Director’s Letter
Thank you for your interest in our newest Catholic Health PGY2 program in Emergency Medicine. The Catholic Health Pharmacy Department established a collaboration with the Department of Emergency Medicine several years ago and this relationship continues to expand within the system. The Pharmacy Department also recognizes the role of the PGY2 resident as an important step in the growth of this specialty area. This residency program is designed to develop the resident into a pharmacotherapy expert in the field of emergency medicine and will focus on critical thinking, communication, teaching, and leadership in patient care and quality improvement projects. Upon completion of the residency, the resident will have the necessary skills to function as an independent and competent emergency medicine practitioner with the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and diverse patient populations. The PGY2 EM residency program focuses on community hospital emergency medicine with rotations across Western NY in the Catholic Health emergency departments. We are looking forward to meeting candidates interested in working in a team-based, fast-paced, and challenging work environment.
Melissa Guarino, PharmD, BCPS
PGY2 Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director
About Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is a 349-bed community teaching hospital located in Buffalo, NY. It is one of the largest hospitals in Western New York, serving an average of 53,000 emergency department patient visits annually. Emergency medicine pharmacy services include bedside direct patient care participation (e.g., code responses, resuscitations, intubations, procedural sedation), provision of medication information, prospective medication order review, discharge culture follow-up, emergent medication procurement and preparation, clinical pharmacy consultations, and more. Hospital services offered include minimally invasive and specialized cardiac and orthopedic procedures, including open heart and cardiac catheterization, labor and delivery, comprehensive stroke center, and multiple intensive care units. Mercy Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission, illustrating our commitment to high quality and safety standards.
Catholic Health is one of the largest employers of healthcare in Western New York, dedicated to providing equal opportunity regardless of race, creed, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. Our organization and residency program recognizes the value of a diversified workforce to treat those in need within our community.
Accreditation Status
The PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency conducted by Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo New York is accredited by ASHP
Affiliated Sites
D’Youville School of Pharmacy
Mission Statement and Purpose
The PGY2 emergency medicine residency program at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is a one year training program for PGY1-trained pharmacists interested in advanced training in emergency medicine medication management. Residents who complete this PGY2 will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to provide evidence-based, patient-specific pharmacotherapy and become a confident, independent emergency medicine pharmacist. This PGY2 will focus on community hospital emergency medicine however the resident will be trained and prepared to practice in any type of emergency department.
Purpose: PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.