Pharmacy Residency Program

Pharmacists completing Lutheran Medical Center's Pharmacy Practice Residency will be efficient and effective members of the healthcare team in both inpatient and ambulatory settings. They will become both competent and confident in the provision of information to practitioners and patients.

It will be essential throughout the year for the residents to educate fellow pharmacists and pharmacy staff, other healthcare professionals, patients, and community members. The Pharmacists will be advocates of patient safety within the institution.

The residency will provide the opportunity to increase the Pharmacist’s knowledge of automated modern medication distribution systems. The Residents will monitor their performance and professional development throughout the year using formal evaluation tools. They will be accountable for developing professional maturity, optimizing drug therapy, and enhancing medication use policies in order to increase their future marketability as a pharmacy professional.

Required Rotations (4, 5 and 6 week rotations):

• Orientation
• Internal Medicine
• Critical Care
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Emergency Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Cardiology

Elective Rotations (two – 4 week rotations)

• Ambulatory medicine (at Kaiser Permanente)
• Surgery
• Infusion Center
• Informatics
• Infectious Diseases (at ESJH or EGSMC)
• Repeat of required rotation

Longitudinal Responsibilities

• Quality/Administrative
• Research project
• P&T Committee minutes
• Adverse event monitoring (4 mo)
• Resident Support and Development (every other week presentations)
• Drug Utilization Reviews
• Monograph
• Newsletters

Journal clubs, case and topic presentations

• Orientation - This initial rotation will provide the residents with training and orienting to the department and hospital.  The rotation will allow the residents to feel comfortable with job descriptions, day to day procedures/workflow, and expectations.
• Internal Medicine - This rotation will provide the resident with training in the treatment of general medicine patients.  Residents will work with the preceptors to review patient profiles, monitor target medications, and consult on specific disease states and general hospital prophylactic measures.  Residents will also help formulate therapeutic plans and make recommendations to health care providers when appropriate.

• Critical Care - This rotation will provide the resident with training in the treatment of critical care patients. Residents will work with the preceptors to review patient profiles, round with a multidisciplinary team daily, monitor target medications and consult on specific disease states and critical care prophylactic measures. Residents will also help formulate therapeutic plans and make recommendations to health care providers when appropriate.
• Neurology - This rotation will provide the resident with training in the treatment of neurology patients. Residents will work with the preceptors to review patient profiles, monitor target medications, and consult on specific disease states and general hospital prophylactic measures. As a Joint Commission Certified Stroke Center, the residents will be involved in stroke alerts and responsible for the pharmaceutical care of those patients. Residents will also help formulate therapeutic plans and make recommendations to healthcare providers when appropriate.
• Infectious Diseases - This rotation will provide the resident with training in pharmacokinetic consults and the treatment of patients with infectious disease processes.  Residents will work with the preceptors to complete kinetic consults and review medication profiles of patients on antibiotic regimens.  Residents will review positive culture results, help formulate therapeutic plans, and make recommendations to health care providers when appropriate.
• Emergency Medicine - This rotation will provide the resident with training in the treatment of emergency department patients.  Residents will work with the preceptors to consult on emergent situations including resuscitation, intubations, pneumonia, sepsis, and cardiac alerts.  Residents will also help formulate therapeutic plans and make recommendations to health care providers when appropriate.
• Cardiology - This rotation will provide the resident with training in the treatment of cardiology patients.  Residents will work with the preceptors to review patient profiles, monitor target medications, and consult on specific cardiac disease states and general hospital prophylactic measures.  Residents will also help formulate therapeutic plans and make recommendations to health care providers when appropriate.
• Psychiatry - This rotation will provide the resident with training in the treatment of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric patients in one of the few psychiatric facilities in the area (West Pines). Residents will work with the preceptor to review patient profiles, monitor therapeutic regimens, and educate patients on their therapies in formal classes. Residents will also help formulate therapeutic plans and make recommendations to healthcare providers when appropriate.

PGY1 Research Project

The resident will be required to complete a project and be mentored by a primary preceptor and the residency program director.

The project is to be of benefit to the resident, department, and institution. There is to be a significant amount of literature review, project design, data collection, statistical evaluation, writing, and reporting done by the resident.

The end product is a presentation at the Western States Residency Conference and a written manuscript suitable for publication. Resident project ideas will be presented to the resident in July. Deadlines are set for initial submission of project plans.

Projects must be evaluated for feasibility and approved by the residency director before performing the project. One preceptor will be selected based on topic who will act to facilitate the project, mentor the resident, and who shares responsibility for meeting deadlines, submission of applications, presentations and manuscript development and submission.

Western States Conference - www.westernstates-rx.org/

Paradise Point Resort, San Diego, CA www.paradisepoint.com

The Conference is open by invitation only to participants and preceptors from pharmacy residency & fellowship programs in 13 western United States and our conference sponsors. Our conference's primary purpose is to provide a forum for pharmacy residents and fellows to present their annual research project.

All presentations at WSC are "platform" presentations. Each presentation is limited to fifteen minutes plus five minutes for questions from the audience. All presenters will use "Basic" PowerPoint (ie: NO animation, video clips, audio files, etc.) as their visual aid.

Residency Director
Sarah Bemis, Pharm.D., BCPS

I completed my undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1999. Once accepted into pharmacy school at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy, I worked as a clinical intern at St Anthony's Central Hospital in Denver. Upon completion of my Pharm.D., I completed a PGY1 residency in Portland, Ore. at Legacy Health System. I then began working at Lutheran Medical Center as a critical care pharmacist. In 2006, I started serving as the clinical pharmacy manager, and in 2009 I began the PGY1 residency program and serve as the director of the program. In my spare time, I enjoy teaching at Regis University in the pharmacy program.

When I’m not working or playing with my dogs, I enjoy golfing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, backpacking, road biking, and competing in triathlons.

Infectious Disease
Stacy Volk, Pharm.D., BCPS

I was born and raised in the Bluegrass (Louisville, KY) and completed my bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1999. After graduation, I moved to Grand Lake, Colorado to explore and experience something new (aka - work at a ski area and snowboard). I moved to Denver in 2001 and eventually completed my Pharm.D. at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. After graduation, I moved back to Kentucky and completed a PGY1 residency at the University of Louisville, where I also stayed and worked for two more years, primarily in the surgical ICU and emergency department. Then one more move, back to Denver and Lutheran Medical Center, where I’ve worked for several years.

I currently spend most of my time working to encourage appropriate use of antimicrobial agents at LMC in collaboration with the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. Although led by pharmacy, I believe the ASP is a great example of a multidisciplinary effort that promotes improved patient outcomes and protects the community from complications associated with medication overuse. Antimicrobials are the one class of drugs where use in one patient could affect the treatment success in another, which can no longer be ignored. I also have the opportunity to precept P2-4s from CU and Regis, as well as, serve as the primary preceptor of the Infectious Diseases rotation for our PGY1 residency program.

I love working at LMC, but when I’m not here, I like to play guitar, sing and listen to all kinds of music, especially if it's good and live. I grew up loving, playing and watching sports, so I keep a trunkful of gear ready to go at all times. My husband and I love Colorado and enjoy hanging out with friends and spending time in Grand County.

Critical Care
Jim DeFoe, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. DeFoe is board certified in pharmacotherapy and has been with Exempla, now SCL Health, since 2007 as a clinical pharmacist. Dr. DeFoe's pharmacist experience includes work in both community and academic institutions. At Lutheran, his focus has been in critical care and he's also taken on a significant information technology role implementing the hospital's electronic health record. He's also been the residency rotation coordinator for the hospital's American Society of Health-System Pharmacists accredited residency since the program began in 2009.

His areas of interest include sedation/analgesia, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, patient safety and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services core metrics. Dr. DeFoe's career goal is to improve patient care and be an active member of his profession while maintaining a life balance that allows him to pursue his personal goals.

When he's not in the hospital, he can usually be found outside playing in the Rocky Mountains, running, bicycling, skiing and motorcycling.

Staffing and Informatics
Jason Cardona, Pharm.D.

Dr. Cardona has worked at Lutheran Medical Center since 2001, initially as a clinical pharmacist and today as the operations manager. He specializes in pharmacy informatics - working in Pyxis Medstations, Pyxis Connect (our automated medication dispensing system), carousel automation, prepackaging and EPIC, our health care information system. He also helped develop and implemented USP certified clean room, chemo room, anteroom and procedures.

Dr. Cardona has studied pharmacy law, relational databases and served as a residency preceptor for informatics and staffing. He teaches USP 797, a regulation that governs pharmacy policies, to Regis University School of Pharmacy students and is a preceptor for first-year students there. His previous pharmacy experience includes work both in hospital and retail settings.

When not working, Dr. Cardona enjoys sports, golf, movies, and spending time with his two daughters.

Administrative
Nagy Ramzy, Rph, MBA

Mr. Ramzy was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. He graduated from pharmacy school from Cairo University and immigrated to the US in 1976. Nagy also attended and graduated from Ohio Northern University Pharmacy School. He completed his Executive Master of Business Administration at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.  During his years of pharmacy practice, Nagy has worked at Cleveland Clinic, Aultman Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland and Lake Hospital System.  Nagy was instrumental in improving patient safety by implementing multiple systems, some of which include Cerner Millennium, a Clinical Information System, “CPR-Plus”, a homecare software system, the first software in the I.V. Room at the Cleveland Clinic, and the I.V. Admixture program at Mt. Sinai hospital of Cleveland.

To serve the community, Nagy has participated in community activities such as volunteering at local food banks, distributing food and clothing to homeless, and working with local law enforcement to educate youth and parents of the negative impact of using illegal drugs. Outside of work Nagy enjoys spending time with his family.”

Emergency Medicine
Michael Kaiser, Pharm.D.

Dr. Kaiser practiced as a chemistry teacher prior to entering pharmacy. He completed his Pharm.D. at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy and began working at Lutheran Medical Center soon after completion. He has practiced in the Emergency Department for his career and enjoys the fast paced environment.

When he is not working, Mike enjoys biking, working on projects around the house and spending time with his wife.

Internal Medicine
Jody Adams, Pharm.D., BCPS

After completing my undergraduate degree in biology and psychology at the University of Denver I went on to be a high school science teacher. Although I loved the content and interacting with students, I decided to apply to pharmacy school based off the recommendation of a close family member who was passionate about his role as a pharmacist. I attended the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and graduated in 2010. After graduation, I completed a PGY1 residency at Lutheran Medical Center and a PGY2 residency in ambulatory care at Kaiser Permanente Colorado. I was then hired at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver as the Kaiser Permanente Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Specialist where I spent the majority of my time providing medication therapy management to seniors coming through the emergency room (ER) and rounding on patients residing on the internal medicine floor. In April 2014, I decided to come back LMC where I’m fortunate to be part of an amazing pharmacy and medical team and ensuring the best possible care to patients on the internal medicine floor and also in the ER.

When I’m not at LMC, I’m either out trail running, road biking, skiing or at CrossFit and of course, spending time with my wonderful husband, family and friends.

Cardiology
Mark Bishard, Pharm.D., BCPS

I was born and raised in Colorado, not far from the Lutheran Medical Center. In my youth I was able to enjoy all of the great Colorado outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, and camping. Also as a youth, I remember visiting family and friends that were treated at Lutheran Medical Center, where I gained an appreciation of the friendly staff and quality care that was delivered here. I attended the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy while the school was still located in Boulder. At this time, the school was in process of moving to the Denver Health Sciences Center with University Hospital. I spent my last year of pharmacy school in Denver, graduating in 1991. I later went back to the CU Pharmacy School to obtain my Pharm.D. in 2005. I also became BCPS certified in 2008.

When I was a new graduate of pharmacy school in 1991, I worked at hospital, which was a tertiary medical teaching facility. While working there, I was fortunate enough to be exposed to many special clinical situations not otherwise available to staffing pharmacists. I was able to gain exposure to rare diseases affecting the kidney, heart, liver, and bone marrow. I learned about treatment specialties of BMT, limb-preservation, plastics/orthopedics and hyperbaric medicine. I was also able to round with the medical interns/residents, gaining valuable experience in critical care, cardiology, oncology, psychiatry, and operating-room processes. In 2000 I accepted an offer from Lutheran Medical Center to continue my practice on the Coronary Critical Care-telemetry team, where I still remain. Working in the ICU with heart surgeon and cardiologists, I have been able to expand my understanding of heart related conditions, which has helped my good working understanding of various ways of treating cardiology related diseases conditions. Today I function as the cardiology preceptor for LMC’s pharmacist residency and instruct the cardiology portion of LMC’s Pharmacy Technician Academy. Together, with other members of the pharmacy staff on the Tele unit, I monitor patients admitted with cardiology related conditions to insure proper medication therapies, and participate in CHF rounds regularly. I also function as a liaison to the heart-center/cath-lab and code-blue committee.

In my free time, I still enjoy spending time in the great Colorado outdoors hiking and riding my bike. I recently started beekeeping as a hobby.

Psychiatry
Shelby Johnson, Pharm.D.

Shelby completed her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at Colorado State University in 2004 and then went on to complete her Pharm.D. at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2009. Her passion for mental health began during her fourth year pharmacy rotations after completing several rotations in mental health.  During a rotation at the Denver VA, Shelby attended daily interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss patients, worked up numerous psychotropic drug based consults, taught medication education groups to inpatient psychiatric patients, presented to clinical pharmacists and pharmacy students on various mental health related topics, and assisted with a pilot program aimed at improving medication adherence and follow-up for discharged psychiatric patients.  This rotation gave her the passion necessary to thrive as a psychiatric pharmacist at West Pines at Lutheran Medical Center which she started in 2010.  In addition to working at West Pines, Shelby is also a PRN pharmacist at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center.

When not working, Shelby enjoys her season tickets to the Broncos games, spending time with her husband, family and friends, and doting over her beautiful baby boy, Nolan.

Neurology
Maury Otterstetter, Rph, BCPS

Maury completed his undergraduate degree from the Colorado State University in exercise and sports science. He then obtained his pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado. He worked at Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital in Denver as a critical care pharmacist for several years prior to coming to Lutheran Medical Center. Maury was instrumental in the opening of the neurology unit at Lutheran in 2006 and further helping the team attain Joint Commission Certification as a Primary Stroke Center.

When not at work, Maury enjoys spending time with his family, backpacking, golfing, bowling and taking vacations.