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Pharmacy Residency Program

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PHARMACY RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Meritus Health PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency

The Meritus Medical Center Residency is an ASHP accredited program that will provide a unique opportunity for residents to gain in depth training for patient care, clinical services, education, and leadership. Residents completing this program will be competent and confident practitioners for direct and indirect patient care in multiple practice environments.

The purpose of the Meritus Medical Center's PGY1 pharmacy residency program is to build on the 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 conducted by Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD is accredited by ASHP.

Meritus Medical Center pharmacy consists of a decentralized model within the innovative Medical Center. Pharmacists are located on each floor and work with other health care providers to provide optimal patient care and safe medication practices.

Pharmacists participate in multidisciplinary rounds and provide patient education, as well as other services, which include:

Required Learning Experiences

The following are considered required learning experiences and will be required for successful completion of the residency. Each learning experience is 5 weeks in length.

Orientation
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine 2
Critical Care
Emergency Medicine
Outpatient Oncology
Administration
Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship

Elective Learning Experience Options

The following are considered elective learning experiences, each learning experience is 5 weeks in length.

Antithrombotic Stewardship
Nutrition Support
Extension of required learning experience (Internal Medicine II, Outpatient Oncology II)
Pediatrics/NICU

Other elective learning experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability.

Longitudinal Learning Experiences

The following learning experiences are required and are to be completed on a weekly to monthly basis throughout the course of the residency.

Medication Safety
Teaching (Shenandoah University)
Projects and Research
Staffing

Staffing Requirement

Every other weekend in addition to clinical duties
Staffing in central pharmacy 1 week day evening (8 hour shift) every other week in addition to clinical duties

Required Conferences

ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting
Eastern States Residency Conference

Certifications Available

Teaching Certificate Program (Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy)
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Other Duties

Pharmacists participate in multidisciplinary rounds and provide patient education, as well as other services, which include:

Pharmacokinetics
Anticoagulation
Nutrition Support
Medication Rounds
Discharge Counseling
Medication Reconciliation
Code Blue Team Support

Learn more about the programs current preceptors.

About Meritus Health

Meritus Medical Center is the largest health care provider in western Maryland, located at the crossroads of western Maryland, southern Pennsylvania and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Serving the region since 1904, the system is known for high quality of care, excellence in customer service and strong financial performance. The new state-of-the-art medical center opened in 2010. The hospital is a designated level III trauma center by the state of Maryland, has continually received accreditation by the Joint Commission and has been recognized as a Top 100 Hospital and a Most Wired Hospital several times. The hospital's clinical leaders—more than 350 physicians in 60 specialties—help guide medical services for the region.

Clinical pharmacy services at Meritus Medical Center have expanded in the past few years to include:

Decentralized pharmacists in all patient care areas
Strong involvement in medication safety
Full-time emergency room pharmacist
Full-time intensive care unit (ICU) coverage
Nutrition support pharmacist
Oncology specialized pharmacy services
Educational initiatives including cardiac rehabilitation education and medication rounds

How To Apply

ASHP Residency Matching Program Number: 35014

Applications must be submitted on-line through the PhORCAS system.

A completed application package includes:

Official transcript from college of pharmacy
Three reference writers (Reference writers must submit through PhORCAS)
Letter of intent
Curriculum vitae
An on-site interview is required for all selected applicants
Candidates must register with the National Matching Services in order to be ranked

All applications must be submitted and complete in PhORCAS by January 5, 2026.

The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency conducted by Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD is accredited by ASHP.

Contact Residency Program Director, Amanda Bertele with any questions about the PGY1 residency or application process.

Amanda Bertele, PharmD, BCPS

Amanda.Bertele@MeritusHealth.com
Office: 301-790-8736
Fax: 301-790-9229
Meritus Medical Center
11116 Medical Campus Road

Hagerstown, MD 21742

Current Residents

Devin Sutton, Pharm.D.

Dr. Sutton was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry from Towson University. He then received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. His clinical interests include critical care, pediatrics, and infectious disease. Dr. Sutton is pursuing residency at Meritus Medical Center because he was drawn to our strong sense of community and supportive learning environment. Outside of his professional pursuits, he enjoys attending sporting events, going to comedy shows, and spending time with his dog.

Srivishnu Parasaram, Pharm.D.

Dr. Parasaram was originally born in India and moved to the United States at the age of seven. He completed his undergraduate prerequisites at the University of Central Oklahoma before earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. During pharmacy school, he developed a strong interest in oncology and infectious diseases, two fields he enjoys for their complexity, constant evolution, and the fact that no two patient cases are ever the same.

After completing a PGY1 at Meritus, he plans to pursue a PGY2 residency in oncology, with the long-term goal of practicing as a clinical oncology pharmacist at a large cancer center. Alongside clinical care, he hopes to stay involved in research, precepting, as well as helping to shape the next generation of pharmacists, just as his mentors and preceptors helped shape him.

Outside of pharmacy, Vishnu is always in discovery mode. He enjoys reading non-fiction books (currently reading Think Again by Adam Grant), taking long drives with no fixed destination, and hunting down hidden cafe gems wherever he goes.

Past Residents

Caroline Grabowski, Pharm.D.

Graduate of Rutgers University

Position post residency completion: Caroline completed a PGY2 in Neurology. She has completed her BCPS. She is currently employed at JFK Medical Center in Edison NJ as a collaborative care pharmacist covering the Stroke, epilepsy and general neuro unit.