PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program

The Pharmacy Residency at Akron Children's

Akron Children's Hospital is the largest pediatric healthcare system in northeast Ohio and is ranked among the best children's hospitals by US News & World Report. Akron Children's has 2 hospital campuses, 6 regional health centers, and 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio. We have also partnered with other community hospitals to bring our neonatal and pediatric expertise totaling 462 inpatient beds. Akron Children's Hospital promises to treat every child as we would our own, to treat others as they want to be treated, and to turn no child away for any reason. With more than a million patient visits a year, we’ve been leading the way to healthier futures for children through quality patient care, education, advocacy, community service and medical discovery.

The PGY-2 pediatric pharmacy residency program at Akron Children’s Hospital will train residents in evidence-based medication management, interprofessional collaboration, communication, leadership, patient safety, and life-long learning. Our residents will have opportunities in various clinical settings and will learn skills to master the principles of pediatric pharmacotherapy. We hope to instill professional maturity, self-improvement skills, and leadership principles in all different aspects of medication-related issues. Our goals for our residents are to leave our program as competent and confident pediatric pharmacists capable of practicing in various pediatric specialties.

ASHP Purpose: PGY-2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY-1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY-2 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 PGY-2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification.

ASHP Pre-Candidate Status – NMS Match Code: 687161

Core Learning Experiences in the Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program:

Orientation (4 weeks)
Pediatric Emergency Medicine (6 weeks)
General Pediatrics (4 weeks)
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (4 weeks)
Pediatric Infectious Diseases (4 weeks)
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (4 weeks)
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (4 weeks)
Electives (three 4-week learning experiences)

Longitudinal Core Learning Experiences:

Ambulatory Care Clinic (one 4-hour clinic once a week)
Education & Preceptorship
Pharmacy Staffing – required every third weekend and coverage of one major and one minor holiday
Practice Management (Research) (11 months)
Quality Improvement

Potential Elective Learning Experiences (based on availability):

Ambulatory Care
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Bone Marrow Transplant
Pharmacy Management & Leadership
Medication Safety
Resident-directed Learning Experiences

Other Opportunities:

BLS (Basic Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support, optional)
Teaching certificate (optional)
Two journal club presentations (fall and spring)
Two formal 60-minute presentations (patient case and controversial topic)
Research project
Quality improvement project
Drug class review or monograph (determined by department needs)

Residency Leadership

Chelsea Cooley, PharmD, BCPPS

Role at ACH: PGY-2 Pediatric Residency Program Director & Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Learning experiences precepted: Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- Seton Hill University; Greensburg, Pennsylvania; B.S. in Biology
- Lake Eric College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy; Erie, Pennsylvania; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Parkview Health; Fort Wayne, Indiana
- PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Clinical Interests: Sedation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Sepsis, Infectious Disease

JoEllen Weilnau, PharmD

Role at ACH: PGY-2 Pediatric Residency Clinical Coordinator & Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant
- Learning experiences precepted: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant (elective)
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- Duquesne University; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Charleston Area Medical Center; Charleston, West Virginia
- PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Columbus, Ohio
Clinical Interests: Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant Supportive Care, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Research, Quality Improvement

Kyle Finnerty, PharmD, MBA, MS

Role at ACH: Director of Pharmacy
- Learning experiences precepted: Pharmacy Management & Leadership (elective)
Colleges and Universities Attended:
- University of Findlay, College of Pharmacy; Findlay, OH; Doctor of Pharmacy
- University of Findlay, College of Business; Findlay, OH; Master of Business Administration
- University of Utah, College of Pharmacy; Salt Lake City, UT; Master of Science – Health System Administration
Post-Graduate Training
- PGY-1 Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at University of Utah Health; Salt Lake City, UT
- PGY-2 Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at University of Utah Health; Salt Lake City, UT
Management interests: Operations, Ambulatory Care, Specialty Pharmacy, Transitions of Care, Population Health, 340B management

Preceptors

Jennifer Bonvechio, PharmD, BCPPS

Role at ACH: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Medication Safety
- Learning experiences precepted: Medication Safety (elective)

Colleges/Universities Attended:
- Ohio Northern University, Raabe College of Pharmacy; Ada, Ohio; Doctor of Pharmacy

Clinical Interests: Medication Safety, Infusion Pumps, Quality Improvement, Interdisciplinary Teams

Jamee Colucci, PharmD

Role at ACH: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Pulmonary
- Learning experiences precepted: Ambulatory Care Clinic
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- Kent State University; Kent, Ohio; Bachelor of Science
- Northeast Ohio Medical University, College of Pharmacy; Rootstown, Ohio; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Akron Children’s Hospital; Akron, Ohio
Clinical Interests: High-Risk Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis

Katie Hood, PharmD, BCPPS

Role at ACH: PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director & Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Intensive Care
- Learning experiences precepted: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Colleges/Universities Attend:
- Shenandoah University, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy; Winchester, VA; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at HCA Henrico Doctors’ Hospital; Richmond, Virginia
- PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency at Cohen Children’s Medical Center; Queens, New York
Clinical Interests: Nutrition Support, Sedation/Withdrawal, Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery, ECMO, Medication Safety

Chelsey Miles, PharmD, BCPS

Role at ACH: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Learning experiences precepted: Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- Ohio Northern University, Raabe College of Pharmacy; Ada, Ohio; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center; Chardon, Ohio
Clinical Interests: Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care

Nicholas Selle, PharmD, BCPS

Role at ACH: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Learning experiences precepted: Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- University of Akron; Akron, Ohio; Pharmacy prerequisites
- Northeast Ohio Medical University, College of Pharmacy; Rootstown, Ohio; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic – Akron General; Akron, Ohio
Clinical Interests: Toxicology, Infectious Disease, Code Response

John Standish, PharmD, BCPS

Role at ACH: Inpatient Pharmacy Services Manager
- Learning experiences precepted: Pharmacy Staffing (longitudinal) & Pharmacy Management & Leadership (elective)
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children; Wilmington, Delaware
Clinical Interests: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacogenomics, Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Alyssa Wallace, PharmD

Role at ACH: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Learning experiences precepted: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- West Virginia University School of Pharmacy; Morgantown, West Virginia; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Charleston Area Medical Center; Charleston, West Virginia
- PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency at Children's National Hospital; Washington, DC
Clinical Interests: ECMO, Sedation, Nutrition

Kelly Williamson, PharmD, BCIDP

Role at ACH: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Pediatric Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Learning experiences precepted: Pediatric Infectious Diseases (required) & Antimicrobial Stewardship (elective)
Colleges/Universities Attended:
- The University of Montana; Missoula, Montana; Doctor of Pharmacy
Postgraduate Training:
- PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at The University of Toledo Medical Center; Toledo, Ohio
- PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Cleveland, Ohio
Clinical Interests: Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics, Gram Negative Resistance

Please join us at our virtual open house on Monday, November 4th from 6-7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 20th from 6-7:30 p.m.

Register here to attend.

We hope to see you at:

PPA Residency Virtual Showcase
OCCP Fall Meeting
OSHP Annual Meeting & Residency Showcase
SNPhA X ACCP Residency and Fellowship Showcase
ASHP Midyear & PPS

Requirements for application include a PharmD from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy and/or equivalent experience, completion of a PGY-1 pharmacy residency program, and Ohio licensure within 120 days of start of pharmacy residency program.

Application materials must be submitted via PhORCAS and should include a letter of intent, curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation. Application deadline is Jan. 3, 2025.

Please address all correspondence/questions to:

Chelsea Cooley, PharmD, BCPPS
PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Akron Children’s
Department of Pharmacy
One Perkins Square
Akron, OH 44308
330-543-8320
ccooley@akronchildrens.org

Our focus on equity is centered around the concept that everyone deserves equal treatment and access to care. However, we recognize for certain people or groups there may be barriers that prevent them from seeking or receiving high-quality care. We are working hard to identify and help eliminate these barriers by increasing our community outreach efforts. We do this by locating clinics and health centers in easily accessible geographic regions, expanding our hours, offering interpreter services and hiring more providers. We also partner with community agencies that help us work to decrease health care disparities and improve economic opportunities for everyone. Please see our organizational DEI commitment at the adjacent link.