applicant. Individuals providing recommendations should be instructed to use the standardized form provided in PhORCAS.

All application materials, including letters of recommendation, should be submitted to PhORCAS. Please do not send application materials to Tufts Medical Center.

The Tufts Medical Center Residency Screening Committee will review applications only after receipt of all application materials. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 2, 2025.

Learning experiences

The Tufts Medical Center PGY1 Community-based pharmacy residency utilizes three types of learning experiences to help residents to meet the required competencies of an ASHP-accredited program. Following an orientation period, the types of learning experiences are: (a) required/core rotations; (b) elective rotations; and (c) longitudinal experiences.

Seven core rotations (all are 4-week experiences)

Specialty Pharmacy Clinical Care
  • Primary care
  • Fulfillment operations

AND one of the following (biologics):

  • Dermatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatrics
  • Rheumatology

AND one of the following

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious disease
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Pulmonology
  • Solid organ transplant
 
Community-Pharmacy Care
  • Transitions of care and meds to bed

AND one of the following:

  • Medication adherence program
  • Oncology clinic pharmacy
 
Operations

The following:

  • Community / Specialty pharmacy management
 
Two elective rotations (4-week experiences)

Two rotations selected from:

  • Any core rotation not taken
  • Additional elective experiences may be available upon request
 
Longitudinal experiences

All the following:

  • Community and specialty pharmacy practice (staffing) (11 months)
    • One weekend (Saturday and Sunday) every 4 weeks
    • One week every fifth week
    • Up to an additional 10 days throughout the year
  • Committees (e.g., Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Specialty Pharmacy Quality Management Committee, etc.) (12 months)
  • Management topic discussions (12 months)
  • Case presentations (~every 6 weeks), pharmacy student conferences, teaching seminar (12 months)
  • Resident project (10 months)

 

Teaching opportunities

Experience in teaching (instruction, coaching, facilitation) is gained through active participation in numerous committees, clinical conferences, and in-service presentations.

Residents may also be responsible for precepting students in the department's undergraduate clinical clerkship programs and they routinely participate in monthly teaching seminars held in conjunction with other Boston area residency programs.

Additional opportunities to educate others include:

  • Preparation and presentation of 2 CE programs
  • Presentation of Residency Project results to the pharmacy staff and at the Eastern States Conference for Pharmacy Residents and Preceptors
  • Didactic sessions with students training in the health professions
  • Editing and publishing departmental newsletters

PGY1 community-based pharmacy residency program director

Erica Diamantides, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
System Director, Specialty Pharmacy Services

Residency Program Director – PGY1 Community-based
Specialty/Areas of Interest: Specialty Pharmacy, Leadership

Education and Training: 

  • PharmD – Northeastern University
  • PGY1/2 Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency – University of Washington (UW) Medicine

Rotations offered: Community/Specialty Pharmacy Management
Contact: erica.diamantides@tuftsmedicine.org

PGY2 ambulatory care residency program

Join us for a virtual open house Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST.

Please register in advance

Purpose

This PGY2 pharmacy residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions, and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

Description

Integrated pharmacy practitioners at Tufts Medical Center are responsible for dedicated clinical practices, drug distribution, teaching and research in a variety of ambulatory care settings. The Ambulatory Care pharmacy program works closely with the medical staff and patients to ensure that medications are prescribed appropriately, administered safely, and work effectively. Dedicated pharmacists care for patients with chronic conditions in variety of specialties including primary care, endocrinology, infectious diseases, cardiology, oncology, dermatology, rheumatology, neurology, GI and hepatology, nephrology, solid organ transplant, pulmonology, and pediatrics. Residents will focus on medication-related care of patients who are prescribed chronic, costly, and complex medications that require ongoing management by a pharmacist for appropriateness, access and affordability, as well as adherence. Residents will be required to rotate through core experiences and have the opportunity to select two elective experiences. A longitudinal experience will be established in at least one multidisciplinary clinic.

Learning experiences

The Tufts Medical Center PGY2 Residency in Ambulatory Care Pharmacy utilizes three types of learning experiences to help residents to meet all of the required competencies of the ASHP-accredited program. The types of learning experiences are: (1) required/core rotations; (2) elective rotations; and (3) longitudinal experiences.  

Core rotations

  • Orientation (3 weeks)
  • Primary care (6 weeks)
  • Infectious disease (8 weeks)
  • Endocrinology (8 weeks)
  • Nephrology (4 weeks)
  • Kidney transplant (4 weeks)
  • Ambulatory leadership (7 weeks)

Two elective rotations (6 weeks each)

  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiology  
  • Biologics
  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Pulmonology 

 

  • Outpatient pharmacy practice (staffing) (12 months, every 4th weekend)
  • Primary care longitudinal clinic (10 months, 2 full days per month)
  • Resident project (12 months)
  • Practice management (12 months): committee participation, case presentations, grand rounds, newsletter articles, Socratic seminars 
  • Teaching (8 weeks)
     

Past residents

Name, Degree(s), CertificationsYear PGY2 CompletedPGY1 Residency ProgramFirst Position after ResidencyCurrent TitleCurrent Practice Location
Sydney Hudson, PharmD2024Emerson HospitalClinical Pharmacy Specialist – Primary Care at Tufts Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy SpecialistTufts Medical Center
Rachel Yan, PharmD2024Baystate Medical Center   
Samantha Schermerhorn, PharmD, BCACP2023Baystate Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy Specialist – Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Tufts Medical Center.Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – GI/HepatologyTufts Medical Center
Nichole Flaspohler, PharmD , BCACP2022St. Elizabeth HealthcareClinical Pharmacy Specialist – Primary Care at Tufts Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy Specialist - Primary CareEskenazi Health
Meghan McElligott, PharmD, BCACP2021Tufts Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy Specialist – Primary Care at Tufts Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy Specialist - Primary CareTufts Medical Center
Kristen Carrier, PharmD, BCACP2020Tufts Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy Specialist – Hepatology at Tufts Medical CenterClinical Pharmacy Specialist - Solid Organ TransplantTufts Medical Center

Ambulatory care residency program director

Katlyn Grossman, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP  
Senior Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Infectious Diseases Clinic

Specialties/Areas of Interest: HIV, Hepatitis C, PrEP/PEP, substance use disorder 

Education and Training
PharmD, University of Pittsburgh 
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency - The Brooklyn Hospital Center
PGY2 Ambulatory Care - The Brooklyn Hospital Center

Rotations offered: PGY2 Ambulatory Care Infectious Diseases, PGY1 Ambulatory Care elective

Contact: Katlyn.Grossman@tuftsmedicine.org 

PGY2 cardiology residency program

Purpose

This PGY2 pharmacy residency program builds on the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in cardiology. The program provides residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete this PGY2 program are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification. 

Description

Integrated pharmacy practitioners at Tufts Medical Center are responsible for dedicated clinical practices, drug distribution, teaching, and research in a variety of cardiac care settings. The Cardiovascular Center at Tufts Medical Center offers nationally renowned programs in general cardiology, advanced heart failure and heart transplantation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias, interventional cardiology, cardio-oncology, and cardiac surgery. Dedicated pharmacists provide care to patients following cardiac surgery, in the cardiomyopathy unit, in the coronary care unit, on a general cardiology floor, and in various cardiology clinics.

PGY2 cardiology pharmacy learning experiences

The Tufts Medical Center PGY2 Residency in Cardiology Pharmacy utilizes three types of learning experiences to help residents to meet all of the required competencies of the ASHP-accredited program. The types of learning experiences are: (1) required/core rotations; (2) elective rotations; and (3) longitudinal experiences.

 

General cardiology – four core rotations 

  • Advanced heart failure and transplant
  • Cardiac Surgery ICU
  • Coronary care unit
  • Cardiology clinic

 

Four electives

  • Transplant infectious diseases consult
  • Medical ICU
  • Emergency medicine
  • Electrophysiology
  • Pulmonary Hypertension

 

Repeat core experience

 

Longitudinal  experiences

  • Hospital pharmacy practice (staffing; every 4th weekend, one critical care or 
    med-surg evening shift per week)
  • Committees (e.g. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Quality, etc. over 12 months)
  • Longitudinal LVAD rotation (12 months)
  • Emergency code and stroke response (12 months)
  • Teaching through cases, CEs, house staff conference (12 months)
  • Resident project & MUE (12 months)

 

Cardiology residency program director

Lauren Schwaner, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Critical Care  

Specialties/Areas of Interest: Cardiac Critical Care, anticoagulation and hemostasis, mechanical circulatory support 

Education and Training: 
PharmD, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency – Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas 
PGY2 Critical Care – Tufts Medical Center

Rotations offered: Cardiac Surgery ICU
Contact: lauren.schwaner@tuftsmedicine.org
 

Residency outcomes

The residency program’s purpose is achieved by utilizing the five competency areas and their associated educational goals and objectives as required by the ASHP Standard. The competency areas are: (1) patient care; (2) advancing practice and improving patient care; (3) leadership and management; (4) teaching, education, and dissemination of knowledge; and (5) management of cardiovascular (ACLS) medical emergencies. A complete description of required competency areas can be found here.

PGY2 critical care residency program

Purpose

The PGY2 residency program builds on the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in critical care. The program provides residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete this PGY2 program are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification.

Description

Integrated pharmacy practitioners at Tufts Medical Center are responsible for dedicated clinical practices, drug distribution, teaching, and research in a variety of critical care settings. Tufts Medical Center is a Level 1 trauma center and is renowned for providing outstanding care to patients in more than 100 adult, pediatric and neonatal intensive care beds. The Emergency Department serves more than 45,000 patients every year.

PGY-2 Critical Care Pharmacy Learning Experiences
The Tufts Medical Center PGY2 Residency in Critical Care Pharmacy utilizes three types of learning experiences to help residents to meet all of the required competencies of an ASHP-accredited program. The types of learning experiences are: (1) required/core rotations; (2) elective rotations; and (3) longitudinal experiences.

Eight core rotations

(all are 5-week experiences*)

Three 4 or 5-week Elective Rotations

selected from:

  • Orientation (*3-week experience)
  • Medical ICU
  • Surgical / Trauma ICU
  • Cardiothoracic ICU
  • Coronary care ICU
  • Neurocritical care unit
  • Emergency medicine
  • Advanced heart failure
  • Research
  • Neonatal ICU
  • Infectious diseases
  • Nutrition (concentrated experience)
  • Repeat one core rotation with an emphasis on precepting

Longitudinal experiences

All of the following:

  • Hospital pharmacy practice (staffing), emergency response participation
  • Committee attendance and participation (e.g., pharmacy and therapeutics, medication safety, pharmacy and nursing, etc.)
  • Case presentations, pharmacy student conferences, house staff conferences
  • Resident research project
  • Nutrition
  • Medication use evaluation
  • Post-Intensive care syndrome (PICS) clinic

 

Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Kimberly E. Levasseur-Franklin, PharmD, FCCM, BCPS, BCCCP
Pharmacy Manager—Critical Care/Emergency Medicine

Specialty/Areas of Interest: Neurocritical Care, Sedation/Analgesia/Delirium, Anticoagulation Reversal

Education and training:
PharmD - MCPHS – Boston
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency – UMass Memorial Medical Center
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency—University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center (UIC) 
Rotations offered: Adult critical care
Contact: Kimberly.Levasseur-Franklin@tuftsmedicine.org

Residency outcomes

The residency program’s purpose is achieved by utilizing the four competency areas and their associated educational goals and objectives as required by the ASHP Standard. The competency areas are: (1) patient care; (2) advancing practice and improving patient care; (3) leadership and management; and (4) teaching, education, and dissemination of knowledge. A complete description of required competency areas can be found here.

PGY1/2 combined health-system pharmacy administration + leadership residency program

Purpose 

This program combines a 12-month PGY1 pharmacy practice residency with a 12-month PGY2 residency in health-system administration. In year one, the resident participates in and is responsible for all of the requirements of the accredited Tufts Medical Center PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. In year two, this PGY2 pharmacy residency program builds upon PGY1 residency graduates’ competence in the delivery of patient-centered care and in pharmacy operational services to prepare residents who can assume high level managerial, supervisory, and leadership responsibilities. Areas of competence emphasized during the program include safe and effective medication-use systems, quality assurance and improvement, the management of human resources, the management of financial resources, use of technology, and advanced leadership. The residency lays the foundation for continued growth in management and leadership skills. Upon graduation, residents are prepared for a clinical or operational management/supervisory role in a variety of work settings.

Description

Pharmacists at Tufts Medical Center are responsible for dedicated clinical practices, drug distribution, teaching and research in both acute and ambulatory settings. The Department of Pharmacy is renowned for combining clinical, operational, financial, and regulatory management into a cohesive whole and for involving every member of the staff in administering the programs of the department. The resident will develop competence in caring for inpatients and outpatients, and in managing people and processes.

PGY1/2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Learning Experiences  
The Tufts Medical Center Combined PGY1-2 Residency in Health-system Pharmacy Administration and Leadership utilizes three types of learning experiences to help residents to meet all of the required competencies of the ASHP-accredited program. The types of learning experiences are: (1) required/core rotations; (2) elective rotations; and (3) longitudinal experiences.

In year one, the resident participates in and is responsible for all of the requirements of the accredited Tufts Medical Center PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. The learning experiences for year two are: 

Six core rotations (all are 5-week experiences)

  • Executive leadership
  • Clinical leadership
  • Advanced inpatient operations
  • Ambulatory leadership
  • Supply chain & revenue cycle management
  • Safety and quality oversight

Two 5-week elective rotations selected from:

  • Infusion center leadership
  • Outpatient / Specialty pharmacy operations
  • 340B program leadership
  • Enterprise leadership

 

Longitudinal experiences

All of the following:

  • Hospital pharmacy practice (staffing)
  • Committees (e.g., pharmacy and therapeutics, medication safety, pharmacy and nursing, etc.)
  • Case presentations, pharmacy student conferences
  • Resident project
  • ASHP pharmacy leadership academy
  • Personnel management
  • Administrator on-call

 

Residency outcomes

The resident is prepared for a managerial role in health-system pharmacy practice that integrates direct patient care, drug distribution, teaching and practice management. The resident will be able to design, improve and manage a safe and effective medication use system. The competency areas are: (1) patient care; (2) advancing practice and improving patient care; (3) leadership and management; and (4) teaching, education, and dissemination of knowledge. A complete description of required competency areas can be found here.

Name, Degree(s), CertificationsYear PGY2 CompletedCollege or School of PharmacyFirst Position after ResidencyCurrent TitleCurrent Practice Location
Samantha Troy, PharmD2023University of ConnecticutPharmacy Manager, 340B Program Tufts Medical CenterPharmacy Manager, 340B ProgramTufts Medical Center
Tom Webb, PharmD, BCPS2022University of ConnecticutPharmacy Supply Chain Manager, Massachusetts General HospitalPharmacy Supply Chain ManagerMassachusetts General Hospital
Mark Solinsky, PharmD, MBA2021Northeastern UniversityOperations Specialist, Tufts Medical CenterPharmacy Operations ManagerTufts Medical Center
Rayya Ramadan, PharmD2020MCPHS University - BostonPortfolio Executive, Apexus LLCDirector, US Market Access Strategy and Planning LeadOrganon

Life as a resident

Boston is a beautiful, historic city with both the advantages and the problems of an urban area. The city is one of the largest tourist cities in the United States. It is culturally diverse, with large Chinese, Italian, and Irish communities.

Boston has major sports teams and provides numerous opportunities to enjoy the arts. It is also a highly academic area, with over 30 colleges in the city, including Tufts, Harvard, and MIT.

Travel is convenient, as the city and outlying areas have a reliable and inexpensive transportation system. Owning a car in Boston is not necessary, One can get virtually anywhere in the city, including Tufts Medical Center, via the public transportation system. However, if you bring a car to Boston, parking is available during worked hours at Tufts Medical Center.

Reasonable apartments can be found in Boston, but it may take more than a week of serious hunting in early summer to secure one. It is much easier to find reasonably priced housing outside the center of Boston.

Salary + benefits

The residency stipend is competitive with those offered in similar programs. The specific dollar amount and other information about our Residency Program can be found in the current ASHP Residency Directory.

Residents are eligible for the hospital’s benefits package, including medical, dental, life and disability plans, and including paid time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave. The department also provides funds to partially offset the cost of travel to the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Eastern States Conference for Pharmacy Residents and Preceptors, and other local and regional professional conferences.

Residents

PGY-1 residents
Vivian Kung

Name: Vivian Kung    
Hometown: Braintree, MA
Pharmacy School: Northeastern University
Career Interests: Emergency Medicine
Hobbies: Yoga, reading, trying new bakeries, 
Why Tufts?: When I spoke with the last class of residents at the New England Residency Showcase, they described the many learning opportunities and wide variety of rotations offered in the PGY1 program and how their preceptors genuinely cared for their learning and career development. And during my interview at Tufts, I felt that the preceptors are friendly and welcoming, and they wanted to know more about my professional interests as well as interests outside of work. 


Gillian Diiorio

Name: Gillian Diiorio
Hometown: North Providence, RI
Pharmacy School: University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
Career Interests: Internal medicine, critical care
Hobbies: Running, shopping, reading, spending time with friends and family 
Why Tufts?: In searching for a PGY1 program, I was looking for a medium sized academic medical center that offered many opportunities in both internal medicine and critical care. During my Tufts interview, I was further impressed that many of the pharmacists were previous PGY1 residents at Tufts. I enjoyed all of my interactions with everyone from Tufts during interviews and residency showcases. I knew that I would obtain a well-rounded, challenging residency training at Tufts. I am looking forward to continuing to learn as a resident at Tufts! 


Emma Daly

Name: Emma Daly
Hometown: Franklin, MA
Pharmacy School: University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
Career Interests: ambulatory care, cardiology
Hobbies: baking, gardening, going on walks with my dog Midnight, shopping, trying new restaurants in the area
Why Tufts?: During my interview with Tufts, I was impressed by how genuinely interested the pharmacy team was in getting to know me on a personal level. It was very clear that they were not only invested in my success as a resident, but also eager to support my personal and professional development as a pharmacist. I was drawn to the wide variety of rotation opportunities, which span both inpatient and outpatient settings. Tufts has provided me with the ideal balance of strong mentorship from preceptors while also challenging me to grow and develop as a resident and pharmacist. I look forward to continuing my learning as a resident at Tufts and growing both personally and professionally!


Allison Zhang

Name: Allison Zhang
Hometown: Dededo, Guam 
Pharmacy School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Career Interests: Cardiology 
Hobbies: Cooking, trying new restaurants, raising plants, and going to beach
Why Tufts?:I was drawn to Tufts because of its specialized cardiac rotations and opportunities to gain a well-rounded experience through a variety of inpatient and outpatient experiences. I also value the institution serving a diverse patient population, including those from underserved communities. During my interview, my interest was further solidified as I observed the preceptors' dedication to fostering my growth and creating a supportive, safe environment for learning. I am excited to continue the year, eager to learn and grow with each rotation!

PGY-1 community-based pharmacy resident
Theresa Zheng

Name: Theresa Zheng
Hometown: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 
Pharmacy School: Northeastern University 
Career Interests: Ambulatory Care
Hobbies: yoga, pottery
Why Tufts?: I chose Tufts Medical Center because of its diverse patient population, which offers a unique chance to work with a wide variety of clinical cases and make a meaningful impact on patient care. The preceptors and mentors here are incredible – they not only offer guidance and support but also challenge me to grow both clinically and professionally. Additionally, the strong emphasis on specialty pharmacy and hands-on learning allows me to build my skills and reach my goals. 

PGY-1 health-system pharmacy administration and leadership resident
Sarah Cunningham

Name: Sarah Cunningham
Hometown: Tewksbury, MA
Pharmacy School: University of Rhode Island Career 
Interests: quality improvement, critical care, internal medicine 
Hobbies: workout classes, spending time with friends and family, skiing, walking around the city, going to the beach 
Why Tufts?: From my experience over the past few years as an inpatient pharmacy intern here at Tufts I have witnessed the supportive relationship between residents and preceptors. This creates an excellent environment for growth into a well-rounded pharmacist. I was drawn to Tufts because it is an academic medical center and also has the close-knit feeling of a smaller community hospital. The PGY-1 program provides a wide variety of rotations which allows me to solidify my clinical knowledge. In the second year of the HSPAL program I am looking forward to focusing on my leadership skills and working with different leaders across Tufts Medicine.

PGY-2 critical care
Lauren St John

Name: Lauren St. John
Hometown: Fairport, NY 
Pharmacy School: St. John Fisher University
Where you completed your PGY1: Tufts Medical Center
Career Interests: critical care, emergency medicine, academia
Hobbies: cooking, spending time with my cats, trying new restaurants, and exploring Boston
Why Tufts? After my PGY1 year, it was an extremely easy decision to apply to complete PGY2 at Tufts. The preceptors are welcoming, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable, and the providers at Tufts are very pharmacy friendly. I have enjoyed working with each team that I have had the opportunity to collaborate with. Specific to critical care, there are a wide variety of rotations available at Tufts that I knew would provide me with a well-rounded experience. I could not imagine completing my residency training anywhere else!

PGY-2 cardiology
Amy Leung

Name: Amy Leung
Hometown: Los Angeles County, CA
Pharmacy School: University of California, San Diego 
Where you completed your PGY1: Scripps Memorial Hospital – La Jolla
Career Interests: Advanced Heart failure, General Cardiology, Cardiac ICU 
Hobbies: painting, ceramics, jigsaw puzzles, watching Korean dramas, exploring new restaurants and bakeries
Why Tufts?: During my interview, I felt extremely welcomed and everyone seemed so passionate about the work that they do at Tufts. Tufts offered a wide variety of rotations that align with my career interests, and I felt that I would get a well-rounded learning experience.

PGY-2 ambulatory care
Maria Spielberger

Name: Maria Spielberger
Hometown: Collegeville, PA
Pharmacy School: University of Pittsburgh
Where you completed your PGY1: Tufts Medical Center
Career Interests: primary care, transplant
Hobbies: baking, reading, exploring different neighborhoods in Boston, and spending time with family and friends
Why Tufts?: During my interview with Tufts, one of the first things I noticed was how welcoming the preceptors and residents were and how excited they were to genuinely get to know me better. I decided to stay at Tufts for my second year in ambulatory care due to the variety in rotations offered and the supportive environment of the pharmacy department. 


Keesha Predestin

Name: Keesha Predestin
Hometown: Rockland County, NY
Pharmacy School: University at Buffalo
Where you completed your PGY1: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Career Interests: Primary care, oncology 
Hobbies: baking, weightlifting, board games, watching Korean dramas
Why Tufts?: I was returning to pursue a PGY2 after working for a year, in my search I was looking for programs that offered a variety of clinics to rotate through so that I could explore a range of specialties. During my interview everyone was personable and welcoming which drew me to this program. I can confirm that everyone in the outpatient side is as kind as they appeared virtually!

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