Pharmacy Students Graduate from PGY1 Residency Class at CVMC

Recently, two pharmacy students, Hailey Phelps and Diana Ramirez, graduated from the 9th PGY1 Residency class at Catawba Valley Medical Center. The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program gives in-depth experience in a broad area of pharmacy practice including antimicrobial stewardship, pharmacokinetics, drug information, internal medicine, intensive care, oncology and administration.

Early on in her pharmacy education, Hailey decided that she wanted to pursue an inpatient residency. She was certain that she wanted to work in the hospital setting. Prior to an experiential rotation during her third year of pharmacy school, she was unaware of the clinical aspects that pharmacists are responsible for in the inpatient setting. “During this rotation, I quickly became fascinated with a pharmacist’s role in direct patient care and thought – yes, that’s what I want to be when I grow up and I’m ready to do anything to get there,” she said.

Diana decided to pursue her residency so she could deepen her clinical knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and become a more confident, well-rounded pharmacist in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment. “Residency allowed me to take on meaningful patient care responsibilities early in my career,” she said.

According to Hailey, the daily responsibilities and demands of a resident were dependent upon what rotation they were currently on. As for a typical day, the pharmacy department had a morning huddle to discuss new information. Following the huddle, residents collected the printed morning reports, checked in with their preceptors, and began preparing for interdisciplinary team rounds.

To prepare for rounds, residents completed clinical consults as appropriate, including dosing medications, collecting important information, and assessing the appropriateness of current treatment regimens. While in rounds, residents would be available for medication questions and to take orders from providers, as well as provide medication recommendations. Following rounds, residents entered orders and completed admission reviews and any remaining consults. Residents also had to find time to squeeze in meetings as part of rotational duties, and to complete assigned projects. “Each day was dynamic, balancing direct patient care with research and professional development,” Diana said.

Hailey said she was surprised at the amount of planning between various healthcare team members in coordinating patient care while inpatient and outpatient, and that there were more details that she would have thought regarding patient care planning and providing patient advocacy. “Each team member has a vital role in patient care whether it is coordinating discharge transportation, providing patient education, or creating an optimal treatment regimen,” she said. Diana was also surprised by the amount of communication and teamwork necessary to result in positive patient outcomes.

Both Hailey and Diana said that the most challenging project that they completed during their residency would be their research projects. Hailey said that she found collecting data to be very meticulous and time consuming, as she wanted to ensure she was entering information correctly. “Many hours were spent analyzing patient charts and cross-referencing antibiotic regimens for specific infectious diseases. The results, however, were very interesting and, hopefully, can impact the future of patient care in a positive manner,” Hailey said. Diana also related to time management struggles, saying that managing timelines and coordinating with multiple stakeholders was difficult, but taught the importance of organization, communication, and adaptability.

Diana emphasized the importance of finding mentors to inspire you. Her mentor was Gary Smith, her teacher for the PGY1 class. She says Gary had an approachable leadership style, with a willingness to share his experience and a deep commitment to teaching. She said, “Throughout the year, he provided thoughtful guidance, constructive feedback, and continuous encouragement. His mentorship helped me grow in confidence, refine my clinical skills, and navigate the challenges of residency. I am truly grateful for his support and for the opportunity to learn from him.”

On finding balance with the demands of residency and personal life, Hailey said that she would try to complete everything residency-related at the hospital before leaving, and when that wasn’t possible, she would give herself a strict time in the evening to switch to activities unrelated to residency. In her personal time, she enjoys going on walks, and spending time with her family, friends and her dogs, Rivers and Kit. For Diana, prioritizing self-care and leaning on loved ones helped her balance her personal life with her responsibilities.

For pharmacy students thinking about applying to residency, Hailey encourages them to just apply, and stresses that residency does not define your success as a pharmacist. She says not to expect to know everything before starting a residency, but that it is important to know where to find and how to use resources. Diana advises to seek out as many clinical experiences as possible, ask questions and actively engage with your preceptors and peers, and be open to feedback and use it to improve. Hailey said, “All to say as a student thinking about pursuing a residency – apply to programs, expect the unexpected, and soak up every opportunity to reach your career goals.”

According to Hailey, residency allows pharmacy students to build upon their educational foundations and see the impact of a pharmacist’s role in providing patient-centered care. “From assisting during code blues in the CCU to providing patient education for anticoagulants throughout the hospital, each experience has been very rewarding, and lessons have been taken away to build upon my pharmacy knowledge,” she said. Diana added, “Residency reinforced a patient-centered approach that emphasizes individualized care, evidence-based decision-making, and effective communication with the healthcare team and patients.”

Both Hailey and Diana say they are incredibly excited for the future of pharmacy. Hailey said, “Pharmacy has grown exponentially over the years, and I cannot wait to see how a pharmacist’s role evolves clinically in the near future.”

To learn more about the PGY1 Residency Program at CVMC, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/PGY1.