PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at UMass Memorial Medical Center
Program Overview
The Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency Program at UMass Memorial Medical Center is a one-year, accredited program that builds on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) training. It prepares pharmacists to provide medication-related care for patients with a wide range of conditions, supports eligibility for board certification and serves as a foundation for Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. Throughout the year, residents provide advanced pharmaceutical care, gaining hands-on experience as integral members of the healthcare team. Residents are guided and supported by formal mentorship and professional development programs that promote growth, leadership development and career readiness.
- Accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- 12-month PGY1 Pharmacy Residency beginning July 1
- Four available positions
- Estimated stipend of $60,420
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Learning Experiences
The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is structured to provide a customizable training experience within a complex clinical environment. Over the course of one year, residents complete required, elective and longitudinal learning experiences designed to develop well-rounded clinical pharmacists. The program offers exceptional flexibility to tailor learning experiences to individual resident interests and career goals while ensuring a strong foundation in core pharmacy practice. Residents provide direct, patient‑centered care across diverse populations — including internal medicine, intensive care, cardiology, pediatrics and infectious diseases. Most rotations take place at the University Campus with select opportunities available at the Memorial Campus.
Each resident will complete a two-week orientation at the start of the residency year followed by a four-week practice management rotation. The training completed in these introductory experiences prepares residents to perform tasks necessary to function in the role of a pharmacist at the Medical Center. Residents will also be oriented to the pharmacokinetic and emergency response services.
All required, elective and longitudinal learning experiences are listed below. Most rotations are five weeks long, unless otherwise noted.
- Orientation (2 weeks)
- Practice Management (4 weeks)
- Internal Medicine 1
- Cardiology, choice of:
- Anticoagulation Stewardship
- General Cardiology
- Heart Failure
- Cardiac ICU
- Cardiac Surgery
- Critical Care 1 (MICU or SICU)
- Infectious Diseases (ID) Stewardship
- Pediatrics
- Medication Management (Administration, Informatics, Med Safety and Formulary Management)
- Academia
- Acute Care Specialty:
- General Cardiology**
- Heart Failure**
- Neurology
- Obstetrics
- Oncology / Bone Marrow Transplant
- Psychiatry
- Solid Organ Transplant
- Administration
- Ambulatory Care
- Anticoagulation Stewardship**
- Cardiac Surgery**
- Critical Care 2 (MICU**, SICU**, or Neuro/Trauma ICU)
- Emergency Medicine***
- Internal Medicine 2
- Neonatal ICU
** Can be taken if not rotated in during a required rotation.
*** Prerequisites: Internal Medicine 1 or Critical Care 1 plus Infectious Diseases.
- Staffing:
- Weekend: centralized, every fourth weekend
- Weekday:
- Monday to Thursday: One four-hour evening shift per week with opportunities to decentralize in second half of the year
- Friday: One rotating four-hour shift every 4th week focused on operations
- Inpatient Code Blue and Code Stroke response
- Presentations:
- Pharmacy Conferences (3)
- Clinical Pearl (1)
- Pharmacy Forums (student North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination [NAPLEX] review) (3)
- ACPE Accredited Continuing Education (1)
- Longitudinal Research Project presented at Vizient Pharmacy Network Meeting at ASHP Midyear and New England Residency Conference
- Formulary Project (drug class review)
- Teaching Opportunities: New England Postgraduate Pharmacy Teaching and Learning Seminar (MCPHS University)
- Precepting Opportunities:
- Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) students
- Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students
- Multidisciplinary Committee Assignment
Meet the Program Leadership
Emily Collis
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Formulary Management
Jessica Lomanno
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Infectious Diseases
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Career Outcomes and PGY2 Placement Success
Completing PGY1 Pharmacy Residency training at UMass opens doors to a wide range of career pathways. In recent years, approximately 70% of graduates have gone on to pursue PGY2 residency or fellowship training, with a 100% placement rate at the time of graduation. Our residents have successfully matched into advanced training programs across diverse specialties, including Cardiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Medication-Use Safety and Policy, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine and Oncology. Graduates have also transitioned directly into the workforce, assuming impactful clinical and operational roles across diverse settings. We are proud of our strong internal retention, robust professional network and a well connected regional and national alumni community that continues to support and mentor current residents.
Current Preceptors
|
Learning Experience |
Preceptor(s) |
|
Academia |
Abir Kanaan, PharmD |
|
Administration |
Allison Forni, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP |
|
Anticoagulation Stewardship |
Kathleen Sargent, PharmD, BCPS |
|
Cardiac Surgery |
Nick Servati, PharmD, BCCP |
|
Cardiac ICU |
Aidan Fischer, PharmD, BCCP |
|
General Cardiology |
Kyle Fraielli, PharmD, BCCP |
|
Heart Failure |
Angela Dansereau, PharmD |
|
Emergency Medicine |
Michael DiNapoli, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP |
|
ID Stewardship |
Jessica Lomanno, PharmD, BCIDP |
|
Internal Medicine |
Catherine Bernardo, PharmD, BCPS |
|
Medication Management |
Emily Collis, PharmD, BCPS |
|
Medical ICU |
Krystina Ahern, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP |
|
Neonatal ICU |
Mehran Nesari Asdigha, PharmD (Memorial Campus) |
|
Neuro/Trauma ICU |
Nadine Luck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP |
|
Obstetrics |
Ashley Thrasher, PharmD, BPCS (Memorial Campus) |
|
Oncology/BMT |
Lauren Brothers, PharmD, BCOP |
|
Pediatrics |
Ann Considine, PharmD |
|
Surgical ICU |
Priya Vallabh, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP |