PGY1 Pharmacy

The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) Portland fosters the development of skills required to become a high-functioning Pharmacist Clinician. Graduates of our program are proficient in critical thinking, interpersonal communication, primary literature evaluation, team-based patient care, educating and conducting clinical research.

Preparing Pharmacist Clinicians for the next phase of their professional journey

As both a tertiary care referral center and community hospital, our PGY1 residents are exposed to a broad range of pathology in many sub-specialty areas from a very diverse patient population. Our goal is to develop competent, compassionate Pharmacist Clinicians who are prepared for the next phase of their professional journey.

We have over 50 highly-skilled, passionate and motivated preceptors who are heavily invested in resident development. Our collaborative and supportive culture of safety facilitates the formation of strong relationships between residents, faculty and non-pharmacist providers. Our PGY1 residents are deeply integrated into our interdisciplinary patient care teams.

The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at MHMMC Portland is a rigorous program balanced by the wonderful community that surrounds us in Portland, Maine. Residents are able to relax and enjoy all the activities and opportunities that Southern Maine has to offer, all within a short distance from our Portland campus. There is no shortage of outdoor activities no matter the season. Portland’s vibrant cultural, entertainment, and restaurant scenes are on par with large cities without the hassles.

Residency Research Project

Longitudinal research projects are structured in traditional chronological format. Residents choose from a list of research projects at the beginning of the year.

Residents receive guidance throughout the process from mentor(s) and Residency Advisory Council – Investigational Team (RAC-IT) members
Residents present a poster at the Vizient Council Meeting and/or the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition
Residents deliver a platform presentation at local regional pharmacy conferences
MHMMC Portland residents have a successful track record of having their project manuscripts being accepted for publication in a peer reviewed journal

Examples of recent PGY1 Pharmacy Residency research projects:

2024-2025:
- Implementation of Medication Dispense Tracking Technology for Patient Specific Preparations
- Risk Factors Associated with Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Receiving Antibiotic Cement Spacers during Two-Stage Exchange for Periprosthetic Joint Infection
- Enteral Phosphate Replacement in the Intensive Care Unit
- Pretransplant Midodrine Use and Outcomes in Kidney Transplantation
2023-2024:
- Clinical Outcomes of Combination of Ceftaroline and Vancomycin versus Vancomycin Monotherapy for MRSA Bloodstream Infection
- Guanfacine for the Management of Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults
- Safety of Intermittent Intravenous and Intramuscular Midazolam Injection in Hospitalized Patients in Non-Intensive Care Nursing Units
2022-2023:
- Evaluation of a Burn Pain and Sedation Clinical Practice Guideline: A Before-and-After Study
- Evaluation of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Treatment of Severe Hypogammaglobulinemia in Kidney Transplant Recipients to Prevent Hospitalizations Due to Infection
- Effect of appropriateness of antimicrobial regimens at discharge on global patient outcomes
2021-2022:
- Medication warning override rates in the EHR by profession and level of training
- Evaluation of a standardized two-bag protocol for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis in pediatric intensive care unit patient
- Embedded clinical pharmacist impact on epidiolex lab monitoring requirements
- Clinical pharmacist real-time review of pediatric discharge prescriptions: can we prevent medication errors?
2020-2021:
- Bleeding and Thrombotic Complications in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs)
- Penicillin Resistance Among Viridans Group Streptococcal Native Valve Endocarditis
- Characterization of Treatment and Outcomes in Non-HACEK Gram-Negative Bacilli Endocarditis at an Academic Medical Center
2019-2020:
- Evaluation of a perioperative anticoagulation protocol in renal transplantation: a retrospective analysis
- A retrospective review of the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in obese patients with atrial arrhythmias who underwent electrical cardioversion
- Evaluation of a burn pain and sedation clinical practice guideline: the before cohort
- Evaluation of an institution-specific protocol for hyperglycemic crises management
2018-2019:
- Doxycycline versus vancomycin for cystic fibrosis exacerbations among pediatric patients with MRSA colonization
- The impact of a clonidine transition protocol on dexmedetomidine withdrawal in critically ill pediatric patients
- Evaluation of a bivalirudin dosing nomogram for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
- Appropriateness of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation admitted with acute ischemic stroke
- Assessment of dyskalemia with pentobarbital administration using a monitoring protocol

Curriculum

Our curriculum is developed to provide each resident with exposure to a broad range of experiences. Every year our curriculum is customized to the interests and needs of the resident. The program director and preceptors will work with the residents to individualize the program and learning experiences. Please refer to our manual for more information on learning experiences.