Pharmacy Residency Program

About the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

El Camino Health's one-year postgraduate (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency is designed to develop leadership skills and provide residents with training and experience in various areas of clinical practice. The program's purpose is to build on a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and to contribute to:

• Development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions
• Eligibility for board certification
• Eligibility for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training

The goals, objectives, and evaluation process will be consistent with those established by ASHP for pharmacy practice residency training.

Core Learning Experiences:

• Orientation/Staffing (4 weeks each)
• Internal Medicine (6 weeks)
• Critical Care (6 weeks)
• Oncology- Inpatient and Outpatient (6 weeks)
• Antimicrobial Stewardship/Infectious Disease (6 weeks)
• Management and Leadership (4 weeks)
• Preceptorship (4-6 weeks: Will be assigned to a learning experience when there is a student)

Elective Learning Experiences (subject to change upon evaluation of program after first year):

• Pain Management (4 weeks)
• Pharmacy Informatics (4 weeks)
• Medication Safety (4 weeks)
• Neonatology (4 weeks)
• Emergency Medicine (6 weeks)

Longitudinal Rotations:

• Drug Information and Formulary Management
• Staffing (every other weekend)
• Residency Project

Please note: Although we are a multisystem organization, this residency program is designed for El Camino Health Mountain View campus.

Get a virtual tour of El Camino Health

Pharmacy Residency Program | El Camino Health

View highlights of our 2021 Pharmacy Week

Pharmacy Week 2021 | El Camino Health

Qualifications

Interested applicants must comply with the following criteria in order to qualify for acceptance into our PGY1 residency program:

• The applicant must have a Doctorate of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree from an ACPE accredited pharmacy.
• The applicant must be competent in all areas of clinical pharmacology, infectious diseases, and pharmacokinetics prior to entering the program.
• The applicant must be eligible for pharmacist licensure in the state of California.
• The applicant must pass California State Board examination within three months upon start of the program.
• The applicant must provide letters of recommendation from clinical faculty, preceptors, and/or former employers.
• The applicant must participate in an interview panel with residency leaders and mentors.
• The applicant must be committed to complete the 12-month duration of the program.

Salary and Benefits

• Estimated Stipend: $62,400
• Resident receives health insurance, limited paid vacation, and selected professional meeting registration reimbursement

Number of Positions Available

• 2 Resident positions available yearly

Start Date

• June 26, 2023

Application Process

El Camino Health participates in the ASHP Resident Matching Program. All applicants must submit their applications to the program via PhORCAS.

National Matching Service Code: 92962

The following documents are required of all interested applicants:

• Application with letter of intent
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Official transcripts
• A sample of independently written work or a process improvement plan that highlights your efforts. Must include citation of primary literature and evidence-based medicine.
• Three references from clinical faculty, preceptors, and/or former employers. References should describe specific areas of the candidate:
  • Organization
  • Communication skills both verbal and written
  • Efficiency
  • Ability to accept professional feedback
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment

  Selected candidates will be invited for panel interview and will be asked to present on a clinical pharmacy topic of choice limited to 10-15 minutes (with Q & A).

  Please note: All materials are submitted via PhORCAS with a due date for the applications being January 2, 2023.

  Thank you for your interest in El Camino Health PGY1 Residency Program!

  About El Camino Health and Pharmacy Services

  El Camino Health provides a personalized healthcare experience at two non-profit acute care hospitals in Los Gatos and Mountain View and at primary care, multi-specialty care, and urgent care locations across Santa Clara County. For nearly sixty years, our organization has grown to meet the needs of individuals and communities it serves. Bringing together the best in new technology and advanced medicine, the network of nationally recognized physicians and care teams deliver high-quality, compassionate care. Key medical specialties include heart and vascular, cancer and lifestyle medicine. Our hospitals have earned numerous awards for clinical excellence, such as a 5-Star Overall Hospital Quality Rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and nursing care, including three consecutive American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition for Nursing Care. Learn more about our services and our honors and awards.

  The Department of Pharmacy Services and its pharmacists are an integral component in providing progressive pharmaceutical care in collaboration with the rest of the healthcare system entities. We offer a variety of specialty clinical programs including inpatient and outpatient oncology services, a robust antimicrobial stewardship program, pain-management consultation services, medication reconciliation and an outpatient pharmacy that supports a meds-to-beds program. The pharmacy department also provides investigational drug services to external sponsors for clinical trials. Many of our clinical pharmacists are board-certified or have undergone residencies, including PGY2 training in oncology (inpatient and outpatient), pain management, antimicrobial stewardship and neonatology/pediatrics. Many of our pharmacy technicians are highly-experienced with PTCB certifications.

  Our inpatient pharmacy operates 24-hours a day, 7-day a week, 365 days a year to ensure continuity of care for patients in our hospitals. Daily activities include (but are not limited to) participating in rounds, performing therapeutic drug monitoring, providing drug information to physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers, managing investigational drugs, and providing clinical recommendations based of pharmacy driven protocols and guidelines. Some of our Pharmacy Driving protocols include:

  • Aminoglycoside Dosing and Monitoring
  • Vancomycin Dosing and Monitoring (AUC Based)
  • Antibiotic Dosing
  • Non-Antibiotic Renal Dosing
  • IV to PO Conversion of Selected Antibiotics
  • Extended Infusion of Piperacillin/Tazobactam
  • Warfarin Oversight Protocol

  Our hospitals serve as a rotation site for pharmacy students of the University Of California San Francisco School Of Pharmacy and the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy. They are also an externship site for Mission College Pharmacy Technician Program and Foothill College Pharmacy Technician Program.

  About Our Residents/Residency Director/Preceptors

  Residency Program Director -Pharmacy Clinical Manager
  Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy
  Mojgan Nodoushani Pharm.D.
  Phone: 650-940-7142 | Email | Fax: 650-966-9201

  

  Mojgan Nodoushani has been an advocate for clinical pharmacy programs since she received her doctorate of pharmacy degree. Mojgan has been the pharmacy clinical manager at El Camino Health since January 2007. Prior to her joining the El Camino Inpatient Pharmacy team, she did clinical pharmacy work at Washington Hospital and was the pharmacy Clinical Coordinator at Community Hospital of Los Gatos from 2002-2006. During her time at El Camino Health, Mojgan has established many pharmacy driven protocols as well as a new Antimicrobial Stewardship program. Her most recent success is the launch of the inaugural pharmacy residency program in which we currently have two residents working under her preceptorship. Mojgan fondly recalls her PGY1 pharmacy residency program at Hartford Hospital in CT and often shares her stories of having to sleep overnight at the hospital to cover multiple shifts including graveyard during the cold east coast winter storms and closed icy roads! Her preceptors gave her an eye-opening experience during her residency and she wanted to make sure to return that experience to her residents. In her spare time, Mojgan likes to cook (she has won a heart healthy food competition on at El Camino in the past), and spending time with her family. Mojgan is happy to live and work in the El Camino District Community.

  Current Residents

  Meet Alex Nguyen and Purav Mehta who started the end of June 2022. Please feel free to reach out to them to see what they like best about being a part of the El Camino team!

  Alex Nguyen - PGY1 Resident
  
Pharm.D.| University of Minnesota
  Minneapolis, MN | College of Pharmacy
  Email

  

  Alex was originally from Torrance, CA before spending most of his life in the Bay Area. Going further north, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of California, Davis and later his PharmD in the much colder climate at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. During pharmacy school, Alex mainly worked at the local inpatient county medical center, but also spent time volunteering at a student run clinic led by fellow UoM healthcare students. Now happily heading back to the west (best!) coast Alex will be enjoying the pleasant year round weather and closer home with family and friends. Outside pharmacy, his interests include all things automotive (including electric), DIY'ing/detailing, and attempting to learn the various applications of wok cooking!

  Purav Mehta - PGY1 Resident
  Pharm.D.| University of the Pacific
  Stockton, CA | Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy
  Email

  

  Purav grew up in Mumbai, India and moved to the United States for his undergraduate education in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior along with Economics at UC Davis. After completion of his bachelor studies he pursued and completed his pharmacy education at University of the Pacific. He is interested and passionate about infectious diseases and hopes to expand his interest in oncology. In his free time Purav likes to explore new vegan restaurants and go to the movies with his friends. Occasionally, he likes to explore the wilderness and go on hikes, so he is excited to continue living in the beautiful Bay Area! Fun fact about Purav is that he aspires to fulfill his desire to learn golf!

  Residency Preceptors

  Samantha Chang-Graham, Pharm.D., BCPPS
  Clinical Pharmacist Specialist | Neonatology
  Pharmacy School | Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
  Pharmacy Residency
  PGY1- Loma Linda University
  PGY2- Loma Linda University

  Li Sha Deng, Pharm. D., BCPS
  Clinical Pharmacist
  Pharmacy School | University of San Francisco, School of Pharmacy
  Pharmacy Residency| UC San Diego Health, San Diego, CA

  Jessica Ho, Pharm.D.
  Clinical Pharmacy Specialist | Pain Management
  Pharmacy School| University of Washington, School of Pharmacy
  Pharmacy Residency
  PGY1-General UW Medicine Valley Medical Center
  PGY2- Pain/Palliative Care University of Washington Medicine

  Jen Huang, Pharm.D., BCPS
  Director of Pharmacy
  Pharmacy School | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences
  Pharmacy Residency | PGY1 Pharmacy Management Boston University

  Jonathan Johansen, Pharm.D.
  Clinical Pharmacist
  Pharmacy School | University of MT Skagg's School of Pharmacy
  Pharmacy Residency | PGY1 Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI

  Amy Lam, Pharm.D., BCPS
  Clinical Pharmacist
  Pharmacy School | University of the Pacific

  Grace Liao, Pharm.D., CPHIMS
  Pharmacy System Specialist | Informatics
  Pharmacy School | University of the Pacific
  Pharmacy Residency | PGY1 California Pacific Medical Center

  Lynn Nguyen, Pharm.D.
  Clinical Pharmacy Specialist | Antimicrobial Stewardship
  Pharmacy School | The University of Texas at Austin
  Pharmacy Residency
  PGY1 Pharmacy Practice - VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
  PGY2 Infectious Diseases - UCSF, San Francisco, CA

  Michelle O'Brien, Pharm. D.
  Clinical Pharmacist
  Pharmacy School | Northeastern University (Boston, MA)

  Gary Ogawa, Pharm. D.
  Clinical Pharmacy Specialist | Oncology
  Pharmacy School | USC Pharmacy
  Pharmacy Residency | PGY1 UCSF

  An Pham, Pharm.D.
  Clinical Pharmacist
  Pharmacy School | Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois
  Pharmacy Residency | Palomar Health, San Diego, CA

  Hanady Sharabash, Pharm.D., BCCCP
  Clinical Pharmacist
  Pharmacy School | University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy
  Pharmacy Residency | University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Centers Ann Arbor

  Michelle Shen, Pharm.D., BCOP
  Clinical Pharmacy Specialist | Oncology |Pharmacist in Charge Cancer Center |UCSF Assistant Clinical Professor
  Pharmacy School | University of California San Francisco
  Pharmacy Residency
  PGY1 General Residency - UCSF
  PGY2 Oncology Specialty - UCSF