PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacy Residency

About the Program

Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus offers one post-graduate year two (PGY2) geriatrics residency program position in the Phoenix metro valley: PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacy Residency (Match ID# 642890). This program is unique in that it provides both inpatient and outpatient geriatric learning experiences, provides an extensive learning experience in academia beyond a teaching certificate, and partners with the Banner Geriatric Medical Fellowship program.  

Program Contacts:

Residency Program Director: Nicole K. Early, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, FASCP
nearly@midwestern.edu 
Associate Professor, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale, Arizona

Residency Coordinator: Dawn Knudsen Gerber, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP
dknuds@midwestern.edu 
Associate Professor, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale, Arizona

Additional Resources

Related Articles

Residents' perspectives: Weighing your options in pursuing a postgraduate year 2 pharmacy residency Am J Health Syst Pharm  September 1, 2014 71:1438-1441.

Managing the logistics of transitioning between PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residencies.   Am J Health Syst Pharm March 1, 2012 69:374-375.

Other Resources

• ASHP Residency Directory
• Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus
• American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

Past Residents and Current Positions

Resident Quotes

Dr. Laura Hanson, 2011-2012:  "I was looking for a residency in which I'd  have lots of variety and learning opportunities-  this program was a perfect fit! I had the chance to work in multiple practice settings (acute care, ambulatory care, research and academia) all while focusing on my passion-Caring for geriatric patients"

Dr. Kacey Carroll, 2013-2014: "I was interested in and chose this residency because of the resident's opportunity to practice in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  The practice settings were ones that I knew I would encounter in my practice beyond residency.  I also loved how involved the resident could be at the college, as academia was my career goal.  What your favorite part of the residency program: My favorite part of the residency was working with the geriatric medical fellowship team.  I learned so much from them during our weekly rounds and felt that I was a highly valued member of the team.  Why someone should choose this residency program?  This program set me up to be successful as an academician and helped me grow as a teacher and as a practitioner.  I am better equipped now to take care of geriatric patients, which will be extremely important in the upcoming years as our elderly population continues to grow!"

Dr. Danielle Backus, 2014-2015 resident: "I knew I wanted to complete a PGY-1 fairly early on in pharmacy school, but I started my PGY-1 with very little intention of completing a PGY-2.  However, my favorite experiences during my PGY-1 year were those I spent teaching.  I decided that a clinical faculty position was my desired career path, and when I spent time looking into how to make that happen, I realized that completing a PGY-2 would be the best move for me.  I also confirmed for myself how interesting geriatric patients are: one pharmacist intervention can make a huge impact on a patient's quality of life.  Geriatric patients are often having huge health status changes and are transitioning from different housing/medical environments, leaving them vulnerable to medication errors, adverse events from medications, or excess medications given their goals of therapy.  Midwestern's PGY-2 in Geriatrics and Academia was a perfect fit for me.  The available rotations cover geriatric patients at Banner Boswell (in the ICU, ED, and rehab center, as well as working with patients in cardiology and internal medicine), and additional rotations to work with patients in the nursing home and ambulatory care settings, with state/national organizations, and with attending physicians, medical fellows, and medical residents associated with the Banner Health Family Medicine Geriatric Fellowship Program. In addition, working with the faculty at Midwestern (including the program director), there are advisors for how to complete research projects, presentations, publications, precepting, and everything else faced during the PGY-2 year and in a future career in academia.   Advice and guidance is given concerning didactic lectures, exam questions, and in interactions as a preceptor for pharmacy students.  The opportunities available through this program are many, and can be tailored to the resident's needs and desires, with the goal of giving him or her the tools needed to succeed in whatever comes next."

Our Preceptors

Nicole K. Early, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCGP, FASCP; Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Program Director

Dr. Early received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.  She completed ASHP-accredited residencies in Pharmacy Practice at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and in Geriatrics from Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus. Following her residency, Dr. Early accepted a faculty position at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy. Her current practice site is Banner Hospice and Home Care. In that position, she precepts students and residents and represents pharmacy on the interdisciplinary team, providing care to patients at the end of life. She also completes medication reviews and encourages deprescribing, when appropriate. Dr. Early is the program director for the MWU PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacy Residency. Her interests include geriatrics, disease state management, post-graduate education opportunities, and promoting the advancement of the profession of pharmacy. Dr. Early is involved with the Arizona Pharmacy Association, the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. In 2021, she was awarded the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Outstanding Post-Graduate Educator Award.   

Dawn Gerber, Pharm.D., BCGP, FASCP, FAzPA; Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Program Coordinator

Dr. Gerber received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. She completed a residency in Pharmacy Practice with an emphasis in Ambulatory Care at the Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Gerber is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) and recognized as Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and Fellow of the Arizona Pharmacy Association (AzPA).  Her practice site is Banner Health Center, Peoria, Az.  She practices in ambulatory care focused in geriatrics and provides service to the Banner Geriatric Medical Fellowship Multidisciplinary Rounds. She teaches geriatric pharmacotherapy topics, the Complementary and Alternative Medicine course, and a political advocacy and leadership elective at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy-Glendale.  She has held geriatric leadership positions with ASCP, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and AzPA.  She is a Pharmacy Residency Accreditation Practitioner Surveyor with ASHP. She has spoken regionally and nationally on a variety of geriatric pharmacotherapy and pharmacognosy topics.  Her interests include geriatric pharmacotherapy, political advocacy, and pharmacognosy.

Nicole Murdock, Pharm.D., BCPS; Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Murdock is an Associate Professor at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy. She earned her Pharm.D. Degree at Idaho State University and completed a pharmacotherapy residency and fellowship with the Department of Family Medicine in Pocatello, Idaho.   Dr. Murdock has a diverse background which spans adult internal medicine, outpatient pediatric and family medicine, and managed care administration.  She certified for the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties in Pharmacotherapy in 2006.  After her fellowship, Dr. Murdock worked as a faculty member with Idaho State University for five years.  During that time she provided a clinical rotation site for adult internal medicine and taught didactic lectures for the pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy and nursing programs.  She was also the site co-principal investigator for AIM HIGH, a multi-site international study investigating the treatment of low HDL level in patients with vascular disease.  Dr. Murdock then switched gears and spent three years working with managed care and integrated health care systems.  In this role. she provided oversight for development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives as well as training and strategic planning for clinical service lines.  Dr. Murdock joined Midwestern University in June 2013 and provides an adult internal medicine rotation at Banner Boswell. 

Elizabeth Pogge, Pharm.D., MPH, BCPS, BCGP, FASCP, FAzPA; Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Pogge earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and her Masters of Public Health in Nutrition from the University of Massachusetts- Amherst. She is an ambulatory care pharmacist that specializes in geriatrics and cardiology, with a practice site at Cardiac Solutions in Peoria, Arizona. Her interests include behavioral modification, geriatrics, education, and cardiology. Her research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning, cardiology, nutrition, lifestyle modification, and smoking cessation. She is involved regionally with the Arizona Pharmacy Association, national with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Geriatric Sig. She has spoken regionally and nationally on a variety of topics and has written numerous peer review research articles as well as book chapters.  

Laura Hanson, PharmD, BCGP, Clinical Consultant Pharmacist, SRx Consultant Group

Dr. Hanson is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) currently serving as an adjunct faculty member at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Glendale (focus on experiential education) and providing consulting services in various long term care, managed care and community environments throughout Arizona.   Dr. Hanson received her PharmD from Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Glendale and completed post graduate training in acute care PGY1 and geriatrics specialty PGY2 residencies.  She works with students and residents in various didactic and experiential settings with a special focus on assessing and improving quality in experiential education.  She is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Pharmacists and Arizona Pharmacy Association.   Special interest areas include geriatric pharmacotherapy, immunizations, treatment of psychiatric conditions in older adults, end of life care, quality assurance in medical practice/education and preceptor development.  

Kelsey Buckley, PharmD, BCACP; Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Buckley received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.  She completed an ASHP-accredited residency in Pharmacy Practice with an emphasis in Ambulatory Care at the Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona.  Post-residency training, Dr. Buckley joined the Midwestern University College of Pharmacy faculty team which allows her to share her passion as an ambulatory focused clinical specialist to young pharmacy professionals.  Her practice site is the Phoenix VA Health Care System in which she is involved with pharmacotherapy disease state management.  Dr. Buckley’s interests lie, specifically, in educating pharmacy students regarding the expansion of progressive pharmacy services such as medication therapy management, chronic disease management, healthcare availability to indigent populations, and establishing long-term patient-provider relationships.

Learning Experiences

Elective Experiences are based upon resident interest and preceptor availability. Opportunities include AzPA Association Management, Death and Dying Journal Club, Patient Care Rounds with Banner Geriatric Medical Fellowship, Advanced Cardiology, Advanced Hospice and Palliative Care, and Preceptor of Record. 

Recruitment

Applicant Information

Each applicant must:

1. Be participating in, or have completed, an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency program. Applicants that are participating in, or have completed a PGY1 residency with candidate accreditation status, or have completed an ASHP PGY1 waiver are not eligible for interview.
2. Be a graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited degree program or have a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee (FPGEC) certificate from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
3. Be licensed or eligible for pharmacist licensure in the Arizona. See Arizona Board of Pharmacy webpage for more details.  
4. Use PHORCAS to apply to program.

The program participates in the following showcases annually: 

• American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Residency Showcase (October or November)
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting Personnel Placement Services - by appointment only (December)

Program Description

The purpose of this program is to use and build upon the competencies achieved in a post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency to promote the development of proficient, independent clinicians with an expertise in geriatrics pharmacotherapy. Upon completion of the program, graduates will possess the knowledge and skills to function as independent practitioners and members of a multidisciplinary team to provide patient-centered care for geriatric patients in a variety of inpatient and outpatient care settings. The dual focus of the program on geriatrics and academia is designed to prepare graduates to become effective educators of pharmacotherapeutic topics in the practice area of geriatrics in the clinical and/or academic setting.   Midwestern University and the faculty highly value teaching and are recognized for service and outreach. Established in 1998, the College has an innovative three-year curriculum that emphasizes the integration of science and practice in the development and application of professional skills. We are housed in modern facilities, including a Clinical Skills & Simulation Center, on a scenic 140-acre campus in the northwest Phoenix Valley. The University's location provides easy access to the red rocks of Sedona, the alpine amenities of Flagstaff, and the beautiful Grand Canyon.

Program Contacts

Residency Program Director: 

Nicole K. Early, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, FASCP
nearly@midwestern.edu 
Associate Professor, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale, Arizona

Residency Coordinator: 

Dawn Knudsen Gerber, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP
dknuds@midwestern.edu 
Associate Professor, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale, Arizona

Current Resident: 

Andrea Callas, PharmD
acalla@midwestern.edu
PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacy Resident 2023-2024, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale, Arizona

Our Vision:

We will prepare the resident to provide high quality, person-centered care directed by geriatrics principles, integrate geriatric concepts into health professional education, and develop an individual's geriatric practice management.

Strategies for Achieving our Vision:

• Seeking prospective residents that are passionate about geriatric patient care, eager to take initiative, and interested in teaching.
• Providing a resident-centered learning environment.
• Engaging and supporting residents in all aspects of professional development, including service, leadership, and scholarly activity.
• Exposing residents to key elements of academia beyond precepting and lecturing.
• Recruiting and retaining preceptors that are passionate about geriatric patient care, engaged in personal preceptor development, and contributing to the geriatric body of knowledge.
• Maintaining and developing a variety of experiences in diverse geriatric patient care settings.

More Information

• American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
• ASHP Residency Directory
• Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus