Residency Program

Pharmacy – PGY1

Unity Hospital

About the Program

The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Unity Hospital is a 12-month full-time program. This intensive training program consists of required acute patient-care experiences in the areas of internal medicine, critical care medicine, emergency medicine, antibiotic stewardship, surgical services, and pharmacy practice. Residents will have the opportunity to advance their pharmacy practice clinical skills and application to practice in both centralized and decentralized pharmacy practice.

Residents will contribute to providing optimal patient care through participation in documentation in the electronic medical record, use of clinical surveillance systems, pharmacokinetic dosing, renal dose adjustment, intravenous to oral dose conversion, direct patient care, sterile product preparation and use of automated dispensing cabinets. Residents will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of pharmacy’s- role and learn how to integrate themselves as a contributing member of the healthcare team. They will become an active member of the healthcare team during multi-disciplinary patient care rounds.

Some additional opportunities provided to residents include:

Our Purpose

PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Pharm.D. education and outcomes to contribute to the development of a clinical pharmacist responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

ACLS Certification
Committee participation
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Presentations
Precepting/teaching of pharmacy students
ASHP Midyear Meeting (poster presentation)
Eastern States Conference (platform presentation)
Teaching Certificate Program offered through Wegmans School of Pharmacy

Our Facility: Unity Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy

Curriculum

Required Rotations

  • Main Pharmacy Training
  • Internal Medicine I
  • Internal Medicine II
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Surgical Services
  • Critical Care
  • Anticoagulation Stewardship
  • Transitions of Care

Required Longitudinal Rotations

  • Main Pharmacy Staffing
  • Leadership and Management
  • Pharmacy Projects/Resident Research
  • Teaching Certificate (Optional)

Elective Rotations

  • Oncology
  • Infectious Disease
  • Medication Safety
  • Palliative Care
  • Specialty Pharmacy, Transitions of Care
  • Emergency Medicine

How to Apply

The Unity Hospital of Rochester Department of Pharmacy’s residency program utilizes ASHP PhORCAS for applications.

 Our RRH community strives to cultivate and promote diversity and inclusion at all levels, empowering each team member to show up as themselves daily.

 We believe that our collective diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, coupled with an inclusive and just environment that harnesses and celebrates that diversity is fundamental in our efforts to improve the health and well-being of all our team members, patients, and communities in which we are privileged to serve.

Applicants should contact their pharmacy schools, or see the ASHP Web site for more information on this service.

Deadline for Application: January 6, 2025​

For more information contact:
Rebecca Guida Pharm. D., BCPS
Unity Hospital, Pharmacy department
1555 Long Pond Rd
Rochester, NY 14626
Email: Rebecca.Guida@rochesterregional.org

22060

Program ID

Requirements

  1. Graduate from a Doctor of Pharmacy Program accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education.
  2. Must be a United States Citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.
  3. New York State Pharmacy Intern Permit to start program on June 16, 2025.
  4. Residents must be eligible for New York State Licensure and must officially be licensed no later than October 14, 2025.

Benefits & Compensation

The following is a list of benefits granted to all residents.

Vacation

2 Weeks of Paid Vacation Per Year. 

Compensation

Paid travel, registration and conference days to the ASHP Midyear Meeting and Eastern States Conference

Insurance & Disability

Medical Insurance: plans available for selection
Dental Plan: Options available
Term Life Insurance: available for purchase
Short-term Disability: available to purchase after 6 months of employment
Long-term Disability: Available for purchase
Retirement Program: 403b available for enrollment

Wellness Center

Free membership to state of the art Rochester Regional Health fitness center, including classes offered at the center.

Salaries are paid on a bi-weekly basis. The salaries for the 2022-2023 academic year will be:

$47,500

PGY-1

Preceptors

Nancy Nicoletta, RPh

Director of Pharmacy

Education and Training: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY
Preceptor Focus: Leadership and Management

Rebecca Guida, Pharm. D., BCPS

Residency Program Director

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from St. John Fisher College, Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Rochester, NY
PGY–1 Pharmacy Practice Residency St. Joseph’s Hospital, Syracuse, NY
Preceptor Focus: Internal Medicine

Lindsay Schieb, Pharm. D., BCPS

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY

PGY–1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Unity Hospital of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Preceptor Focus: Internal Medicine

Ashley Skipper, Pharm. D.

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Boston, MA
Preceptor Focus: Internal Medicine

Bonnie Yu, Pharm. D., BCGP

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, NY

Preceptor Focus: Staffing

Alexander Arau, Pharm. D., BCPS

Pharmacy Operation Supervisor

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Worcester, MA
PGY–1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
Preceptor Focus: Critical Care

Kara Cutaia, Pharm. D., BCPS

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from St. John Fisher College, Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Rochester, NY
PGY–1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Unity Hospital of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Preceptor Focus: Anticoagulation Stewardship

Mariah Haley, Pharm. D., BCPS

Clinical Pharmacist- Pharmacy Operation Supervisor

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from St. John Fisher College, Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Rochester, NY
PGY–1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Unity Hospital of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Preceptor Focus: Critical Care

Casey Kern, Pharm. D., BCPS

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from St. John Fisher College, Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Rochester, NY
PGY–1 Community-Based Pharmacy University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences/ Middleport Family Health Center, Buffalo, NY
Preceptor Focus: Transitions of Care

Stephen Nemeth, Pharm. D., BCSCP

Clinical Pharmacist Specialist- Oncology

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
Preceptor Focus: Oncology

Pamela McCartan, Pharm. D., BCPS, BCOP

Clinical Pharmacist Specialist- Oncology

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY
Preceptor Focus: Oncology

Mariam Said, Pharm. D.(FPGEC), BCPS, BCIDP

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of pharmacy graduated from Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Certified by the NABP Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee (FPGEC)
Preceptor Focus: Internal Medicine, Surgical Services

​Joseph Backiel, Pharm. D., BCSCP

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY
Preceptor Focus: Main Pharmacy Training

Chris Greco, Pharm.D., BCPS

Clinical Pharmacist

Education and Training: Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY
Preceptor Focus: Surgical Services, Antimicrobial Stewardship

Why Rochester?

The Greater Rochester area, in the Finger Lakes region of New York, is a truly unique place to live and work. Rochester’s urban arts, entertainment and dining venues are complemented by surrounding suburban, rural and lakefront communities. This results in a wealth of options for work and play.

Explore Rochester

Current Residents

Morgan DeRiggs, PharmD.

Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY

Lindsey Rathbun, PharmD.

Doctor of Pharmacy from St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Rochester, NY

Graduates

Class of 2024

Grace Balzer, Pharm. D.
First position after residency:

Clinical Pharmacist, Wyoming County Medical Center, Warsaw, NY

Sara Rose, Pharm. D.
First position after residency:

Clinical Pharmacist, Unity Hospital of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Class of 2023

Faezeh Azizi, Pharm. D.

PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident – University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial Hospital

Michael Dinh, Pharm. D.

Clinical pharmacist- Washington Hospital Healthcare System, CA

Rufina Tsur-Tsar, Pharm. D.

Ambulatory Care Oncology Pharmacist- Hartford Hospital, CT

Class of 2022

Gina Belfiore, Pharm. D.

PGY-2 Infectious Disease Resident, UF Health Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL

Sabina Kendic, Pharm. D.

Clinical Pharmacist, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Utica, NY

Samantha Sallerson, Pharm. D.

PGY-2 Infectious Disease Resident, Baystate Health, Springfield, MA