Welcome! Thank you for your interest in our program. The Department of Pharmacy's mission is to provide high quality and accessible pharmaceutical care in a manner that best manages the value and overall cost to those we serve. The pharmacy practice residency at Sentara RMH Medical Center is a 12-month program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Since 2008, our program has been training residents to become skilled practitioners equipped to practice in a variety of settings and assume responsibility for patient care. Our program is offered in an integrated healthcare facility, designed to expand knowledge-base and expertise in the provision of pharmaceutical care.
Past graduates of the residency program have attained board certification, gone on to complete a variety of PGY-2 programs, or started careers as clinical pharmacists. Several of our past graduates currently work at Sentara RMH Medical Center as clinical pharmacists and serve as residency program preceptors.
Contact information
Jeremy Rose, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator
Residency Program Coordinator
Email: jmrose@sentara.com
General description
This 12-month, ASHP-accredited PGY-1 residency builds on pharmacy education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists who are responsible for the medication-related care of patients with a wide range of acute conditions. Our program offers a wide range of learning experiences designed to increase the breadth and depth of our residents' knowledge base. Throughout the year, residents obtain skills and clinical judgment and progress to be an independent clinician by graduation. During patient care rotations, residents assume responsibility for all aspects of patient drug therapy including patient interviews, patient counseling, pharmacokinetic and other drug therapy consults, identifying and resolving medication discrepancies/issues, attending rounds, educating health care providers, and serving as a liaison from pharmacy. Graduates of the SRMH Pharmacy Residency are eligible to pursue postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training and board certification. A distance learning-based Residency Teaching Certificate Program is available through Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.
Benefits
- Stipend of $50,000
- Paid annual leave
- Professional leave and travel allowance to attend residency-required conferences/meetings.
- Insurance (medical, dental, vision, life)
- 403(b) Matched savings program
Application process
Sentara RMH will be accepting applications via PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service). Application deadline is the first Sunday in January.
Commitment to diversity
Sentara's diversity and inclusion strategy has three pillars - a diverse and talented workforce, an inclusive and supportive workplace and outreach and engagement with our community. In addition to other DEI initiatives, Sentara RMH Medical Center provides an annual summer camp to inspire children from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in healthcare (residents provide pharmacy-based workshop).
The hospital
Sentara RMH Medical Center is a 238-bed community hospital. The hospital annually:
- Admits more than 16,000 inpatients
- Delivers more than 1,700 babies
- Performs nearly 18,000 surgical procedures
- Administers more than 14,000 cancer treatments
- Treats more than 75,000 patients in the emergency department
In 2010, Sentara RMH prepared for its second century of service with the completion of its new hospital and health campus, located on 254 acres just east of Harrisonburg. In May 2011, RMH joined Sentara Health, a not-for-profit health system with more than 100 sites of care in Virginia and North Carolina.
Learn more about Sentara RMH Medical Center.
Sentara RMH Pharmacy
Sentara RMH Pharmacy is innovative and progressive, focusing on advanced patient care and pharmacy practice. Services include a central inpatient pharmacy, extensive clinical services, outpatient pharmacy, and an oncology pharmacy satellite. The inpatient pharmacy provides 24-hour operations and a fully automated drug distribution system, including medication procurement, dispensing, and administration. Clinical pharmacists round with multi-disciplinary teams in various nursing units and provide 24-hour on-call clinical support. The pharmacy participates in resident training and the education of pharmacists, technicians, students, nurses, and medical staff.
Current scope of clinical services
- Antimicrobial stewardship - The Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, working with the decentralized pharmacists, ensures appropriate antibiotic utilization within the hospital. This also include several automatic protocols that authorize the decentralized pharmacist to streamline therapy (e.g. duplicate gram-negative coverage).
- Code response - Pharmacists respond to codes and are responsible for medication management and support of the code team.
- Emergency medicine clinical services - The EM Clinical Pharmacist Specialist works alongside physicians and nurses in the emergency department to optimize pharmacotherapy and promote safe medication use. They also respond to adult/pediatric cardiac arrest, stroke/STEMI alerts, and procedural sedation consults.
- IV to oral conversion Program - The pharmacist may automatically convert appropriate patients and medications from the IV route to the oral route.
- Medication history - Pharmacy is responsible for a medication history program that focuses on obtaining medication histories for patients being admitted to the hospital through the emergency department. Pharmacy technicians and medication history nurses staff the emergency department to provide this service.
- Oncology clinical services - The Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialists provide clinical services to this unique population from our oncology pharmacy satellite.
- Outpatient infusion center monitoring - Pharmacists order lab work and follow up with prescribers as needed to monitor specific medications.
- Renal dosing program - Pharmacists may automatically adjust the dose of approved medications. They may also adjust the dose of medications in CRRT and hemodialysis patients when consulted by the physician.
- Therapeutic drug monitoring service - Consists of dosing and monitoring several medications including parenteral nutrition, vancomycin, aminoglycosides, heparin, warfarin, and insulin.
- Transitions of care - Pharmacists conduct discharge medication reviews on certain high-risk patients.
Mukta Bhatnagar, Pharm.D.
mxbhatna@sentara.com
LECOM - Lake Erie College of Ostepathic Medicine and School of Pharmacy
Tamera Isiadinso, Pharm.D., MS
txisiadi@sentara.com
Shenandoah University
Laura Adkins, Pharm. D., BCPS; Pharmacy Clinical Manager and Residency Program Director
Rotations: Medication Safety/Drug Information; Pharmacy & Therapeutics; Psychiatry; Pharmacy Management & Leadership
Laura graduated from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree. She then completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at University of Maryland Medical Center. Laura moved further south to take a position as the Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg Virginia. In 2004, Laura became the Pharmacy Clinical Manager at Sentara RMH Medical Center. Laura serves as a clinical assistant professor for Virginia Commonwealth University and Shenandoah University Colleges of Pharmacy. Laura lives in Harrisonburg with her husband, Bret, son, Cameron, and daughter, Virginia.
Jennifer Bennett, RPh; Clinical Pharmacist, Inpatient RM
Rotations: Longitudinal Distribution and Orientation
Jennifer attended Bridgewater College as an undergraduate then finished her pharmacy degree at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1994. She worked at Hunter-McGuire Veterans Affairs in Richmond (1994-1995), Timberville Drug Store (1995-1996) before coming to Sentara RMH in 1996. She has had many roles over the years and currently practices in the inpatient pharmacy, the IV room, assists with scheduling and new pharmacist orientations. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling and camping.
Julia Bynaker, Pharm. D., BCPS; Team Coordinator
Rotation: Sterile Compounding
Julia graduated from Virginia Tech in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010 with a Doctorate of Pharmacy. She completed a PGY1 residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center after which she continued working for the military in several locations before transitioning to clinical and team lead positions at RMH. Julia enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and searching for great book recommendations.
Laura Deavers, Pharm. D.; Clinical Pharmacist
Rotation: Internal Medicine with a focus on Surgery
Laura graduated from James Madison University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Psychology. Laura then achieved her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999. She began her career at Sentara RMH as a pharmacy technician while attending pharmacy school and has worked as a staff and clinical pharmacist at Sentara RMH since 1999. Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and three children at their activities and sport events.
Victoria S Dinh, Pharm. D., BCPS; Clinical Pharmacist
Rotations: Internal Medicine: Cardiology; Nursery/Pediatrics & Womens Health
Originally from Waynesboro, VA, Victoria graduated from Virginia Commonweath University in 2014 with a Bachelors in Science. She then went on to receive her Doctorate in Pharmacy from Appalachian College of Pharmacy in 2018. She began working at Sentara RMH Medical Center in the fall of 2018. In 2021, she became board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She enjoys participating in CrossFit and attending local festivals. In her free time, you can find her spending time with her husband, extended family, and friends.
John Moore, Pharm. D., BCOP: Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
Rotations: Oncology
John attended Virginia Tech as an undergraduate. He then attended Virginia Commonwealth University receiving a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy. John has spent the majority of his career since that time at Sentara RMH Medical Center, where he is currently employed as a clinical pharmacist. John received a non-traditional Pharm.D. in 2006 from Shenandoah University. He also obtained Board Certification in Oncology in 2007.
Jeremy Rose, Pharm.D., BCPS: Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator
Rotations: Infectious Disease and Antimicrobial Stewardship
Jeremy graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2008, with a Doctorate in Pharmacy and minors in Chemistry, Theology and Dance. He completed a pharmacy practice residency (PGY1) at Sentara RMH Medical Center in 2009. He originally is from Northeast Ohio and has lived in Harrisonburg, VA since 2008. Jeremy enjoys spending time with family, friends, and fur babies. Jeremy obtained BCPS certification in 2013.
Lesley H Rose, Pharm.D., BCPS: Clinical Pharmacist
Rotations: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Originally from Birmingham, AL, Lesley graduated from Auburn University in 2011 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. She completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Sentara RMH Medical Center in 2012. The following year Lesley became Board Certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She enjoys following Auburn athletics, participating in Crossfit, and attending local festivals. In her free time you can find her hanging out with her husband, children, and fur-babies.
Rick Villiard, Pharm. D,, BCPS, BCCCP: Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
Rotations: Critical Care
Rick received a B.S. in biology from Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia in 1988, a B.S in pharmacy from Medical College of Virginia in 1991, and a Pharm.D. from Shenandoah University in 2001. He has worked as a staff and clinical pharmacist at Sentara RMH since 1991. Rick enjoys outdoor activities such as cycling and camping and spending time with his family. Rick became BCPS certified in 2012, and BCCCP certified in 2015.
Richard Ware, Pharm. D,, BCNSP; Clinical Pharmacist
Rotations: Internal Medicine with Oncology Supportive Care/Palliative Care focus
Richard was born in Reidsville, NC. He served in the USAF assigned to the Alaskan Air Command for 4 years prior to attending VCU / Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy in Richmond graduating in 1992. He has practiced at various sites including hospital and home infusion pharmacy. Richard has been a clinical pharmacist at Sentara RMH Medical Center since May 2004. He received a non-traditional Pharm.D. in 2006 from Shenandoah University and has been board certified as a Nutrition Support Pharmacist since 2012.
Atal Wassimi, Pharm. D.,: Clinical Pharmacist
Rotation: Presentations
Atal graduated from the University of Arizona in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Physiological sciences with a minor in Chemistry and later in 2009 with a Doctorate of Pharmacy. He completed his PGY1 residency in 2010 at Tucson Medical Center where he continued as a clinical pharmacist. From 2012 to 2015 he helped establish an inpatient pharmacist pain management consult service. From 2015 to 2017, Atal transferred to Southern Arizona Veterans Health Administration where he also provided inpatient clinical pharmacy services. In addition to inpatient hospital practice, Atal worked as a per diem retail pharmacist with Target pharmacy and Pfizer. Atal loves to travel with a high affinity for good food, stand-up comedy, movies and live events.
Skylar White, Pharm. D., BCPS: TOC Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
Rotation: Transitions of Care and Internal Medicine
Skylar received a B.S. in chemistry from James Madison University in 2013 and a Pharm.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2017. He completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency in 2018 at Sentara RMH Medical Center and has worked as a clinical pharmacist within the Sentara system since completion of his residency at both Sentara Princess Anne Hospital and Sentara RMH Medical Center. Skylar enjoys working out, attending James Madison University sporting events, and spending time with family.
Jessica D. Woodward, Pharm. D.: Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
Rotation: Emergency Medicine
Jessica is originally from Frederick, Maryland and graduated with her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland in 2020. She completed her PGY1 pharmacy residency at University of Virginia and her PGY2 Emergency Medicine pharmacy residency at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. Her interests within Emergency Medicine include transitions of care, infectious disease, neurology, and pediatrics. She enjoys trying new restaurants, coffee shops, wineries, and breweries or spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, or camping with family and friends.
Residents begin the residency year with the orientation rotation which is designed to introduce residents to the residency program as well as train them for the distributive services of the department. This rotation is followed by the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring rotation (TDM). During TDM, residents attain certifications in the different dosing protocols of the pharmacy department, to prepare them to take care of patients during their patient care rotations.
Required rotations include:
- Orientation
- Therapeutic drug monitoring
- Sterile compounding
- Two internal medicine rotations (Cardiology, Nephrology/TOC)
- Critical care
- Infectious disease
- Medication safety/drug information
- Pharmacy management and leadership
- Emergency medicine
- Ambulatory care
- Oncology
Elective rotations include:
- Internal medicine - Surgery
- Internal medicine - Oncology supportive care/palliative care
- Precepting
Longitudinal rotations include:
- Pharmacy and therapeutics (which includes formulary monographs, administrative responsibilities for P&T, and an MUE)
- Presentations
- Pharmacy distributive services
- Research project
Eligibility and selection
Qualifications:
- Pharm.D. degree or equivalent experience from an ACPE-accredited program
- Virginia licensure by August 15
Application Process
Sentara RMH will be accepting applications via PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service). Application deadline is the first Sunday in January.
To apply to the program, please complete all of the following materials in PhORCAS:
- Current curriculum vitae
- Letter of Intent, highlighting your strengths as a candidate
- Official college of pharmacy transcript
- Three letters of recommendation using the PhORCAS Standardized Reference Template