ASHP Accredited 

Program Director: Nicole Kovacic Scherrer, PharmD, BCCCP
Email: nicole.kovacic-scherrer@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.

Individuals completing the PGY2 Pharmacy Residency at WVU Medicine WVUH shall be highly qualified independent providers of critical care pharmacy practice. The resident shall be an integral member of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team, educator of healthcare professionals and patients, be able to perform practice-related research, and be leaders in medication safety. The resident will exhibit a commitment to the profession of pharmacy and be able to develop their own personal plan for professional development. Residents will conduct their daily practice with a high level of maturity and leadership. Residents completing this program will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities in critical care practice.

The program is a twelve-month, postgraduate training experience composed of required & elective learning experiences designed to expose the resident to multiple different areas of critical care. After completing a hospital orientation, the resident will begin their 5-week rotational experiences including the required rotations listed below and a minimum of 3 of the below listed elective rotations based on the resident’s interests. Longitudinal experiences will be completed throughout the year to support the resident’s learning and development.

Learning Experiences 

Required Rotational Experiences:

  • Cardiac Intensive Care
  • Emergency Medicine 
  • Medical Intensive Care 
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Surgical Intensive Care

Elective Rotational Experiences: (Resident can select from any of the options below) 

  • Heart Failure (Inpatient)
  • Bone Marrow Transplant/Heme Malignancies 
  • Neonatal Intensive Care
  • Trauma
  • Pediatric Intensive Care
  • Advanced Experience of Required Rotation

Longitudinal Experiences: 

  • Medication Safety
  • ACPE Accredited Continuing Education (CE) Program
  • Medication Use Evaluation
  • Research and Manuscript Development
  • Academia
  • Critical Care Journal Club
  • Pharmacy Practice (Staffing)

Pharmacy Practice Component

  • PGY2 Pharmacy Residents staff every third weekend.
  • All residents work one summer (Memorial Day, Labor Day) and one winter holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s).
  • Residents may opt to work additional pharmacist shifts and will be compensated at the standard pharmacist rate, including shift differential.
  • Residents are reminded that the primary objective of the residency year relates to the residency program objectives, and other activities should not hinder the achievement of these objectives.

PGY2 Critical Care Residency Director

Nicole Kovacic Scherrer, Pharm.D., BCCP graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy in 2013. Upon graduating, she completed a PGY1 Residency at Temple University Hospital followed by a Critical Care PGY2 at Maine Medical Center. Nicole currently resides on staff as the Medical ICU Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Society of Critical Care Medicine Carolinas/Virginias Chapter.

Contact: Nicole.Kovacic-Scherrer@wvumedicine.org

PGY2 Critical Care Residency Coordinator

Alexandra Greco Kinney, Pharm.D., BCCCP graduated from WVU School of Pharmacy in 2016. Upon graduating, she completed a PGY1 Residency at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital followed by a Critical Care PGY2 at WVU Medicine. Alex currently resides on staff as the Trauma/SICU Clinical Pharmacy Specialist.

Contact: alex.greco@wvumedicine.org