Overview
PGY1 pharmacy residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.
Why choose Mercy Hospital?
An in-depth, professional, patient-centered pharmacy training experience where you can develop your professional expertise as a clinical practitioner, as well as the skills required to deliver safe and effective pharmaceutical care.
As a resident at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, you will be involved in direct patient care and daily rounds as applicable to your monthly rotation. You will be responsible for the safe, effective, and economical use of medications in individual patients through the application of specialized skills, knowledge, and functions, taking into account patient specific and age-related needs. You will also have the unique opportunity to further support our community outreach through providing care to overlooked populations including (but not limited to) those with financial needs and large immigrant population (Hispanic/Latinx community).
In addition, you will be exposed to the management of a pharmacy department and gain insight into the responsibility of accepting leadership and making a contribution back to the profession of pharmacy.
While working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist and/or other licensed preceptor, you will:
- Evaluate, recommend and monitor medication related therapy
- Recommend and evaluate criteria for and perform medication use evaluations
- Communicate with prescribers regarding medication-related therapy
- Provide the safe storage, preparation and dispensing of medication
- Provide counseling to patients and drug information to health care providers
- Act as a mentor to pharmacy students and pharmacists
Other opportunities include:
- Drug information
- Precepting APPE pharmacy students
- Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
- Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
- Cardiac rehabilitation course teaching
- Presentations
- Professional meetings
Research project: Residents will complete a self-directed project. The scope, magnitude and type of project may vary according to individual interests, but must be completed within the residency year and in a manner suitable for presentation and publication. To assist with building research skills, the residents will participate in research curriculum that takes place throughout the year.
Core required experiences:
- Administration (all year starting in August, longitudinal)
- Ambulatory Care (4 weeks)
- Cardiology Critical Care (4 weeks)
- Critical Care (4 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
- Infectious Disease/Stewardship (4 weeks)
- Internal Medicine (4 weeks)
- Medication Safety (all year starting in August, longitudinal)
- Orientation (6 weeks)
- Precepting (4 weeks)
- Research (all year, longitudinal)
- Staffing (all year starting ~September 15th, longitudinal: Every third Saturday [13 Saturdays], one four-hour weekday shift per week [40 weekdays], and two holidays)
Elective experiences: Oncology, Oncology II, Infectious Disease/Stewardship II, Internal Medicine II, Critical Care II, Emergency Medicine II, as well as other elective experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability. Off-site electives may also be coordinated with another Cleveland Clinic Hospital (based on availability).
Stipend/benefits/vacation: $56,000 stipend. Health insurance (medical, vision, and dental) and life insurance are available. Residents are allotted 14 time off days plus 7 wellness days. Professional membership stipend of up to $250, in addition to reimbursement for any required conferences.
Optional certificate programs: Residents are highly encouraged to complete the teaching certificate program offered through Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and/or leadership certificate program offered through ASHP.
Residency accreditation
The PGY1 Residency program at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and complies with the officially published accreditation standards of ASHP.
Candidate minimum requirements
To be part of Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital's pharmacy residency, you must achieve a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from an Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited college of pharmacy and licensure in Ohio within 90 days of start date.
Additional program details
Competency areas, goals, and objectives: As outlined by ASHP
Positions available: 2 positions
Program start and end date: June 21, 2027 – June 30, 2028
Pharmacy Preceptors
Meet our pharmacy preceptor team. Together, they are dedicated to making your post-graduate year 1 pharmacy residency (PGY1) an exceptional learning experience and career development opportunity.
Sunita R. Patel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Internal Medicine
patels47@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Summa Akron City Hospital
Trevor Casey, PharmD, MHA, CPHQ
Administrative Director of Pharmacy Services
caseyt7@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- University of Wyoming
Jordan Wanner, PharmD, BCPS
Inpatient Pharmacy Manager
wannerj2@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- University of Findlay
Matthew Reale, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Critical Care
realem3@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Summa Akron City Hospital
- PGY2 Critical Care Residency: University of Toledo Medical Center
Erik Wasowski, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Cardiac Critical Care
wasowse@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- University of Toledo
- PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: University Hospitals Geauga Hospital
Jeremy Hall, PharmD, BCEMP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine
hallj24@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Southwest General Health Center
Mackenzie Tenkku, PharmD, BCEMP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine
tenkkum@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Jennifer Winters, PharmD, BCACP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Ambulatory Care
winterj2@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- The Ohio State University
Akshith Dass, PharmD, BCIDP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship
dassa2@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- University of Toledo
- PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency: M Health Fairview, University of Minnesota Medical Center
Kathleen M. Robinson, RPh, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Oncology
robinsk26@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- University of Toledo
Emma K. Coleman, PharmD, RPh
Clinical Pharmacist - Lead Pharmacist, IV Room Coordinator
colemae7@ccf.org
Education & Training:
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
Current & Past Residents
Current PGY-1 residents
2026-2027
Lisa Ballard, PharmD
School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Cameron Terzian, PharmD
School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Past PGY-1 residents
2025-2026
Elias Coulas, PharmD
Manager – Meijer Pharmacy
Springfield, OH
Sarah Doyle, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist — Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital
Canton, OH
2024-2025
Benjamin Spoerke, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist – Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital
Canton, OH
Giancarlo Dino, PharmD
System Pharmacist – Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx, NY
2023-2024
Kayla Rektor, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist – Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital
Dover, OH
2022-2023
Yahira L. Diaz Cardona, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist – Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital
Hillcrest, OH
2021-2022
Peter Tran, PharmD
Specialty Practice Pharmacist – Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, OH
Enri Ismaili, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist – Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital
Hillcrest, OH
2020-2021
Natalia Dziadosz, PharmD
Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, NY
Sai Karwande, PharmD, BCCCP
Critical Care Pharmacist – Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle, WA
Application
Cleveland Clinic is committed to valuing all people through our organization, regardless of background or culture. We are committed to valuing people from all backgrounds throughout our organization. We provide an inviting culture for students and staff and care for patients with a range of experiences and needs. This is essential to fulfilling our vision to be the best place for care anywhere and the best place to work in healthcare.
How to apply
Interested applicants must be actively enrolled or PharmD graduates of accredited college of pharmacy, be eligible for licensure in the State of Ohio, and submit the standard application materials through PhORCAS (i.e. Letter of Intent, CV, the 3 standard reference forms in PhORCAS, official college transcript), along with:
- We request a minimum of one (two is preferred) of your three references should come from a preceptor who you have worked with in a clinical setting, related to an APPE in acute or ambulatory care. The clinical preceptor should be able to comment on your scope of responsibility, total patient load, level of autonomy, clinical abilities, and organizational and time management skills. All 3 reference writers should use the standard PhORCAS template to submit their candidate recommendations.
Please submit all application materials via Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).
Deadline for receipt of these materials to be considered for an interview is January 2, 2027 by 11:59 p.m. In-person interviews are preferred; however a virtual option will also be offered to any applicant unable to participate in person.
Appointments of applicants to residency positions are contingent upon the applicants satisfying certain eligibility requirements [e.g., graduating from an accredited college of pharmacy, obtaining a pharmacist license in Ohio within 90 days of the start date, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen, including testing for cotinine and attendance of an onboarding appointment on-site in Ohio, or as otherwise directed by Occupational health at least two weeks prior to the residents start date]. Residency applicants must be authorized for employment in the United States at the time they apply for the residency. Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy does not sponsor applicants for work visas.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate OPT (Optional Practical Training) visas for the Residency Program as the program extends beyond 12 months. TN (Trade NAFTA) visas are acceptable, however, the candidate is responsible for the application process and all necessary fees. Cleveland Clinic cannot extend the candidate an employment letter until the candidate has matched with the Cleveland Clinic program and signed an acceptance letter. Any employment letter will state the length of the program (12 months if PGY1 or PGY2, 24 months if HSPAL or Pharmacotherapy)
Graduates of international pharmacy schools will be considered if they meet the ASHP criteria for application to residency (“To be eligible for pharmacist licensure, candidates must be graduates or candidates for graduation from an ACPE accredited degree program (or one in the process of pursuing accreditation) or have a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) certificate from the NABP”).
Appointments of applicants to residency positions are contingent upon the applicants satisfying certain eligibility requirements (e.g., graduating from an accredited college of pharmacy, obtaining a pharmacist license in Ohio within 90 days of start date, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen, including testing for nicotine, and attendance of an onboarding appointment on-site in Ohio, or as otherwise directed by Occupational health at least 2 weeks prior to the start date).
Additional Resources
Contact Us
For questions or more information, please contact:
Sunita R. Patel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Director
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Internal Medicine
patels47@ccf.org
