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Oncology Pharmacy Residency

Oncology pharmacy residents

The PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency program builds upon a 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 along with board certification.

Program description

The University of Kansas Health System offers an ASHP-accredited PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency. The University of Kansas Hospital is an academic teaching hospital with 1,000+ beds, and 116 of those are dedicated to hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and has 2,600+ outpatient cancer care visits weekly. This residency centers on the development of pharmacists who will become dynamic patient advocates who collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based pharmacotherapy and heighten patient-centered results. Through various clinical, practice management and project experiences, residents will become competent at providing optimal drug therapy for patients with cancer and act as a leader in advancing patient care.

Length of program: 12 months, starting in July
Number of positions: 4
PGY2 Oncology Residency Supplemental Manual

Current benefits

  • Annual salary: $56,000
  • Benefits include PTO, paid holidays, health/dental/life/liability insurance
  • View more information

Contact us

The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Pharmacy
2330 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Suite 305, Mailstop 5028
Westwood, KS 66205
Shelbie Gibbs

PGY2 Oncology residency director

Shelbie Ralph, PharmD, BCOP (she/her/hers)

Maggie Nelson

PGY2 Oncology residency coordinator

Maggie Nelson, PharmD, BCOP (she/her/hers)

Meet our residents

Megan Callahan

Megan Callahan

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Pharmacy School: The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy

PGY1: The University of Kansas Health System

Clinical Interests: Breast oncology, gynecologic oncology

Hobbies: Junk journaling, thrifting, drinking good coffee, attending concerts and exploring Kansas City

Research Project: Growth Factor Use with Sacituzumab Govitecan and Fam-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Why I chose The University of Kansas Health System: What stood out to me about the health system from the very beginning was the people. From meeting residents at midyear as a student to working alongside pharmacists during my PGY1 year, I found a culture of support, encouragement and genuine investment in each resident's growth. Knowing I wanted to pursue oncology, choosing to stay at the health system for PGY2 was an easy decision. The program combines academic rigor with a supportive environment, giving me the opportunity to continually challenge myself while knowing I have an incredible team in my corner to uplift me whenever I need it.

Ryley Elsea

Ryley Elsea

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Pharmacy School: University of Kansas

PGY1: The University of Kansas Health System

Clinical Interests: BMT, hematology, pharmacogenomics

Hobbies: Orange Theory, cooking and baking, trying new coffee shops!

Research Project: Graft vs Host Disease Outcomes After Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide in Myeloablative, Matched, Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

Why I Chose The University of Kansas Health System: After completing my PGY1 with the health system, it was clear how much the preceptors care about and want to pour into their learners. Having members of the hematology/oncology team as my preceptors for research, grand rounds and learning experiences last year, I knew I would be challenged and pushed to grow this year, but I would be fully supported at the same time.

Nghi Nguyen

Nghi Nguyen, PharmD

Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Pharmacy School: University of Florida

PGY1: Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia

Clinical Interests: Malignant hematology, supportive care, infectious diseases, academia

Hobbies: Running, exercising, cooking

Research Project: Real-World Outcomes of Post-CAR T Salvage Strategies in Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Why I Chose The University of Kansas Health System: I chose The University of Kansas Health System for the breadth of its oncology rotation experiences and the opportunity to care for a diverse and complex patient population. I wanted to complete my residency at a large academic center treating a wide variety of malignancies, where I could learn as much as possible early in my career. During my interview, the genuine warmth and support I encountered from the leadership and preceptors in the program made me feel welcomed, and I knew this was a place where I could grow both professionally and personally.

Emerson Roberts

Emerson Roberts, PharmD

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

Pharmacy School: University of Nebraska Medical Center

PGY1: University of Iowa Health Care – Acute Care

Clinical Interests: Bone marrow transplant, hematology, oncology supportive care

Hobbies: Working out, knitting, cheering on the Nebraska Huskers and Iowa State Cyclones

Research Project: Aspirin vs DOACs for Immunomodulatory Prophylaxis in Multiple Myeloma

Why I Chose The University of Kansas Health System: I chose The University of Kansas Health System because of the welcoming and supportive culture. From meeting Shelbie and Maggie at ASHP Midyear and the preceptors at my interview, I noticed a strong sense of community and interest in supporting their residents. I was also impressed by the diverse rotation offerings, which provide opportunities to develop a broad skill set while also exploring my personal interests. Finally, hearing how trusted pharmacists are within the inpatient and outpatient healthcare teams reinforced my desire to train at an institution that values pharmacists as essential members of patient care.

The oncology pharmacy residency learning experience

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is 1 of fewer than 60 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide.

Additional facts about the cancer center include:

  • More than 50 cancer care clinical pharmacists on staff
  • Clinical Research Center focuses on early preclinical and phase I trials
  • Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer since 1934
  • QOPI®-certified practice
  • URAC-accredited
  • More than 300 hematopoietic stem cell transplants performed annually
  • FACT-accredited (immune effector cell, BMT autologous/allogeneic program)
  • National Marrow Donor Program-accredited
  • Certified CAR T-cell therapy center for commercial and investigational products

Required learning experiences

  • Orientation (3 weeks)
  • Inpatient/outpatient adult hematology (6 weeks: 3 weeks inpatient, 3 weeks outpatient)
  • Inpatient adult acute leukemia (4 weeks)
  • Inpatient medical oncology (2 weeks)
  • Inpatient adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (4 weeks)
  • Inpatient adult autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant / chimeric antigen receptor (CAR- T) therapy (3 weeks)
  • Cancer center pharmacy (3 weeks)
  • Breast medical oncology clinic (3 weeks)
  • Genitourinary medical oncology clinic (3 weeks)
  • Gastrointestinal medical oncology clinic (4 weeks)
  • Head, neck and lung medical oncology clinic (4 weeks)
  • Advanced independent practice (AIP)* (4 weeks)

*The AIP learning experience is a 4-week experience in which the resident covers a service independently. The goal is for the resident to gain the confidence and experience of covering a service independently prior to entering the workforce. This is done once the resident has sufficient experience in an area of practice.

Elective learning experiences

Each resident has 6 weeks for electives. These can be split into two 3-week rotations or one 4-week rotation and one 2-week rotation.

Elective learning experiences include:

  • Outpatient adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant clinic
  • Palliative care
  • Infectious diseases
  • Oncology administration
  • Outpatient hematology clinic
  • Outpatient solid tumor clinic
    • Breast medical oncology
    • Head, neck and lung medical oncology
    • Gastrointestinal medical oncology
    • Genitourinary medical oncology
    • Gynecologic oncology
    • Melanoma

Staffing requirement

The PGY2 oncology resident will staff 1 evening each week from 3 to 7 p.m. inpatient and approximately every 4th weekend (Saturday and Sunday) evening where they will staff independently inpatient, covering hematology, BMT and oncology patients. Residents receive 1 day off as a compensation day the week following their weekend staffing.

Longitudinal experiences

  • Longitudinal administration rotation
    • This is a longitudinal experience that incorporates many aspects of practice leadership and exposes residents to a variety of topics with cancer care pharmacy leadership.
    • Each resident will have a longitudinal administration project based on the needs of the department.
    • There are approximately 6 dedicated longitudinal administration project days throughout the year for these discussions and project work beginning in September.
    • Each resident will present at least one new drug formulary review at a Hematology/Oncology/BMT Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting.
    • Residents will participate in one cancer center committee each quarter during the residency year:
      • Cancer Care Pharmacy Practice Council
      • Cancer Center Medication Safety Subcommittee
      • Hematology/Oncology/BMT P&T Subcommittee
      • Protocol Review Monitoring Committee
  • Research
    • Poster presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association national meeting or a similar meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication
  • Presentations
    • Grand rounds continuing education presentation to multidisciplinary oncology audience
    • Oncology resident lectures (approximately every 4 weeks)
  • Teaching
    • Residents will prepare a supportive care topic discussion for students on rotation at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and will present this topic discussion each month a student is on rotation with the team.
    • Residents gain teaching experience through leading a hematology/oncology pharmacotherapy lecture at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
    • Residents may precept students from the University of Kansas and/or the University of Missouri – Kansas City schools of pharmacy on clinical rotations, if desired.
    • An optional teaching certificate program is available.

Residency Manual – PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency Supplemental Manual

Application information

Informational sessions

Requirements and deadlines

  • An ASHP midyear PPS interview is required prior to the application deadline.
  • If not participating in PPS, please contact the residency program director to set up a virtual interview.
  • Application must be submitted no later than January 1.
  • Must have a valid pharmacist license in the state of Kansas preferably prior to residency start date but within 60 days of the start of residency at the latest.

Checklist for application

National matching services (NMS) code: 618660
We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.

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