Pharmacy Residency Program
ASHP-Accredited Specialty Residency in CRITICAL CARE
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Department of Veterans Affairs
School of Pharmacy
North Texas Health Care System
Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Center
Dallas, Texas
Table of Contents
Philosophy
The Critical Care Specialty Residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Pharmacy & the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) is designed to embrace critical care pharmacy practice in a variety of settings and develop the resident’s skills in critical care pharmacy practice, teaching pharmacy students, practitioners, nursing & medical staff, & conducting clinically-oriented research.
General Description
This 12-month residency is designed to give the resident a well-rounded experience in both medical and surgical critical care practice. The residency core rotations provide a strong base in critical care fundamentals and elective rotations are tailored for the resident to meet individual career goals. The focus of the training is to master each of the disease states established within the ASHP Practice Standards for a Specialized Residency in Critical Care Practice. In addition, residents are appointed as Assistant Instructors for the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy.
Program Goals
To develop well-rounded critical care practitioners who can provide high-level clinical care in a variety of clinical ICU settings
To develop effective clinical instructors with a desire for sharing knowledge and promoting learning among students
To promote the desire for pursuing clinically-oriented research to further the knowledge of drug therapy use in the critical care setting.
Program Activities
Residency Rotations
| Required | Elective |
|---|---|
| Medicine ICU (3 months) | Toxicology/Poison Control |
| Cardiology ICU (1 month) | Pediatric ICU |
| Surgical & Thoracic ICU (6 weeks) | Trauma ICU |
| Infectious Disease (6 weeks) | Nutrition Support |
| * repeat required rotations available as electives | Antibiotic management |
| Burn ICU | |
| + other electives available upon request |
Teaching Activities
Didactic Teaching
- One formal 45-minute disease-based presentation to the VANTHCS pharmacy staff and faculty is required
- Didactic lectures within the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy are optional and as availability permits
- Four formal journal club presentations to the VANTHCS pharmacy staff, faculty, pharmacy students, and other residents are required
- One formal presentation at specialty resident journal club is required
- Formal lectures and informal inservices to nursing and medical staff are available, and encouraged several times per year
Problem-Based
- Participation in Case Studies II and III courses within the school of pharmacy is required
Experiential
- Residents will serve as primary preceptors for TTUHSC school of pharmacy students on 2 rotations
- Other informal teaching activities, such as leading topic discussions for students, are available throughout the year
All residents have the option of completing the Clinician-Educator Teaching Certificate Program during their residency year with TTUHSC SOP.
Residency Project
Completion of an IRB-approved research project, including preparation of a manuscript suitable for submission to a journal, is required for residency completion. Additionally, residents are required to complete a quality improvement project in an area identified by the resident during the year. Upon completion, results will be presented to appropriate pharmacy, nursing, and/or medical staff. Chosen projects must:
- include generation of original data
- be suitable for publication or presentation at a national pharmacy meeting
- reasonably be completed within the residency year
Additional Activities
Manuscript Preparation
Residents are required to submit one manuscript per year for publication in a refereed journal.
Southwestern Leadership Conference (ALCALDE)
Residents participate in this regional residents meeting, also known as ALCALDE, in the spring. Residents have the opportunity to present their project results for evaluation. It is also a great opportunity to interact with residents from other programs throughout the region.
Distributive Requirements
- Residents will be required to staff one weekend a month in the ICU satellite pharmacies at the VANTHCS. Residents will receive compensation as a pharmacist at the current hospital rate for each weekend worked (in addition to residency stipend).
- Residents will have periodic activities built into the program to strengthen and reinforce skills in several areas of critical care pharmacy practice. Activities will be based on needs identified in orientation and prior experiences of the resident, as outlined in the ASHP accreditation standards for critical care residency programs.
- Residents will become a member of the critical care workgroup and attend committee meetings.
- There is no formal on-call program associated with this residency, but opportunities exist, if desired. The pharmacy service provides an in-house pharmacy on-call room within the medical center.
For additional information, please refer to the Accreditation Standards for Critical Care Residency programs: www.ashp.org
Code Blue Response Team
- Residents will become a member of the code blue response team and carry the code blue pager year-round. ACLS certification is required, and provided by the VANTHCS.
Program Leadership
Faculty
 | Sara Brouse, Pharm.D., BCPS, AQ Cardiology Vice Chair for Residency Programs, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, TTUHSC School of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care & Cardiology, VA North Texas Health Care System Dr. Brouse received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri—Kansas City in 1997. She completed a pharmacy practice residency & critical care specialty residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center from 1997-99. She became a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2000 and received Added Qualifications in Cardiology in 2005. Dr. Brouse actively participates in several professional organizations, including the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. She is past-president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of ACCP. She has been invited to speak locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on topics related to acute coronary syndromes and sedation/analgesia in the critically ill. She provides the “Acute Care Cardiology” instruction BCPS preparatory review courses at the ACCP Spring Practice & Research Forum meetings each year. She authored a PSAP-V chapter on Agitation & Drug Withdrawal Syndromes in the Critical Care/Transplantation Module released in 2006. Dr. Brouse practices within the Medicine and Cardiology ICUs and the Cardiology Clinic at the VANTHCS. Her research interests include decompensated heart failure, drug-induced complications in acute coronary syndromes, & sedation/analgesia in critically ill patients. Post-op management of cardiac transplantation patients is an evolving interest. |
 | Jerica L. Goodwin, Pharm.D. ICU Program Manager for Surgical & Thoracic ICUs & Anesthesiology Department, VA North Texas Healthcare System, and Clinical Assistant Professor, TTUHSC School of Pharmacy Jerica Goodwin, Pharm.D., received her Pharm.D. from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical (A&M) University College of Pharmacy in 2001. She completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Denver VA Medical Center in Denver, CO in 2002 and the Critical Care Specialty Residency at the Dallas VA Medical Center & TTUHSC School of Pharmacy in Dallas, TX in 2003. Dr. Greene is currently the ICU Program Manager for the Surgical & Thoracic ICU, & Anesthesiology Department at the Dallas VA Medical Center. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy. Dr. Greene's research interests include evaluating empiric antimicrobial prescribing for gram-negative pathogens in the ICU and drug dosing in bariatric surgery patients. She is an active member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter & national American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Ronald Hall, Pharm.D., BCPS with AQ in Infectious Diseases Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, TTUHSC School of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases, VA North Texas Health Care System Dr. Hall earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. His postdoctoral training includes completion of a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Baptist Memorial Healthcare in Memphis ('00-'01) and an Infectious Diseases Specialty Residency at the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System in San Antonio, TX ('01-'02). Dr. Hall became a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2003 and received Added Qualifications in Infectious Diseases in 2005. Dr. Hall's research interests focus on antimicrobial resistance, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing organisms & multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the effects of antibiotic usage patterns on the development of resistance, and antifungal therapy. He has authored several publications relating to anti-infective therapy and has enjoyed the opportunity to speak on related infectious disease topics to physicians, pharmacists, & nurses. Dr. Hall is active in national organizations including the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, & the American Society of Microbiology. |
Current Residents
2006 - 2007 | Dr. Brandi LaFrance Brandi LaFrance, Pharm.D. isa MICU/SICU Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, LA. Dr. LaFrance received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy in May 2005 and completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Veterans Affairs North Texas Healthcare System in Dallas in June 2006. She is an active member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Kappa Epsilon Pharmaceutical Fraternity. This year, Dr. LaFrance will be evaluating the impact of pre-operative intensive insulin infusion on mortality, rates of infection, and ICU length of stay in diabetic patients admitted for cardiothoracic surgery. Her current practice interests include cardiology, infectious disease, post-surgical intensive care, and precepting students. Dr. LaFrance is completing the Clinician-Educator Teaching Certificate Program at TTUHSC SOP. After finishing her Critical Care Residency, Dr. LaFrance plans to pursue a faculty position at a College of Pharmacy. |
2006 - 2007 | Dr. Kendrea Muldrew Kendrea Muldrew, Pharm.D. is an Assistant Professor at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy and Clinical Specialist in the Burn ICU at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Dr. Muldrew received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in May 2005 and completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, TN in June 2006. She is an active member of the ASHP, SCCM, and ACCP. Dr. Muldrew will be evaluating the effect of pharmacist involvement on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation team on adherence to ACLS guidelines and outcomes. Her current practice interests include cardiology, emergency medicine, and post-surgical intensive care. Dr. Muldrew is completing the Clinician-Educator Teaching Certificate Program at TTUHSC SOP. Upon completion of her Critical Care Residency, Dr. Muldrew plans to pursue a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist position in Intensive Care. |
Alumni
Dr. Jerica Goodwin
Jerica Greene Goodwin, Pharm.D., received her Pharm.D. from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical (A&M) University College of Pharmacy in 2001. She completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Denver VA Medical Center in Denver, CO in 2002 and the Critical Care Specialty Residency at the Dallas VA Medical Center & TTUHSC School of Pharmacy in Dallas, TX in 2003. She was the program’s first resident and also Chief Pharmacy Resident in Dallas-Fort Worth. Dr. Goodwin is currently the ICU Program Manager for the Surgical & Thoracic ICU, & Anesthesiology Department at the Dallas VA Medical Center. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include nutrition support, sedation & analgesia in critically ill patients, and glucose management in ICU patients.
2005 - 2006 | Dr. Susan Duquaine Susan Duquaine, Pharm.D., is a Critical Care Specialty Resident and Assistant Instructor at the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System - Dallas and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy. She received her Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy in 1987 and her Pharm.D. in 2005 from the University of Florida and was presented with the “Outstanding Academic Achievement Award”. Susan’s resident research project involves measuring outcomes after implementation of an intensive insulin protocol in the Surgical & Thoracic ICUs. Her professional interests include critical care, infectious diseases, and cardiology. Upon completion of the residency program, she plans to pursue a clinical coordinator or clinical pharmacy specialist position with opportunities for teaching and hopes to gain experience with writing articles for publication in pharmacy journals. |
2005 - 2006 | Dr. Stacey Hong Stacey Hong, Pharm.D. is a critical care/infectious diseases resident for the 2005-2006 year. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, then earned her Pharm.D. from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She has been working as a pharmacist at Baylor Medical Center at Irving for the past 5 years. Stacey holds a strong interest in antibiotic management in the critically ill population, as well as utilization of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic principles to maximize drug benefit in patients. Her research project is focusing on the utilization of antibiotics in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. Upon completion of the residency program, she plans to pursue a clinical pharmacy specialist position with opportunities for teaching. |
2004 - 2005 | Dr. Molly Mullin Molly Mullin, Pharm.D., is originally from Minnesota and received her Pharm.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2003. She completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in 2004. She was the program’s 3rd critical care resident. In addition to conducting clinical activities within the ICU, she was involved in precepting pharmacy students on the Medical ICU rotation and participated as a case facilitator for the case studies course. She conducted a research project entitled, “A Comparison of Event Rates for Patients Receiving Drug-Eluting Stents versus Bare Metal Stents,” and presented it at the 2005 ACCP Spring Practice & Research Forum in Myrtle Beach, SC. She also implemented an intensive insulin protocol within the MICU during her residency year. She is also a member of ASHP, ACCP, SCCM, and APhA. Currently, Dr. Mullin is an SICU Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan. |
2003 - 2004 | Dr. Kathy Vu Kathy Vu, Pharm.D. graduated from the University of Houston (UH) with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2001. She practiced as a hospital pharmacist with an emphasis on clinical drug monitoring and patient teaching for 2 years. Dr. Vu was the second Critical Care Specialty Resident at the Dallas VA Medical Center & TTUHSC School of Pharmacy (2003-04). Dr. Vu is a member of ASHP, TSHP, ACCP, and SCCM. While pursuing her Pharm.D. degree, she had maintained a membership in APhA-ASP from 1997-2000 and held a regional Member-at-Large position (1998-1999) in the Association of Student Pharmacists. During her term as Member-at-Large, Dr. Vu increased awareness of the International Pharmaceutical Student Forum as well as expanded student exchange site availability. Dr. Vu broadened her international perspective during her residency year by presenting her residency research project poster at the joint ACCP-European Society of Clinical Pharmacy meeting in Paris, France in 2003. She is also a member of Phi Lambda Sigma, and served as Vice-President of the local chapter at UH (1999-2000). She was the senator of the College of Pharmacy to the student body government at UH (1998-1999). Dr. Vu is currently a clinical coordinator at Methodist Medical Center in Houston, TX and is an active member of a Federal Disaster Medical Relief Team (DMAT) for the state of Texas. |
| 2002-2003 | Dr. Jerica Goodwin Jerica Greene Goodwin, Pharm.D., received her Pharm.D. from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical (A&M) University College of Pharmacy in 2001. She completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Denver VA Medical Center in Denver, CO in 2002 and the Critical Care Specialty Residency at the Dallas VA Medical Center & TTUHSC School of Pharmacy in Dallas, TX in 2003. She was the program’s first resident and also Chief Pharmacy Resident in Dallas-Fort Worth. Dr. Goodwin is currently the ICU Program Manager for the Surgical & Thoracic ICU, & Anesthesiology Department at the Dallas VA Medical Center. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include nutrition support, sedation & analgesia in critically ill patients, and glucose management in ICU patients. |
Information for Applicants
Qualifications
Residency applicants must have a Pharm.D. degree, be eligible for licensure in Texas, and be eligible for enrollment in Texas Tech UHSC School of Pharmacy. Pharmacy Practice Residency experience is required for the 12 month program.
Information regarding application materials, processes, and deadlines can be found under Applicant Information.
Contact Information:
Sara D. Brouse, Pharm.D., BCPS
Critical Care Residency Program Director
TTUHSC- School of Pharmacy
4500 S. Lancaster Dr.
Building 7 R#119A
Dallas, TX 75216
Phone: (214) 372-5300 x237
Fax: (214) 372-5020
Site Information
Dallas VA Medical Center
The practice site for this residency is the Dallas VA Medical Center. The Dallas VAMC is a 300+ bed acute care medical center located in south Dallas. It is a central referral center for the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) and is a major teaching and medical research center for both the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and the Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy. The Dallas VAMC has a 48-bed Intensive Care area in the Clinical Addition, a state-of-the-art building that was completed in 1998. Intensive Care Units are divided into the Surgical ICU, Thoracic ICU, Medicine ICU, and Cardiology ICU. Each of the four Intensive Care Units have computerized medical charts, medical administration records (MAR), bedside computer monitors for each patient, and physician order entry capabilities. A 50-bed telemetry step-down unit is also housed within the Clinical Addition. Elective rotations are conducted with Pharm.D., residency and/or fellowship-trained preceptors at affiliated institutions within the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. Trauma ICU is conducted at either Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX or Harris Methodist Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX. Poison Control & Toxicology is conducted at Parkland Memorial Medical Center in Dallas, TX. Pediatric ICU rotation is conducted at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, TX.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy graduated its first class in May 2000. The TTUHSC SOP is the first publicly funded pharmacy school to be built in the US in 40 years. The main campus for the school of pharmacy is located in Amarillo. Regional campuses are located in Dallas/Ft Worth and Lubbock. The Dallas/Fort Worth Regional campus was established in 1999, & currently resides on the Dallas VAMC campus. Approximately 14 full-time and 25 adjunct clinical faculty as well as 2 distance learning classrooms in DFW support the education and training of 60 students in their last 2 years of pharmacy school and 15 residents. Residents are actively involved in didactic and clinical teaching and helping facilitate Pharm.D. students in acquiring problem-based learning skills.