ASHP Accredited

Program Director: Galen Kabulski, PharmD, BCCP
Email: galen.kabulski@wvumedicine.org 
Positions: 1
Application Due: January 2, 2025
Starting Date: July 1, 2025
Estimated Stipend: $53,000 + benefits

Purpose Statement & Program Overview

PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 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 PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

The PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency at WVU Medicine is designed to provide advanced training across the continuum of cardiac care – from ambulatory clinics to inpatient acute care and the transitions in-between. The resident will develop the necessary skills to become a highly qualified independent member of the multidisciplinary cardiology team. This program will prepare the resident to be a leader in medication safety and quality improvement. Academic experiences through the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy will serve to facilitate preceptor and professional development. Residents will conduct their daily practice with a high level of maturity and leadership. Residents completing this program will have knowledge, skills, and abilities that are highly marketable in a variety of clinical settings.

Program Overview

The resident will complete a twelve-month, postgraduate training experience composed of orientation, six required learning experiences and two elective learning experiences, and longitudinal experiences in a variety of clinical, academic, and administrative settings.

Orientation

All residents will undergo orientation to the pharmacy department, clinical practices, and the PGY-2 Cardiology program upon entry into the academic year. The duration of the orientation will be determined based on the resident’s prior experience and proficiency in skills required to successfully complete longitudinal and clinical responsibilities. The orientation period is not to exceed eight weeks in accordance with other residency programs at WVU Medicine. Abbreviated clinical rotations may be scheduled for residents completing orientation prior to the eight-week orientation period.

Rotations

Learning experiences provide the structure of resident training in specialized areas of pharmacy practice over the course of the 12-month residency program. Both core and elective experiences are 5 weeks in duration. Residents are required to complete six core clinical experiences and two elective experiences based on their individual goals. A schedule of learning experiences will be created during the orientation period. As the resident progresses, the learning experience schedule may be altered with approval of the preceptors and program director as long as program requirements are satisfied.

The resident is expected to review the learning activities and objectives for each rotation as a foundation for their experience. Residents are expected to perform independently and demonstrate proficiency in their learning experience. The preceptor provides guidance and assistance to the resident and ensures that the goals set forth by the resident and program are met. The preceptor provides the resident with an evaluation of their progress, including an evaluation at the conclusion of the experience.

Frequent, clear communication is the key to a successful resident and preceptor relationship. To maximize the learning experience, the resident is expected to personally inform the preceptor of all absences, conflicts, or concerns that might arise during the month. Residents shall also prepare for topic discussions, read materials in a timely manner, and perform other tasks assigned by the preceptor. Prior to or on the first day of the experience, the resident should meet with the preceptor to discuss the requirements and establish a schedule for the month.

Required Clinical Experiences - each block is five weeks in duration

  • General Cardiology I
  • Advanced Heart Failure/Pulmonary Hypertension I
  • Heart Failure Clinic I
  • Cardiovascular Critical Care - Cardiac Critical Care I
  • Cardiothoracic Critical Care - Cardiac Critical Care II
  • Cardiology Selective (repeat one core experience from above):
    • General Cardiology II
    • Heart Failure Clinic II
    • Cardiac Critical Care III
    • Advanced Heart Failure/Pulmonary Hypertension II

Elective Clinical Experiences (select 2) - each block is five weeks in duration

  • Critical Care Selective (choose one of the following):
    • Medical Intensive Care Unit
    • Emergency Medicine
  • Outpatient Selective (choose one of the following):
    • Heart Transplant
    • General Cardiology Clinic
  • Cardiovascular Surgery Stepdown
  • Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care
  • Repeat Core Rotation

Required Longitudinal Experiences

  • Academia – residents will provide didactic and case-based education to students at the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy
  • Precepting – opportunity to co-precept students on introductory or advanced pharmacy practice experiences
  • Cardiovascular Medication Safety – participation in patient safety report monitoring and reconciliation
  • Cardiovascular Committee/Formulary Management – serve as pharmacy representative on multidisciplinary cardiovascular committee to aid in operational and clinical initiatives at WVU Medicine
  • Cardiology Journal Club – formal presentation and critical analysis of articles throughout the academic year
  • Professional Development Series – participation in scheduled discussions with program preceptors in topics such as precepting, presentation skills, job application, interviewing, medical writing, professional involvement, and personal finance
  • Research – completion of a research project including manuscript suitable for publication
  • Cardiology Pharmacotherapy Advancement Initiative – completion of a resident-led project focused on quality-improvement, guideline development, or other initiative to improve the quality of cardiovascular care at WVU Medicine
  • Continuing Education – preparation and delivery of an ACPE-accredited continuing education presentation to WVU Medicine pharmacists
  • Pharmacy Practice – staffing with clinical pharmacy and operational support to cardiovascular services at WVU Medicine
    • PGY2 pharmacy residents at WVU Medicine will staff every 3rd weekend and work one summer (Memorial Day or Labor Day) and one winter holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s)
    • Residents may opt to work additional pharmacist shifts and will be compensated at the standard pharmacist rate, including shift differential

Residency Program Requirements

  1. Successful completion of an ASHP Accredited PGY1 program (certificate serves as proof)
  2. Successful completion of 8 learning experiences
  3. Achieve 70% of ASHP required objectives for the program
  4. Longitudinal Experiences:
    • Cardiovascular Medication Safety
    • Academia
      • One cardiology lecture at WVU School of Pharmacy
              - One patient case simulation or lab
    • Cardiovascular Committee and Formulary Management
    • ACPE Certified Continuing Education Presentation
    • Pharmacy Practice Component (Staffing)
    • Cardiology Journal Club
    • Professional Development Series
    • Successful completion of a quality improvement project, institutional or enterprise guideline development or revision, medication class review, or applicable initiative to satisfy ASHP standards
    • Successful completion of a research project with presentation of results at applicable meeting and manuscript suitable for publication

Upon successful completion of the pharmacy residency training program, trainees are awarded a residency certificate.

Initial Employment Requirements

  • Residents must satisfy the following as a condition to work at WVU Medicine
    • Successful completion of PharmD Degree from an accredited school of pharmacy
    • Must possess current license to practice pharmacy in West Virginia or be license eligible
    • Licensure must be completed within 90 days of their start date (per WVU Medicine position descriptions: Job Title 13048 Pharmacy Resident Year One/Job Title 60544 Pharmacy Resident Year Two
    • If licensure is not obtained within 90 days of the resident’s start date, the RPD will notify the resident that they are not eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion and their resident contract will be terminated
  • Contact the Human Resources Department to complete a 30-minute interview
  • Contact the Human Resources Department to schedule an appointment for pre-employment physical and drug-screening. These screenings must be completed prior to start date and employment is contingent upon successful completion of this physical and drug screening
  • Within 30 days of the official hire date, the resident must provide a PGY1 Residency Program Certificate of Completion

PGY2 Cardiology Residency Director

Galen Kabulski, PharmD, BCCP graduated from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in 2015. Following graduation, he completed a combined PGY1/PGY2 Pharmacotherapy Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. Galen joined WVU Medicine as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Cardiothoracic Critical Care in 2017.

Contact: galen.kabulski@wvumedicine.org

PGY2 Cardiology Residency Coordinator

Rachael Schauble, PharmD, BCCP graduated from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in 2016. Following graduation, she completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at University of Tennessee Medical Center and her PGY2 in Cardiology Pharmacy Residency at University of Maryland. Rachael joined WVU Medicine as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Advanced Heart Failure in 2018.

Contact: brosciousr@wvumedicine.org