University of Pittsburgh 2023
LECOM 2023
"I chose West Penn PGY-1 pharmacy residency for many reasons; I had interest in both inpatient and acute care and needed a program that will allow me to explore all of my interests, I also wanted a program that will allow me to have a life outside of residency. The free parking which is in close proximity to the program was a plus for me. David Jordan served as an outstanding Residency Program Director and made my experience at West Penn even more enjoyable. Throughout my time in the program, I encountered wonderful preceptors who challenged me both clinically and professionally and provided me with unique experiences that I strongly believe allowed me to grow throughout residency. My goal for residency was to build on the foundation gained throughout pharmacy school whiles allowing me to be exposed to varied specialties in pharmacy; I can boldly say my experience at West Penn has allowed me to do that and then some. I feel well prepared and equipped to practice in my new role as a clinical pharmacist at a psychiatric hospital. If I had to use one word to describe my experience at West Penn Hospital residency pharmacy the word will be “GROWTH”."
Abigail Birikorang, PharmD
Residency Class of 2023
"While attending Duquesne University for Pharmacy School I loved exploring Pittsburgh and I wanted to continue discovering everything the city had to offer, so I decided to pursue residency programs in the area. The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency in an Ambulatory Environment at West Penn Hospital offered everything I was looking for in a program to help prepare me for a successful career as an ambulatory care pharmacist. I truly enjoyed many aspects of the program including the wide variety of elective rotation options, opportunities for volunteering, and ability to customize the experience based on my interests. Additionally, I am thankful for the unending support from all my preceptors, RPD, and mentor. Next year, I am continuing my training within Allegheny Health Network through the PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency at Allegheny General Hospital. The required and elective rotations of this PGY-1 program helped me to develop the clinical, teaching, research, and patient care skills needed to succeed in my PGY-2 residency."
Sarah Kozma, PharmD
Residency Class of 2023
"I chose West Penn Hospital to do my PGY1 at because of the opportunities they provided for chronic disease state management and the welcoming nature the precepting staff had. What I enjoyed the most about the program was the amount of ambulatory care experience I could get so early on in the outpatient health system setting. It allowed me better baseline training towards my goals of becoming a primary care pharmacist. In my current PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident role, I have used the tools learned at West Penn to better communicate with patients in a variety of settings, optimize patient medications and manage my time to complete various projects. My experience at West Penn has helped build a strong base in Ambulatory Care and assisted me in obtaining my dream job as a clinical pharmacy specialist in an internal medicine clinic. Thank you, WPH!"
Annie Painter, PharmD, TTS
Residency Class of 2022
"I was first drawn to West Penn from the potential learning experiences as it was very unique for a PGY-1 program to have such emphasis on ambulatory care. The next reason was because of the sense of community I felt with the preceptors during the interview and their focus on tailoring the curriculum to residents' interests. As my interests lie in diabetes management and chronic diseases, the preceptors ensured I received exceptional training in those areas. The preceptors actively coached me in developing my skills and strengthening my weaknesses in a supportive manner. They cared deeply about my growth as a clinical pharmacist and as a person. West Penn helped me develop crucial skills such as how to function independently as a practitioner, know when to ask for help, work effectively under pressure, and avoid burnout - all invaluable lessons that continue to guide me in my career today as a clinical pharmacist with the Butler-VA. In summary, I cannot recommend West Penn's residency program highly enough. The mentoring and opportunities I received have shaped me into the clinician I am today and will continue influencing my practice for years to come."
Jessica Wayne, PharmD
Residency Class 2022
