Download Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center offers a variety of

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center offers a variety of required and elective clerkship
experiences. The following is a list of current rotations offered.
Ambulatory Care Experience
Frank Herrmann, RPh
Michelle Haydo, Pharm.D.
The Ambulatory Care rotation at Penn State Hershey Medical Center exposes students to experiences in
our Anticoagulation Clinic (ACC) and Medication Management Clinic (MMC).
Within the ACC experience, the student will be given the opportunity to expand their knowledge base in
disease states requiring outpatient anticoagulation and current trends in safe and effective
pharmacotherapy. The student will provide direct management of anticoagulation therapy in
ambulatory patients. A major part of this experience is developing and improving effective methods to
communicate with these patients.
Within the MMC experience, the student will develop a greater understanding of the management of
chronic health conditions. The student will have the opportunity to provide patient medication
counseling by discussing compliance issues, side effects, and drug-drug, drug-food, or drug-disease
state interactions pertaining to patient medication regimens.
Requirements of this rotation include a case presentation, journal club and topic presentation.
Cardiology Experience
Sallie K. Young, Pharm.D., BCPS (AQ-Cardiology)
The cardiology rotation will expose the student to the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with
cardiovascular disorders. Common diagnoses include acute coronary syndromes, heart failure,
atrial/ventricular arrhythmias, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Patients are typically receiving
anticoagulation therapy for a variety of indications such as VTE prophylaxis, acute coronary syndromes,
arrhythmias or mechanical heart valves. Students will round with one or both of the cardiology teams
(acute care cardiology and heart failure/heart transplant). Students will strive to provide quality, cost
effective care utilizing the latest in cardiac technology and research.
Adult Critical Care Experience
Medical or Neuroscience ICU
Cynthia Halas, Pharm.D.
Heart and Vascular ICU or Surgical ICU
Janine Then, Pharm.D.,BCPS
Available rotations for students exist in MICU, NEUROICU, SICU, and HVICU. The clinical activities
for the student will include rounding with the critical care intensivists, daily evaluation of assigned
patients from their designated ICU, pharmacokinetic dosing, answering drug information questions
and documentation of clinical activities. Topic discussions will focus on current issues in critical care
and informal patient presentations. The student will be assigned to present one formal case
presentation and presentation of one journal club article presented to the pharmacy department.
Hospital Pharmacy Practice
Ronald E. Lay, M.S., R.Ph.
This rotation will expose students to the operational aspects of hospital pharmacy practice. Students
will receive hands-on experience with purchasing and inventory control, drug distribution, pharmacy
automation and sterile product preparation. Students will also be involved with human resources,
financial, regulatory and quality improvement initiatives. Students will work alongside the
pharmacists, evaluating medication orders and answering drug information questions. Opportunities
for shadowing in other hospital departments such as Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Diabetes Education
and Interventional Radiology are available.
Infectious Diseases Experience
Marissa Grifasi, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVE
The infectious diseases (ID) rotation is a specialized elective rotation that will expose the student to the
diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with various infectious illnesses. The clinical activities for the
student will include rounding with the general ID consult service, evaluation of all the patients the team
is following which includes patient assessment and design of evidence-based pharmacotherapeutic
regimens, and appropriate monitoring and follow up. In addition the student will be responsible for
pharmacokinetic dosing, answering drug information questions, and documentation of clinical
activities. The student is also to attend weekly microbiology rounds and weekly ID case conference.
Topic discussions will include a review of bugs and drugs and pharmacokinetics and common infectious
diseases encountered in the institutional setting; such as community acquired and hospital associated
pneumonias, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, meningitis, catheter related blood stream infections,
intra-abdominal infections, and opportunistic infections.
The student will be assigned to present one formal case presentation and presentation of one journal
club article presented to the pharmacy department, and will lead one topic discussion of their choice.
Internal Medicine Experience
Kim Keefer, Pharm.D.,BCPS
Sesi Gunawan, Pharm.D., BCPS
As a pharmacy student, you will be responsible for rounding with the Internal Medicine team. This will
include making recommendation as deemed appropriate and following up on any necessary monitoring
parameters on all patients being cared for by that team. You will contribute to pharmacotherapeutic
issues for each patient being followed by the team and monitor appropriateness of all medications (e.g.
indication, dosage, duration, route, etc.) on all patients daily. One journal club article and one patient
case presentation will be completed during the rotation. Afternoons will consist of meeting with the
preceptor to discuss general internal medicine and patient care matters.
Neonatal Intensive Care Rotation
Shailja Singh, Pharm.D.
The rotation in Neonatal Intensive Care is a highly specialized elective rotation. The student will be
given the opportunity to expand their knowledge base to include a variety of neonatal disease states and
the pharmacotherapeutic care associated with these disorders. Orientation to the service will include
direct introduction to the current multidisciplinary team on service (e.g. physicians, nurses, dietician,
and social workers), formal review of rotation responsibilities, scheduling of planned discussions and a
brief introduction of service-specific pharmacotherapeutic practices. One journal club article and one
patient case presentation will be completed during the rotation. Afternoons will consist of meeting with
the preceptor to discuss patient care matters and topic discussions pertaining to the Neonatal ICU.
Adult Oncology Experience
Jeffrey Sivik, PharmD, BCOP
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Experience
Kevin M. Mulieri, B.S., Pharm.D.
The rotation in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology is a highly specialized rotation. The student will be
given the opportunity to expand their knowledge base to include a variety of pediatric solid and liquid
tumors, hematological disease states, stem cell transplantation, and the supportive
pharmacotherapeutic care associated with these disorders. Additionally, the student will be given
significant exposure to pharmacotherapeutic issues with pediatrics, chemotherapeutics, infectious
diseases and pain management.
General Pediatrics Experience
Kevin M. Mulieri, B.S., Pharm.D.
Shailja Singh, Pharm.D.
Lindsay Trout, Pharm.D.
The rotation in General Pediatrics will give the student the opportunity to expand their knowledge base
to include a variety of pediatric disease states and the pharmacotherapeutic care associated with these
disorders. Particular emphasis will be made on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences of
medications in the pediatric population.
Pediatric Critical Care Experience
Lindsay C. Trout, Pharm.D.
The rotation in Pediatric Intensive Care is a highly specialized rotation. This atmosphere will provide
the student with exposure to a variety of pediatric surgical and medical services such as cardiology,
neurology, pulmonary, GI, hematology/oncology, cardiothoracic, trauma, neurosurgery and other
various surgical specialties. Additionally, the student will be given a significant opportunity to expand
their pediatric pharmacotherapeutic skills in the ICU in nutrition, pain management, sedation,
infectious diseases. Orientation to the service will include direct introduction to the current
multidisciplinary team on service (e.g. physicians, nurses, dietician, and social workers), formal review
of rotation responsibilities, scheduling of planned discussions and a brief introduction of servicespecific pharmacotherapeutic practices.
Abdominal Solid Organ Transplant Rotation
Tracy M. Valania, B.S.,Pharm.D.
The Solid Organ Transplantation rotation is a highly specialized elective rotation. The intent of this
rotation is to familiarize the student with the pharmacologic management of disease states relating to
the kidney, pancreas, and liver and transplantation of these organs. Students will round with a
multidisciplinary medical team including an attending surgeon, an attending nephrologist, a
nephrology fellow, surgical resident, surgical intern, transplant coordinator(s), and social worker(s) on
a daily basis. The student will be expected to evaluate assigned patients daily, provide pharmacokinetic
dosing, answer drug information questions, provide medication education to the transplant team
patients, and document clinical activities. The student will also be expected to lead informal topic
discussions related to the management of the solid organ transplant patient, discuss patients daily,
present one formal case presentation, and present one journal club article.
Investigation Drug Services
Alysse Fazzi, Pharm.D.
Heather Heisey, R.Ph.
The Investigational Drug Service experience will allow the student to gain knowledge of pharmacy
involvement in the clinical research process in a medical center. The student will be exposed to a
variety of different topics related to clinical trials. The rotation focuses on care for patients enrolled in
Investigational clinical trials, as well as the role of the pharmacy in successfully initiating, maintaining
study drug, dispensing study drug, and caring for these patients.