Alberta Health Services (Cardiology Program)

Address:
2C2 Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre
8440-112 ST
Edmonton, AB, T6G  2B7

Director:
Dr. Tania Mysak, BSP, PharmD
Director, Practice, AHS Pharmacy Services
Phone: 780-735-0770

Coordinators/Contacts:
Dr. Sheri Koshman, BScPharm, PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP
Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), University of Alberta
Phone: 780-407-2045

Dr. Glen Pearson, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, FCSHP, FCCS
Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), University of Alberta
Phone: 780-407-2044

Program

Type: Cardiology

Focus: Cardiovascular care across the spectrum of healthcare

Established in: 2019

# Positions: 1

Est. stipend: $50,850 per annum

Benefits: Yes

Vacation/holiday leave: 10 days

Education/conference leave: Budget and time provided to support residents to attend conferences will be reviewed each year

Start date: July 2, 2024 / Negotiable on an individual basis 

Application deadline: January 19, 2024

Application Requirements:

Please email the following by the application deadline to Dr. Sheri Koshman, skoshman@ualberta.ca:

Curriculum Vitae (include a list of clinical rotations from residency and/or PharmD program)
-    Letter of Intent (maximum 500 words)
-    Reference letter including a Performance Summary from Coordinator of past Residency Program (if completed within the past 3 years) OR most recent Academic Transcripts (if no residency completed)
-    3 Letters of Reference (professional)

Program highlights: This advanced pharmacy residency (year 2) specializing in cardiology is an organized, directed postgraduate program that builds upon competencies developed through the successful completion of an accredited graduate clinical degree or an accredited pharmacy residency and focuses on developing a mastery of knowledge and an expert level of competency in the area of cardiology. The residency is conducted through the accomplishment of formal learning objectives, consistent with the accreditation standards of the Canadian Hospital Residency Board (CHRB). The program has an established core of learning activities, but may also be tailored to each resident’s background, experiences, and personal goals for the program. 

This program will be offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Cardiology Medical Residency program within the Division of Cardiology at the University of Alberta. Through this relationship, a strong emphasis with be placed on interprofessional collaboration in clinical practice, teaching and research reflecting the current state and direction of advanced pharmacy practice. Opportunities to pursue a Master’s degree, as an extension of the residency program, may be explored on an individual basis.

While there are opportunities throughout the province of Alberta, the majority of the residency experiences will occur at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute (MAHI) located in Edmonton, Alberta. MAHI is a world leader in complex cardiac care and surgery. It is the main referral centre for Northern Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories for cardiac care. Our cardiac program was the home to the first open heart surgery, valve surgery, and coronary bypass surgery in Canada. It is home to the first heart transplant in Western Canada, and one of the largest advanced heart programs (cardiac transplant and mechanical circulatory support [MCS]) in North America. We continue to be innovators with programs such as MCS and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).  For more information on MAHI: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/maz/Page15281.aspx

This program aims to have pharmacy residents practice to full scope in the province of Alberta, including history taking, physical examinations, ordering of laboratory parameter, basic interpretation of diagnostic tests and prescribing. Cardiovascular areas can be individualized based on interest, but will span the spectrum of cardiovascular care including primary and secondary prevention, inpatient and outpatient care. Skills and knowledge gained as part of this residency will be transferable to other practice environments.

We are looking for individuals who have made a career decision to become leaders in health-system or institutional pharmacy practice. Individuals should hold high professional ideals, are committed to continued learning and wish to become experts and leaders in cardiology. 

Activities:

  • Activities:
  • Direct Patient Care
  • Research 
  • Teaching 
  • Quality Improvement
  • Attendance at MAHI Cardiology Rounds
  • Attendance of local or regional CSHP conferences
  • Attendance at a major cardiology focused conference 

Research and Publication Opportunities:

  • Major research project related to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy
  • Manuscript peer review

Teaching Opportunities:
Opportunity to receive a clinical academic colleague appointment with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta and participate in the following:

Undergraduate teaching: 
  • Classroom (didactic/small group)
  • Residency (Year 1)
    • Clinical preceptorship
Postgraduate medical teaching:
  • Classroom (didactic): Cardiology Core Curriculum,  Academic Half-days

Rotations: 

  • Cardiology Critical Care
  • Cardiology / Cardiovascular Surgery Wards
  • Cardiovascular Surgery/Critical Care 
  • Cardiology Clinics** (Intro / Advanced)
  • Heart failure 
  • Advanced heart failure (heart transplant, mechanical circulatory support) 
  • Research Project (longitudinal)
  • Quality Improvement (longitudinal)
  • Academic teaching (longitudinal)

*Credit will not be given for previous rotations, but rotations may be modified to meet learners needs 
** Clinics will be a combination of clinic and may include those listed in elective

Elective rotations:

  • Atrial fibrillation clinic
  • Risk Reduction Clinic 
  • Hypertension Clinic 
  • Cardio-oncology Clinic
  • Diabetes Clinic
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation 
  • Anticoagulation Management Service
  • Maternal Heart Heath Clinic
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Research 


Minimum required credentials:

Credentials: Applicants should hold a Year 1 Pharmacy Practice Residency (ACPR) and / or a post baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy or Master’s Degree in advanced pharmacotherapy prior to starting the advanced pharmacy residency (Year 2).  

Licensure: Candidates must be eligible for licensure or licensed with the Alberta College of Pharmacy. Successful applicants will be required to have or obtain Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) within 4 months of starting the program.

 

Organization

Type:  Variable, tertiary, quaternary

Number of beds: Variable depending on site

Sites:

  • Edmonton:
    • Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute
    • Kaye Edmonton Clinic
    • University of Alberta Hospital
    • CK Hui Heart Centre / Royal Alexandra Hospital
       
  • Calgary:
    • Libin Cardiovascular Institute

 

Graduates
2022-2023 Theresa Eberhardt
2021-2022 Hazal Babadagli
2020-2021 N/A
2019-2020 Emily Cowley