Pharmacy Practice Residency in Pain Management and Palliative Care
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is a structured post-graduate education and training program intended to help the resident develop advanced knowledge and skills in the practice of pharmacy, specializing in pain management and palliative care (PMPC).
The PMPC PGY2 residency is designed to transition PGY1 residency graduates from generalist practice to specialized practice focused on the pain management and palliative care needs of patients. Residents will learn to provide pharmaceutical care to patients with acute pain, chronic cancer, and chronic non-cancer pain. Additionally, residents will be prepared to meet the specialized pharmaceutical care needs of patients with advanced and terminal illnesses, including pain and non-pain symptom management.
Residency Program Purpose Statement:
PMPC PGY2 residency graduates are equipped to participate as essential members of interdisciplinary pain management and palliative care teams and are able to make complex therapeutic recommendations in different practice settings. Training focuses on developing the resident's capabilities to deal with a range of pain syndromes including chronic malignant and non-malignant pain, neuropathic pain, and pain related to neurologic, orthopedic and rheumatologic conditions. Palliative care emphasis is placed on symptom management throughout the patient's illness and at the end of life.
In addition to these direct patient care responsibilities, PMPC residency graduates are trained to serve as an authoritative resource in their health systems for the optimal use of medications. In that role they can be relied upon to lead the development and implementation of medication-related guidelines and protocols for pain management and palliative care, and the development of pain management and palliative care related service. Graduates are also highly skilled in the design and delivery of education and training related to pain management and palliative care for patients and/or caregivers as well as health care professionals and health care professionals in training. Graduates are also skilled in both clinical practice research and in outcomes analyses.
Program Goals
Upon completion of this residency, the graduate will be able to:
- Practice in a professional and ethical manner, and exhibit accountability for personal excellence in the provision of patient care in pain management and palliative care.
- Provide patient care through direct interaction with interdisciplinary teams and maintain accountability for drug therapy outcomes in pain and palliative care patients.
- Develop and implement systems/processes or clinical guidelines to improve medication use processes.
- Develop leadership skills.
- Perform practice-related research, in the area of pain management or palliative care.
- Provide education to patients and other health care providers regarding optimal pharmacotherapy.
Residents will also have the opportunity to participate in numerous elective rotations. To view elective rotation opportunities, please click here (please note: document is in PDF format).
In addition to these unique experiences, the resident in Palliative Care is expected to participate in Pharmacotherapy Rounds, the Residency Management Seminar series, teaching activities and Journal Club. For more information about these specific activities, please click here.
Program Director
Mary Lynn McPherson, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE
Professor
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
20 North Pine Street, Room 426
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410.706.3682
Fax: 410.706.4158
mmcphers@rx.umaryland.edu