Pre-Candidate

Program Director: Alex Ponce, PharmD, BCEMP, DABAT
Email: alex.ponce@wvumedicine.org
Positions: 1
Application Due: January 2, 2026
Starting Date: July 1, 2026
Estimated Stipend: $53,000 + benefits

Purpose Statement & Program Overview

Emergency Medicine (EM) Purpose Statement & Overview: PGY2 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions, and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

Pharmacy residents completing the Post-Graduate Year Two (PGY2) Pharmacy Residency at WVUH shall graduate a well-rounded practitioner who excels at medication management in the emergency department as well as managing the care of the critically ill patient. The resident will master time management and task prioritization, interdisciplinary teamwork and education, and evidence-based medication management. The resident will exhibit a commitment to pharmacy practice and personal and professional development. Residents completing this program will be specialists in emergency medicine pharmacy practice.

The program is a twelve-month, postgraduate training experience composed of four to six-week rotations consisting of required learning experiences (see below) and elective learning experiences (see below for available options). The program has flexibility to allow the training year to be customized for each resident based upon their goals, interests, and previous experience. Additionally, there is time devoted to orientation and a variety of longitudinal experiences throughout the year to support the resident’s learning and development.

Emergency Department Overview

WVUH is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and is one of the major tertiary referral facilities in the state. The WVUH Emergency Department cares for over 40,000 patients each year. Given the rural nature of West Virginia, It is a Level One trauma center, comprehensive stroke center, and PCI-capable facility. The emergency department has a total of 45 beds, including 7 trauma bays and 5 clinic decision making unit beds. Our pharmacists play an integral role in our emergency department, and they are stationed physically in the department next to the charge nurse.

Learning Experiences 

Required Rotational Experiences:

  • Hospital Orientation
  • Emergency Medicine 1
  • Emergency Medicine 2
  • Emergency Medicine 3 + 4
    • Community (3 weeks)
    • Pediatrics (3 weeks)
    • Overnight (4 weeks)
  • Choice of Intensive Care Unit (must choose 2)
    • Medical Intensive Care
    • Surgical Intensive Care
    • Cardiovascular Intensive Care
    • Neuroscience Intensive Care

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

  • Medical Intensive Care
  • Surgical Intensive Care
  • Neonatal Intensive Care
  • Obstetrics
  • Trauma/Emergency Services
  • Pediatric Intensive Care
  • Cardiovascular Intensive Care
  • Cardiology
  • Neuroscience Intensive Care
  • Infectious Disease Consult/Stewardship
  • Bone Marrow Transplant/Heme Malignancies
  • Emergency Medicine Precepting
  • Administration
  • Transitions of Care Clinic
  • Inpatient stroke
  • Internal medicine

Longitudinal Experiences:

  • ACPE Accredited Continuing Education Presentation
  • Medication Use Evaluation
  • Research (including abstract submission and manuscript development)
  • Pharmacy Practice (staffing)
  • Academia
  • Critical care journal club/patient case presentation
  • Toxicology
  • Medication Safety
  • Code Response Precepting

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 Emergency Medicine Residency Director

Alex Ponce

Alex Ponce, PharmD, BCEMP, DABAT completed his doctorate of pharmacy at Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. After graduation, he proceeded to complete a PGY1 Residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, an Emergency Medicine PGY2 at IU Health Methodist Hospital, and a toxicology fellowship at the Indiana Poison Center. Upon completion of his post graduate training, he became an emergency medicine clinical pharmacy specialist at WVU Medicine.

Contact: alex.ponce@wvumedicine.org

PGY2 Emergency Medicine Residency Coordinator

Skyee Edwards

Skyee Edwards, Pharm.D., BCCCP graduated from Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy in 2021. Upon graduating, she completed a PGY1 Residency at WVU Medicine followed by a PGY2 Critical Care PGY2 at WVU Medicine. She resides on staff as the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Specialist.

Contact: skyee.edwards@wvumedicine.org