Director’s Letter
Thank you for your interest in our newest Catholic Health PGY2 program in Emergency Medicine. The Catholic Health Pharmacy Department established a collaboration with the Department of Emergency Medicine several years ago and this relationship continues to expand within the system. The Pharmacy Department also recognizes the role of the PGY2 resident as an important step in the growth of this specialty area. This residency program is designed to develop the resident into a pharmacotherapy expert in the field of emergency medicine and will focus on critical thinking, communication, teaching, and leadership in patient care and quality improvement projects. Upon completion of the residency, the resident will have the necessary skills to function as an independent, competent emergency medicine practitioner with the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and diverse patient populations. The PGY2 EM residency program focuses on community hospital emergency medicine with rotations across Western NY in the Catholic Health emergency departments. We are looking forward to meeting candidates interested in working in a team-based, fast-paced, and challenging work environment.
Melissa Guarino, PharmD, BCPS
PGY2 Residency Program Director
About Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is a 349 bed hospital located in Buffalo, NY. It is one of the largest hospitals with the busiest emergency room in Western New York. Services offered include minimally invasive and specialized cardiac and orthopedic procedures, including open heart and cardiac catheterization, labor and delivery, designated stroke center, and multiple intensive care units. Mercy Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission, illustrating our commitment to high quality and safety standards.
Accreditation Status
Candidate status by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Affiliated Sites
D’Youville School of Pharmacy
Mission Statement and Purpose
The PGY2 emergency medicine residency program at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is a one year training program for PGY1-trained pharmacists interested in advanced training in emergency medicine medication management. Residents who complete this PGY2 will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to provide evidence-based, patient-specific pharmacotherapy and become a confident, independent emergency medicine pharmacist. This PGY2 will focus on community hospital emergency medicine however the resident will be trained and prepared to practice in any type of emergency department.
Purpose: PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 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 PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.