Residency Purpose Statement
The purpose of the PGY2 Pharmacy Residency is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide 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 an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.
Program Overview
The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee that conducts basic, translational and clinical research offering adult and pediatric oncology treatment. Additionally we are part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a non-profit alliance of 27 of the world's leading cancer centers. Our clinicians are privileged to serve more than 6,252 new cancer patients and deliver care for more than 151,000 outpatient visits each year. Comprised of nearly 300 researchers in eight research programs, VICC is also at the forefront of promising new therapies with access to over 150 clinical trials at any given time.
The Department of Pharmacy Specialty Oncology Residency is a 12-month program. The graduate will obtain the specialized oncology knowledge base and clinical skills required to become competent in the pharmaceutical care of cancer patients. We are an accredited residency program by ASHP and follow their guidelines and vision closely. The resident will have opportunities in all aspects of oncology pharmacy practice related to clinical practice and outcomes, short-term research projects, and educating other health care professionals. All rotations are four weeks in duration. The resident schedule is flexible in order to allow the resident to meet his/her career goals and interests.
Rotations (All rotations are one calendar month (minimum 4 weeks) in duration)
Required
- Orientation
- Malignant Hematology: Inpatient (teaching service)
- Stem Cell Transplant: Inpatient or Outpatient
- Medical Oncology x 3 months
- Inpatient medical oncology
- Thoracic
- GI
- Melanoma/Sarcoma
- GU/Renal Cell
- Head & Neck
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Neuro-Oncology
- Research (December)
- Includes 2 days of Oncology Investigational Drug Service staffing.
Elective
- Stem Cell Transplant: Inpatient or Outpatient
- Malignant Hematology: Inpatient (APP/non-teaching service)
- Malignant Hematology: Outpatient
- Benign Hematology
- Pediatric Oncology: Inpatient or Outpatient
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Neuro Oncology
- Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant
- Cancer Pain & Symptom Management Clinic
- Infectious Diseases
- Nutrition Support
- Administration
- Specialty Pharmacy
- Oncology Investigational Drug Services
- Multidisciplinary Medical Oncology Clinic (Cool Springs)
Additionally, residents may repeat any required rotations as electives or choose alternative outpatient medical oncology clinics that were not chosen as a required rotation.
Longitudinal
- Longitudinal Clinic (10 months, one day per month)
- Cancer Pain & Symptom Management Clinic (6 months, one day per month)
Longitudinal Experiences
- Staffing
- Clinical Staffing (every 3rd weekend, 8-hour shifts)
- Chemotherapy Pharmacy operational staffing (1-2 four-hour weekday evening shifts + 1 eight-hour weekday shift per month)
- 1 major and 1 minor holiday (8-hour shifts)
- Data Safety Monitoring Committee (once per quarter)
- Residency Research Project
- Drug Information
- Clinical On-Call (every 3rd week, 12-hour shifts x 7 days)
- Medication Use Evaluation
- Journal Club x 1
- Presentations
- VUMC Therapeutic Exchange (CE presentation) x 1
- Cancer Answer Hour (1 hour per week; min. 20 CAHs presented by resident)
- Oncology Learning Modules (2 hours per month; min. 2 full series presented by resident)
- Nursing Chemotherapy Orientation Inservice x 1
- Heme/Onc Fellows Lecture x 1
- Didactic lecture in oncology module at either University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy or Belmont College of Pharmacy x 1 (optional)
- Administration
- Hematology/Oncology PT&D Subcommittee participation (bimonthly meetings x 6 months; serve as Subcommittee Secretary x 3 months)
- Drug Monograph for PT&D x 1
- Administrative Forum (10 months; 1 hour per month)
How to apply
Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program, be a licensed pharmacist in any state with reciprocation to Tennessee and completed an accredited PGY1 residency program.
Submit the following application materials for Oncology Residency to be received by January 2 deadline.
- Cover Letter/Letter of Intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation via PhORCAS
- Pharmacy School transcripts
- On-site interview that includes a thirty-minute presentation
- Application submitted in PhORCAS application portal by January 2 deadline
Program Details
Additional Application Information
Number of Positions: Two Residency starting date: July 1, 2025
Estimated stipend - approx. $67,000
Contact Information
Rebecca Pokorny, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, Residency Program Director
Email: rebecca.pokorny@vumc.org
Telephone: 615.421.1260 Fax: 615.343.9209
Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Department of Pharmaceutical Services
The Vanderbilt Clinic Room 2639 | 1301 Medical Center Drive
Nashville, TN 37232-4745
Institutional Information
Private non-profit hospital/clinic | Teaching/Tertiary Model | Total Beds 1741
Professional Staff 450 | Non-professional staff 586