PGY-1
The 12-month Pharmacy Residency (PGY-1) emphasizes both acute and ambulatory care, through required experiences in transitions of care, internal medicine, critical care, ambulatory care, and emergency medicine. Additional learning experiences are available based on the residents’ interest. A teaching certificate in conjunction with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) is also required.
Residents will provide staffing coverage every third weekend, one evening every third week, and one weekday every third week in our ambulatory care clinic. Occasional presentations to pharmacy personnel, medical staff, nursing staff, and/or the community also will be required.
Graduates from our program have gone on to successfully complete PGY-2 residencies in Psychiatry, Infectious Disease, Emergency Medicine, and Ambulatory Care. Those not pursuing a PGY-2 have established themselves as successful clinical pharmacists throughout the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the staffing requirements?
We require our residents to staff every third weekend, one evening every third week, one major and one minor holiday, and one weekday every third week in our ambulatory care clinic.
How many positions do you offer?
Our program offers two positions for PGY-1 residents, as well as one PGY-2 position in Emergency Medicine.
Is your program ASHP accredited?
The PGY-1 residency program has been ASHP accredited since 2013. The PGY-2 residency program has been ASHP accredited since 2020.
Where can I find your salary and benefits information?
You can find our competitive salary and benefits information on the ASHP residency Online Residency Directory
How much elective time do your residents receive?
While each resident’s schedule is unique, our program is designed to deliver up to four months of elective experiences.
What is the size and affiliation of Southwest General?
Southwest General is a 368-bed community hospital located in the Cleveland suburb of Middleburg Heights. Southwest shares a unique partnership with University Hospitals while maintaining an independent administrative and pharmacy practice.
Where does your program recruit?
Because we are a community hospital, we primarily recruit at the state level. You can find Southwest General recruiting tables at Ohio Society of Health-system Pharmacists (OSHP) Residency showcase as well as at some school of pharmacy-based career fairs. Please feel free to contact us with any specific recruitment questions!
Do you allow prospective residents to shadow?
Due to the increasing demand for shadowing experiences, Southwest General no longer offers PGY-1 candidates an opportunity to participate in one-on-one shadowing. Instead, we will be hosting an in-person open house where you will have an opportunity to meet our preceptors, see our facilities, and get a feel for the culture surrounding our program. We also offer a virtual open house for candidates who are not able to attend our in-person open house.
Do I get to pick my own research topics?
When you match with Southwest General, you will be asked about your personal research interests. From there, our preceptors will help brainstorm research ideas that are both feasible for a residency project and also valuable to the institution. Using these ideas as a starting point, the resident and their research team will decide on the topic and design of the final project. Our Residency Research Committee will be with you every step of the way.
How does the teaching certificate program work?
We require all of our residents to participate in the Resident Teaching and Learning program offered in conjunction with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).
Where have your previous residents taken positions?
Several former residents have gone on to PGY-2 positions in Ambulatory Care, Infectious Disease, Psychiatry, and Emergency Medicine. Others have taken clinical positions in a variety of specialties. Please see our past resident list for a full history of our program.
What makes your program unique?
Southwest General is proud of the fact that we can offer “large hospital” learning experiences with a “small hospital” feel. We work with each of our residents to create a unique schedule fit to their personal goals and ambitions as well as offering flexibility to adapt those schedules as interests or circumstances change. Our preceptors are passionate about teaching and education, which leads to the development of both strong professional and personal connections.
Address program inquiries to:
Kyle Stith, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP
PGY-1 Residency Program Director
Southwest General Hospital
18697 Bagley Road
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
440-816-8944
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