Pharmacy Residency Program at Decatur Memorial Hospital

Decatur Medical Hospital (DMH) is a 280-bed community hospital that serves as a primary teaching site for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU-SOM). DMH also serves as a pharmacy teaching site for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SIUE-SOP), University of Illinois at Chicago – College of Pharmacy and St. Louis College of Pharmacy. DMH is a Level II Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center. DMH is known for general surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac services, critical care services, maternity services, diagnostic and rehabilitative services. Pharmacists at DMH participate in many hospital committees and provide education to physicians and other healthcare professionals.

PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program

DMH’s PGY1 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS) and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

The resident will participate in hospital committees, complete a residency project, present at a regional conference and provide continuing education for practicing pharmacists. Residents will also have opportunities to precept pharmacy students.

Application Process

All applicants to Decatur Memorial’s PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program must be registered with the National Matching Services (NMS). Additional information can be found at natmatch.com/ashprmp/. Match code number: 276813

Applicants must provide current curriculum vitae, official transcript, a letter of intent and three pharmacist-written letters of recommendations and electronically submit through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) which can be found at www.ashp.org/phorcas.

If selected for an on-site interview, the applicant will be required to give a brief presentation as part of the interview process.

Licensure: The resident must provide proof of completed examination for both the NAPLEX and MPJE, on the first day of the residency year. Ultimately, Illinois licensure as a Registered Pharmacist is required within 90 days of starting the residency year or the resident is subject to dismissal from the program.

Benefits: Benefits include paid time off, holiday bonus pay, medical, dental, life and vision insurance, and funding for select state and national meetings.

Pharmacy Services

Clinical pharmacy services include:

  • Team rounding in critical care
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • General drug information
  • Pharmacokinetic dosing
  • ED clinical services

Required Learning Experiences

  • Orientation
  • Internal Medicine
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Leadership
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Longitudinal experiences are required and will encompass your projects and practice coverage for the residency throughout the year (12 months). All residents are required to complete three longitudinal rotations: Pharmacy Practice, Research and Anticoagulation Clinic.

Optional Learning Experiences

  • Infectious Disease
  • Cardiology
  • Trauma

Requirements for Completion

Upon successful completion of all program requirements and compliance with all conditions of the residency program, the resident shall be awarded a certificate of completion. Requirements for successful completion include:

  • 80 percent or more of their objectives as “achieved for residency” (ACHR) with no “needs improvement” ratings on the most recent evaluation of any objective at the end of the residency year.
  • Provide a Continuing Education Program (1hr CE) for practicing pharmacists.
  • Poster at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.
  • Complete a major research project and presentation at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Residency Conference or approved equivalent.
  • Attend a minimum of one state health-system pharmacy meeting.
  • Attend ASHP Midyear during the residency year.
  • Participate in at least one DMH activity related to community wellness and disease prevention.
  • Prepare at least two Clinical Pharmacy Newsletters during the residency year.
  • Resident will develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a plan to address, at a minimum, one patient care and/or medication-use system improvement within pharmacy.
  • Improvement plan must be reviewed and approved by Pharmacy Management.
  • Prepare at least one drug class review, monograph, treatment guideline or protocol.
  • Prepare and present at least three topic or patient case presentations or equivalent.
  • Complete a manuscript suitable for publication for the resident’s research project.
  • Complete Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Certification.
  • All evaluations must be completed by residents within seven days of the end of the learning experience.

Contact Information

Chelsey Fritzgerald, PharmD, BCPS (PGY-1 Residency Program Director)
Call 217-786-6214 or email fritzgerald.chelsey@mhsil.com.