Pharmacy Program

CHRISTUS Children's

About the Residency Program

PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program is based on our institution’s mission statement “to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.” With this faith-based principle our residents will be given a foundation for the development of a strong work ethic and will have delivery of patient-centered care as their constant motivation. The intended outcomes of this program are to provide the resident with the skills and experience needed to:

  • serve as a clinical pharmacist for a variety of patient populations
  • pursue additional training in a PGY-2 program
  • advance the practice of pharmacy
  • pursue board certification

Upon program completion, the resident will be capable of practicing in a progressive health care organization and contributing to the promotion of contemporary pharmacy services based on total patient needs, organizational requirements, and resources.

For more information on CHRISTUS Children's PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, contact:

CHRISTUS Children's
PGY 1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Attention: Aspen Wall, PharmD
333 North Santa Rosa Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-704-3467

Follow us on Instagram @christus_pedsrxresidency

Residency Program Information

Application & Benefits  

Residency applicant criteria and dates:

Our program offers two PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency positions every year with experiences primarily in pediatric patient care.

In order to be considered for an interview, an applicant must have:

  • Graduated, or will graduate, from an ACPE accredited pharmacy school
  • A Texas pharmacy license or be eligible to obtain a Texas pharmacy license by September 30th of residency year

Applications will be accepted starting December 1st with a deadline of January 2nd. We will begin the interview process in January and host interviews on Mondays and Fridays through the end of February. The residency year will begin July 1st and end June 30th. Residents must complete pre-employment health screening and general hospital orientation in June, prior to beginning the residency.

How to apply:

  • Applications should be completed through PhORCAS. The following items should be uploaded to PhORCAS:
  • Letter of intent
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Pharmacy School Transcript

All positions are offered through the ASHP Pharmacy Resident Matching Program.

ASHP Code: 74550

NMS Code: 140713

Benefits:

Residents in the program receive the following benefits:

  • Competitive stipend
  • Paid Time Off (PTO): 14 days 
  • Insurance options: medical, dental, and life
  • Retirement: eligible for 403(b) match savings plan and pension plan
  • 20% associate discounts
  • Free parking 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Travel stipends to attend required meetings (i.e. residency showcases, ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, PPAG Annual Meeting) including registration, transportation, meals, and hotel
  • Personal computer and desk space
  • Lab coat with embroidered name
  • Business Cards
Curriculum 

Overall description:

Rotation experiences are tailored to the resident’s interest. Residents will be expected to staff the inpatient pharmacy every other weekend after the orientation month.

Required Rotations:

  • Pharmacy Operations Orientation
  • General Pediatric Medicine
  • Pediatric Infectious Disease
  • Pediatric Critical Care
  • Neonatal Critical Care
  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology
  • Pharmacy Administration/Management
  • Medication Safety
  • General Staffing (Longitudinal)
  • University of Texas College of Pharmacy - Teaching and Leadership Fellows Program (Longitudinal)
  • Professional Development (Longitudinal)
  • Research (Longitudinal)

Elective Rotations include but not limited to:

  • Academia
  • Family Medicine
  • Repeat any core elective with a different focus i.e. pediatric cardiology

During their rotations, residents will have operational and clinical responsibilities for patients in their assigned areas. Besides reviewing and entering orders for their patients, residents will be involved with providing drug information, performing drug regimen reviews, monitoring their patients' responses to drug therapy, writing patient care notes, attending patient care rounds with the medical teams, verifying their patients' home and discharge medications, and counseling their patients. They will also assist with patient safety and quality improvement initiatives.

Residents will participate in journal clubs, case conferences, teaching rounds, and in-services for pharmacy, nursing, and medical staff. Additionally, they will be involved with a variety of clinical pharmacy management activities (i.e. formulary management, protocol development, and medication error and adverse drug reaction reporting), and pharmacy operations management activities (i.e. policy and procedure development, budget preparation, and quality control). They will also assist with pharmacy student education.

Facilities 

CHRISTUS Children's is San Antonio’s first freestanding children’s hospital located in the heart of downtown San Antonio. Founded in 1869 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston and San Antonio, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a Catholic, faith-based, nonprofit health and wellness ministry dedicated to extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and providing the highest quality medical care and services available. In February 2013, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children’s Hospital began to work in collaboration to ensure that the children of San Antonio and South Texas will have access to world-class pediatric care. Residents interested in adult rotation experiences will have the opportunity to complete their rotation at another CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System (CSRHS) campus in the San Antonio region i.e. Medical Center, Westover Hills.

The pharmacy department at CHRISTUS Children's continues to expand its services throughout the hospital. We offer 24-hour inpatient services. We have decentralized pharmacy services during the week in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, hematology/oncology, general pediatric floors, emergency department and antimicrobial stewardship. We have built relationships with the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy, which serve to benefit both regional hospitals and the residents.

Preceptors 

See below for a list of residency preceptors:

  • Aimee Martinez, PharmD
    General Pediatric Medicine
  • Amber Seay, PharmD/MBA
    Pediatric Oncology/Hematology/BMT
  • Aspen Wall, PharmD, BCCPS
    Neonatal Intensive Care
  • Becca Deville, PharmD
    General Pediatric Medicine
  • Cynthia Navarro, PharmD
    General Staff (Longitudinal)
  • Dustyn Tysdal, R.Ph, Regional Director of Pharmacy
    Pharmacy Management
  • Jacinto Villarreal, Jr., BS, MS, PharmD, Pharmacy Services Coordinator
    Obstetrics
  • Jennifer Peña, PharmD
    Antimicrobial Stewardship, Infectious Disease, Medication Safety
  • Kristen Brandenberger, PharmD
    General Staffing (Longitudinal)
  • Kristina Gonzalez, PharmD, Operations Manager
    Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Medication Safety, Management
  • Marc Flynt, PharmD
    Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Morris Sauter, PharmD
    Pediatric Critical Care
  • Stephanie Ramirez Irrobali, PharmD, BCPPS
    General Pediatric Medicine
  • Tina Chen, PharmD
    General Pediatric Medicine
  • Trinidad Martinez, PharmD
    Pediatric Oncology/Hematology/BMT
Residents 

Current Residents

  • Makayla Kraemer, PharmD
    The University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy
    Hometown: Thibodaux, LA
  • Jiz Jacob, PharmD
    Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy
    Hometown: Houston, TX

Past Residents & Job Position After Completion of Residency

2022 - 2023

  • Amber Seay, PharmD | Oncology/Hematology/BMT Clinical Pharmacist
  • Anh Tran, PharmD  | Women's Hospital of Texas, Houston, TX (NICU)

2021 - 2022

  • Selina Liang, PharmD | Oncology/Hematology/BMT Clinical Pharmacist

2020 - 2021

  • Lauren Williams, PharmD | University Hospital – San Antonio, TX (Gen Peds)
  • Hope Mae Abarintos, PharmD | Golisano Children's Hospital – Rochester, NY (PICU)

2019 - 2020

  • Kathryn Campf, PharmD | Clinical Pharmacist, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center – Hartford, CT
  • Jennifer Pena, PharmD | Antimicrobial Stewardship, CHRISTUS Children’s – San Antonio, TX  

2018 - 2019

  • Erin Hohenstein, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado – Colorado Springs, CO
  • Kayla Chambers, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital – Houston, TX

2017 - 2018

  • Tina Chen, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, CHRISTUS Children’s – San Antonio, TX
  • Esli Tebedge, PharmD | Pediatric Cardiovascular ICU Pharmacist, University Hospital – San Antonio, TX

2016 - 2017

  • Lincy Varughese, PharmD | Oncology Pharmacist, Northside Hospital Atlanta – Atlanta, GA
  • Holly Lien, PharmD Neonatal | ICU, UNC REX Hospital – Raleigh, NC

2015 - 2016

  • Allison Hardy, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters
  • Brittany Rodriguez, PharmD, BCIPD | Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist, Texas Children’s Hospital – Houston, TX

2014 - 2015

  • Bernadette Espiritu, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, McLane Children's Hospital – Temple, Texas
  • Marc Flynt, PharmD | Emergency Medicine Pharmacist, CHRISTUS Children’s – San Antonio, TX

2013 - 2014

  • Letitia DeLaine, PharmD, BCPPS | Women's & Children's Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Holy Cross Health – Silver Spring, MD
  • Stephanie Ramirez, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, CHRISTUS Children’s – San Antonio, TX

2012 - 2013

  • Meenakshi Ramanathan, PharmD | University of North Texas College of Pharmacy, Faculty
  • Jessica Martinez, PharmD | Emergency Medicine, Methodist Hospital of San Antonio

2011 - 2012

  • Rachel Basinger, PharmD | Texas Tech University College of Pharmacy, Faculty
  • Sara Solis, PharmD | Hematology/Oncology, Methodist Hospital of San Antonio

2010 - 2011

  • Kristen Parma, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, CHRISTUS Children’s – San Antonio, TX
  • Jessica Ryan-Soorholtz, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, McLane Children's Hospital – Temple, Texas

2009 - 2010

  • MaiCuc Tran, PharmD | Emergency Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital

2008 - 2009

  • Elizabeth Davis, PharmD | Rehabilitation, Warm Springs Specialty Hospital – New Braunfels, Texas
  • Daniel Yang, PharmD | General Medicine, CSRHS-Westover Hills Hospital – San Antonio, Texas

2007 - 2008

  • Nancy Wong, PharmD | Pediatric Medicine, Dell’s Children Hospital – Austin, Texas
  • Pamela Lawani, PharmD | PIC, Solara Hospital – McAllen, Texas

2006 - 2007

  • Michelle Omari, PharmD | General Medicine, Lehigh Valley Hospital – Allentown, PA
  • David Vasquez, PharmD | PIC, Texas Heart Hospital – San Antonio, Texas 

2005 - 2006

  • Karen Blanco, PharmD | General Medicine, McAllen Medical Center – McAllen, Texas

2004 - 2005

  • Delia Ramirez, PharmD | Clinical Pharmacist, Accredo Healthgroup – Dallas, Texas

2003 - 2004

  • Natalie Hayes, PharmD | IT, Belleville Memorial Hospital – Smithton, Illinois

2002 - 2003

  • Andrea Newsome, PharmD | PIC, Cornerstone of Houston-Clearlake Hospital – Webster, Texas