Article Index
- Pharmacy Residency Program current position
- About the Pharmacy
- Meet Our Preceptors
- Teaching Opportunities
- Residency Graduates
- Frequently Asked Questions
Pharmacy Residency Program
Pharmacy Practice Residency Program (PGY-1) Mission
Our program is committed to developing confident, competent, well-rounded, and successful pharmacy practitioners. We place a special emphasis on providing patient-centered, evidence-based care while maintaining the core values of the St. Joseph's Healthcare System: Dignity, Justice, Excellence and Stewardship with a special concern for the poor and under served.
Application Requirements
Currently, there are four available resident positions.
Applicants must submit materials utilizing the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Residency Application Service (PhORCAS). For more information about PhORCAS, please see: http://www.ashp.org/phorcas
Documents that will be required to be submitted include: a curriculum vitae, letter of intent, transcript, and 3 letters of recommendation are required.
The program requires that pharmacy residents become licensed pharmacists in NJ as soon as possible after graduation. This will facilitate training as a resident pharmacist. Licensure by September 1st is required.
Questions regarding the application process or residency program may be forwarded to :
Radhika Pisupati, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Residency Program Director
St. Joseph's Healthcare System
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Residency Curriculum
Core Rotations: Acute Patient Care, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Administration, and Medication Safety.
Electives: Residents can choose to repeat any of the core rotations or select to complete a pharmacy practice, geriatrics, or oncology rotation.
Most rotations comprise of learning experiences that are 4 to 6 weeks in length. Additional time may be allocated to a specific rotation based on the resident's interest and availability of preceptor.
Longitudinal rotations: HIV Comprehensive Care Center and Anticoagulation Clinic.
Each longitudinal experience spans 6 months. The resident fulfills this experience through participation at the clinic for a half day each week.
Click here to Meet Our Preceptors.
About the Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Model
The Pharmacists at St. Joseph's are an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team dedicated to providing high quality patient centered care. The Department of Pharmacy Services is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dedicated pharmacists and technicians work closely with physicians, nurses, and other health care personnel, in a decentralized pharmacy practice model. Pharmacists are stationed in patient care areas throughout the hospital and provide pharmacy services to inpatients and outpatients. In 2009, the pharmacists reviewed over 2,700 medication orders per day and performed over 25,000 clinical interventions with an associated cost savings/avoidance of over $1.5 million.
Services offered through the main pharmacy include: IV admixture & sterile product preparation, TPN review and profiling and chemotherapy review and preparation. Through extensive use of technology and automated dispensing cabinets, pharmacists are able to provide more cognitive services and patient-centered pharmaceutical care.
St. Joseph's Children's Hospital is supported by a Pediatric/Neonatal Pharmacy Satellite. Our services extend to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), General Pediatrics, and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Services. Specialized pharmacists work closely with the healthcare team to provide safe and effective treatments for our pediatric patients.
Our team of highly trained pharmacists includes specialists in: Anticoagulation/Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Infectious Diseases, Medication Safety, and Pediatrics. Our pharmacists are actively involved with research activities, mentorship and teaching. Their work is recognized at a state and national level. Members of our team are involved with pharmacy organizational and legislative initiatives on a state and national level.
Department of Pharmacy Mission
The mission of the Department of Pharmacy Services is to:
- Embrace best professional practices and standards that provide compassionate, meaningful, and high quality care for all patients
- Commit to develop our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the areas of education, academia, certification, and career growth to maximize their potential to impact clinical pharmaceutical care
- Embrace new technology and systems that promote medication safety, accurate drug distribution, and provision of patient and staff pharmaceutical education
- Strive to become an industry leader in the management and coordination of pharmacy practice, medication guidelines, and academic excellence
- Foster creativity and opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help reach their maximum potential
- Abide by and exceed regulatory standards imposed or suggested by pharmaceutical, governmental, and healthcare agencies
- Support a Just Culture that encourages pharmacy staff to constantly explore, create and question procedures, programs, and initiatives that focus on patient medication management, safety, and outcomes
Meet Our Preceptors
Click here to Meet our Preceptors!
Teaching Opportunities
Teaching Opportunities
As one of the largest teaching hospitals in Northern NJ, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center offers numerous opportunities in medical education.
Our academic affiliations include the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy of Rutgers University, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Seton Hall School of Health & Medical Science, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the University of New England School of Osteopathic Medicine, and New York Medical College, a member of the Touro College and University System.
As a pharmacy resident with SJRMC, several opportunities to be involved in teaching are available. This includes preceptorship of pharmacy students (including IPPE and APPE rotations), presentations for the Department of Pharmacy, and inservices for various other healthcare professionals. Didactic lecture experience may be available, upon request.
Participation in a Teaching Certificate program, offered through the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University, is an optional component of this program.
Residency Graduates
Residency Graduates
2008-2009 Lynette Jackson
Post-residency position: Clinical Pharmacist,
St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital, Wayne, NJ
2008-2009 Kristina Lam
Post-residency position: Pharmacist, Virtua Health System
2009-2010 Radwa El-Srougy
Post-residency position: Clinical Assistant Professor,
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
2009-2010 Samuel Reveron
Post-residency position: Pharmacy Case Manager, Dove Healthcare System
2011-2012 Mara Villanueva
Post-residency position: PGY-2 residency in Drug Information,
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ
2011-2012 Pamela Giordano
Post-residency position: PGY-2 residency in Infectious Diseases,
Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, FL
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the application requirements?
A curriculum vitae, letter of intent, transcript, 3 letters of recommendation
How many pharmacy residents are accepted to the program?
Currently, there are four available resident positions.
What is the application deadline?
All application materials must be received by January 15th.
Do I need to be licensed in the state of NJ?
Yes. The program requires that pharmacy residents become licensed pharmacists in NJ as soon as possible after graduation. This will facilitate training as a resident pharmacist. Licensure by September 1st is required.
Is the residency program accredited?
The PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency was established in 2009 and is designed to follow the accreditation standards. The program has received full accreditation by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).
What are the rotations offered?
Core Rotations: Acute Patient Care, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Administration, and Medication Safety.
Electives: Residents can choose to repeat any of the core rotations in addition to pharmacy practice, Geriatrics.
How long is each rotation?
Most rotations comprise of learning experiences that are 4 to 6 weeks in length. Additional time may be allocated to a specific rotation based on the resident's interest and availability of preceptor.
The longitudinal rotations span over 6 months each.
What longitudinal experiences are available?
Longitudinal rotation options include: HIV Comprehensive Care Center and Anticoagulation Clinic. Each longitudinal experience spans 6 months. The resident fulfills this experience through participation at the clinic for a half day each week.
What is the typical day for a resident?
- Inpatient rounding associated with the rotation, Antimicrobial Stewardship service, warfarin dosing service, patient counseling, drug information, medication use evaluations
- Multi-disciplinary committee participation
- Precepting pharmacy students
- Participating in education programs and in-services
How are residents evaluated?
The Residency Program follows the ASHP Residency Learning System (RLS) method of providing ongoing feedback. Preceptors discuss rotation expectations with the residents at the start of each rotation. Preceptors and residents discuss progress formally and informally throughout the rotation and at the conclusion of the rotation. The program uses Resitrak™, an online documentation system for documenting evaluations.
How often will I be able to contact my preceptor?
Preceptors are available on a daily basis to provide guidance and support to the residents. In addition, the residents have many resources including the RPD, clinical pharmacy team, and pharmacy management.
How often will I interact with the Residency Program Director (RPD)?
The RPD is present onsite to provide guidance and feedback to residents formally and informally throughout the program. The RPD meets with the residents on a monthly basis to discuss their progress. The RPD meets with the residents quarterly to develop an individualized learning plan focusing on the resident's goals and progress.
How do residents choose the topics for mid-year/eastern states conference?
The preceptors and the RPD discuss potential topics for projects with the residents. The resident's area of interest and the clinical need of the institution are considered when selecting a research topic.
What is the staffing component?
The residency program values a comprehensive understanding of all distributive and clinical functions of the department. The pharmacy resident is expected to fulfill staffing service every other weekend.
Do residents have their own work space?
Residents are provided with a personal workspace including a computer workstation, phone and pager within the Department of Pharmacy.
What drug information resources are available?
Residents have access to journals through the hospital's online databases, on-site library, and drug information resources such as Micromedex and Up-to-Date.
What are the stipend and benefits?
The annual stipend is $42,000. Pharmacy Residents receive paid vacation, holidays, sick time, health benefits, meal card, travel support to professional meetings, and free parking.
Is housing provided?
While on campus housing is not available, there are many affordable housing options in the area.
What is the application process?
Please submit all the required components of the application to:
Radhika Pisupati, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Residency Program Director
St. Joseph's Healthcare System
703 Main Street
Paterson, NJ 07503
Electronic submissions and inquiries can be emailed to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
