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The Ochsner Medical Center PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency in Solid Organ Transplant is an ASHP-Accredited year-long program that provides the resident advanced pharmacotherapy training to a diverse population of transplant recipients and mechanical circulatory support patients. The primary focus of the residency is the development of patient care, clinical research, and education. Upon completion of this residency, residents will be prepared to practice in an acute or ambulatory care environment as a solid organ transplant specialist.

The Ochsner PGY-2 Solid Organ Transplant pharmacy residency program builds 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. The Ochsner PGY-2 Solid Organ Transplant pharmacy residency provides 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 in solid organ transplantation.

Ochsner Health is the busiest transplant center in the Gulf South region, performing ~400 transplants a year with a strong focus on liver, kidney, kidney/pancreas transplant, as well as heart transplant and management of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Additionally, lung transplants and pediatric heart and liver transplants are performed at this institution. Our program offers nine experienced clinical pharmacists dedicated to solid organ transplant.

The PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy resident will be an integral part of the health care team for each transplant service, providing comprehensive pharmacotherapy services including pre-transplant evaluations, documenting per CMS requirements, medication acquisition, pharmacokinetic monitoring, patient education, order entry, and discharge medication reconciliation for post-transplant patients. The resident will have the opportunity to develop their precepting skills while serving as a primary preceptor for either PGY1 pharmacy residents or P4 students.

In the ambulatory care setting, the resident will gain experience in managing abdominal transplant recipients. The resident will see patients who are potential candidates for transplant, those who are listed and awaiting transplant, and those who have already received a transplant. The resident will work in a multi-disciplinary fashion with transplant coordinators, social workers, nephrologists, hepatologists, and transplant surgeons to optimize medication therapy for these patients. They will be expected to see patients with a scheduled pharmacist appointment, answer all drug information inquiries, chart review patients, and participate in the selection committee.

Required (6 weeks)

  • Orientation (2 weeks)
  • Intensive Care Unit LTS I (2 weeks)
  • Kidney Transplant Service I
  • Liver Transplant Service I
  • Heart Failure/Transplantation
  • Abdominal Transplant Clinic
  • Infectious Disease in Immunocompromised Hosts (4 weeks)

Elective

  • Lung Transplant
  • Liver Transplant Service LTS II
  • Kidney Transplant Service KTS II & III
  • Abdominal Transplant Clinic II
  • Pediatric Heart/Liver Transplant
  • Critical Care

Other elective rotations may be developed depending on preceptor availability

Longitudinal Rotations

  • Research Project (12 months)
  • Transplant Leadership and Practice Management (January-June)
  • Academic Pharmacotherapy (12 months)
  • Longitudinal Clinical Staffing (September- June)

  • Research Project (“Flipped Model”) - Resident will be provided with an IRB approved project so that data collection may commence early to meet the deadlines of the transplant conferences. Additionally, the resident will be responsible for the completion of a publishable manuscript, as well as development of a protocol and IRB submission for a second project.
  • Continuing Education Presentation - Resident will present a formal continuing education presentation for each the pharmacy department and transplant nursing department.
  • Academic Pharmacotherapy - Resident will present eight journal clubs and/or patient cases throughout their residency year to the transplant team.
  • Clinical Weekend Coverage
    • Resident will gain experience learning autonomy within the transplant team by staffing as the transplant clinical pharmacist every third weekend. Weekend staffing will not begin until resident is proficient and confident with handling clinical responsibilities independently (training to begin in September). Responsibilities include: rounding with the abdominal transplant team (liver & kidney transplant teams), acuities of the patient’s on the transplant step-down unit (i.e. IV to PO, pharmacokinetic dosing, renal dosing, anticoagulation monitoring), patient education and discharge management.
    • Resident will also be required to staff one major and one minor Ochsner observed holiday.

  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Health and Wellness Programs
  • Discounted Gym Memberships
  • 15 vacation days & 6 holidays

Application

  • Submit a letter of interest
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Deadline for completed applications is January 8th, 2024.
Only fully completed applications will be considered for a virtual interview.

Eligibility

  • Graduate of an accredited College/School of Pharmacy
  • Eligible for licensure to practice pharmacy in the State of Louisiana
  • Licensed in the State of Louisiana before the program begins or by August 1st
  • Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency

Current Resident

Kirstie Freibert, PharmD

Kirstie Freibert, PharmD

Education: Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Practice Area(s) of Interest: Solid-organ transplant, patient education, transitions of care
Hobbies: spending time with family, traveling, exploring restaurants in New Orleans