PGY-2 Emergency Medicine
Program Purpose
The PGY-2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY-2 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 PGY-2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.
Program Overview
The Emergency Department at UC Irvine Health in Orange is a high-volume, highly specialized facility, managing approximately 50,000 patient visits annually—including 5,000 trauma cases and over 500 burn cases. As the only Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Orange County, it serves as a vital regional hub for comprehensive emergency care. The department is also home to a verified regional burn center and a Joint Commission–certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. It functions as a designated cardiac receiving center and includes a 20–24 bed observation unit for short-term monitoring. UC Irvine’s ED is further distinguished by its Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department accreditation from the American
College of Emergency Physicians, and it is the only ED in California with ACEP-credentialed bedside ultrasound capabilities. Integration with the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Orange County enhances care for oncology patients presenting in the ED. These certifications, combined with its advanced diagnostic resources and trauma readiness, make UC Irvine’s Emergency Department one of the most advanced emergency care centers in Southern California.
PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residents will have the opportunity to advance knowledge and practice in emergency medicine through direct patient care bedside participation in medical emergencies alongside nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists, as well as serve as consult on medication therapy, participate in Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds, initiate care through pharmacist driven protocols for vancomycin and heparin, follow up on cultures for discharged patients and teach at the UCI School of Pharmacy.
Virtual Open House: Friday, October 3rd from 4:00-4:45
Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/gTCHAELhLG?origin=lprLink
Once registered, a Zoom Link will be emailed.
Application period for the 2025-2026 cycle is currently closed. Please follow up in October 2025 for the upcoming cycle.
• Orientation (2-4 weeks)
• Critical Care-SICU (4-6 weeks)
• Emergency Medicine I-IIII (4 blocks/6-8 weeks each)
• Emergency Medical Services (2 weeks)
• Longitudinal Staffing (12 months; approximately every 3rd weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, 32 shifts (16
weekends); all staffing shifts are 10-hour shifts)
• Medical ICU (3-4 weeks)
• Medication Safety (6 months-one afternoon every two weeks)
• Practice Management and Leadership (6 months)
• Research, Scholarship and Teaching (11 months)
• Toxicology (2-4 weeks)
- Longitudinal Staffing
- Research, Scholarship and Teaching
- Pharmacy Grand Rounds (CE) Presentation
- Emergency Medicine Grand Round Presentation
- Completion of residency research project and presentation at UC Pharmacy Collaborative Conference
- Final research project manuscript
- Toxicology Course at the UCI School of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy)
- 2 Formal in-services to nursing staff and/or medical residents
- Medication Safety
- Practice Management and Leadership
- MUE project(s)
- Drug monograph(s) and presentation of results/recommendations at P&T
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (3-4 weeks)
- Neurosurgical Critical Care (NCC) (4-6 weeks)
- Psychiatry (4 weeks)
* Lengths of learning experiences may be extended based on conferences or vacation time which coincide with the learning experience.
* Other elective learning experiences may be developed based on the resident interest and preceptor availability.
Teaching
The UC Irvine PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency includes multiple teaching components. Residents who have not previously completed a Teaching Certificate during their PGY-1 training are required to do so during the PGY-2 year. They are also responsible for delivering both a Pharmacy Grand Rounds and an Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds presentation.
As part of their teaching responsibilities, residents will contribute to the Toxicology course at the UCI School of Pharmacy and provide in-services for UCI Emergency Medicine nurses and/or medical residents. Additionally, PGY-2 residents are expected to serve as preceptors for pharmacy students and PGY-1 pharmacy residents.
Research
The UCI PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy resident is required to complete all components of a research project, including obtaining IRB approval, conducting data collection, and preparing both an abstract and a manuscript for submission. The resident will present their research at the UC Collaborative Pharmacy Conference.
Staffing
- Staffing is considered a longitudinal learning experience, and the residents will be evaluated quarterly
- Approximately every 3rd weekend (both Saturday and Sunday), around 32 shifts (16 weekends)
- PGY2 ED weekend staffing shifts are 10 hours in duration
- One set of major holidays (2 shifts)
- 1-2 minor holidays as needed
Benefits
- $81,432 stipend (2024-2025)
- Allowed two weeks of paid vacation
- Travel expenses and time off to attend approved pharmacy conference (Stipend amount varies and to be determined per meeting budget)
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance through UCI Health sponsored plan
Requirements
- Received a Pharm.D. from a school of pharmacy accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE)
- Applicant must be registered for the ASHP Resident Matching Program
- Must qualify for licensure and shall take the California Pharmacist Licensing Exam as soon as possible after committing to the PGY-2 residency program. Of note, a valid license must be obtained by November 1st of the residency year.
- Applicants must be in the process of completing or have completed an ASHP-accredited or candidate-status PGY-1 residency.
- Incoming PGY-2 residents must upload a copy of their PGY-1 certificate of completion into their PGY-2 PharmAcademic™ files tab within 30 days of the start of the residency. Failure to upload a PGY-1 certificate of completion within 30 days of the PGY-2 residency’s start will result in dismissal from the residency program and employment termination.
Application Process
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Intent
- Three letters of recommendation
- PGY-1 residency certificate
Certifications
ACLS and PALS certification are required. Residents must receive ACLS certification prior to responding to adult codes and PALS prior to responding to pediatric codes independently.
Deliverables (maintained in PharmAcademic)
- Teaching Certificate and Portfolio (if not completed in PGY1)
- One Pharmacy Grand Rounds CE Presentation
- One Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds Presentation
- MUE project(s)
- Drug monograph(s) and presentation of results/recommendations at P&T
- 2 Formal in-services to nursing staff and/or medical residents
- Completion of research project
- Presentation of research project at UC Pharmacy Collaborative, the state-wide University of California Conference
- Final research project manuscript
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification
Program Contacts
Melissa Philipson, Pharm.D., BCEMP
Director, PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Residency
Division of Pharmacy
University of California, Irvine Medical Center
101 The City Dr S
Orange, CA 92868
Jessica Oloriz, Pharm.D.
PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Resident
Pharmacy School: Creighton University
PGY-1 Location: CHI Health
Research Interests: Toxicology, Psychiatry
Current Research Project: pending