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Residency Program

Pharmacotherapy Residency Program

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) Feik School of Pharmacy Pharmacotherapy Residency Program focuses on patient care, teaching, service and scholarly activity. The program is designed to provide pharmacy graduates with a positive environment to sharpen the skills required to excel as clinicians and educators. After program completion, the resident is well-equipped to function effectively as a pharmacotherapy specialist or clinical faculty member.

Resident Advisory Council 2026-2027

The following components are central to the 24-month Pharmacotherapy Residency Program:

Clinical Experiences: Provide clinical services in a variety of inpatient and outpatient practice settings.
Teaching: Complete a longitudinal teaching certificate program with both didactic and small group teaching experiences.
Scholarship: Create scholarship, including the completion and submission of two peer-reviewed articles (one original research article and one additional article).
Service: Contribute a required service component of eight hours per year.

General Information

General Information about the University of the Incarnate Word:

UIW is a faith-based university founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The University is committed to educational excellence with an emphasis on the development of the whole person. The core values of the UIW Mission are faith, service, innovation, truth and education.

Founded in 2004, the Feik School of Pharmacy embraces the Mission of the University as it develops a group of faculty, students and residents dedicated to impacting the healthcare needs of our community and the nation. In 2010, the Feik School of Pharmacy started a 24-month pharmacotherapy residency program to continue the Mission values of education and service.

The Feik School of Pharmacy has more than 20 pharmacy practice faculty with expertise in multiple clinical areas, including ambulatory care, cardiology, critical care, geriatrics, infectious diseases, internal/family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and solid organ transplant.

Residency Rotations Overview

UIW Pharmacotherapy residents have eight required and four elective rotations in postgraduate year one (PGY1). Postgraduate year two (PGY2) residents will complete four required and eight elective rotations.

Rotation experiences are designed to afford the pharmacotherapy resident a broad array of learning environments in a variety of settings. Rotation sites include inpatient and outpatient settings throughout San Antonio, including University Health (Level I trauma center), South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Methodist Healthcare, and Christus Santa Rosa Health System.

Elective opportunities include administration/management, anticoagulation, ambulatory care, cardiology, critical care, diabetes care, emergency medicine, geriatrics, infectious diseases, internal/family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and solid organ transplant and others as identified based on resident interest.

How to Apply

The deadline for applications is January 1^st.

Interested candidates should apply via Cardinal talent and submit the following:
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of intent
- Unofficial transcripts
In addition, candidates should request three letters of recommendation from professional references of the applicant’s choosing. The letters’ of recommendation should be directly submitted by the reference to berman@uiwtx.edu.

Clinical Rotation Schedule

Year 1

Internal/Family Medicine (two months)
Adult Primary Care (two months)
Drug Information/Orientation (one month)
Critical Care (one month)
Infectious Disease (one month)
Research (one month)
Electives (four months)

Year 2

Acute Care (two months)
Ambulatory/Outpatient Specialty Care (two months)
Electives (eight months)

Teaching Certificate Program

Education is central to the Mission of UIW and a vital, dynamic part of the profession of pharmacy. All residents are expected to complete a two-year teaching certificate program.

Components of the teaching certificate program include:

Attend 12 two-hour teaching seminars.
Present at least three hours of didactic teaching.
Facilitate pharmacy case-based labs.
Create and maintain a teaching portfolio.
Develop a teaching philosophy.
Obtain a preceptor license through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

Learn More About Teaching Certificate Program

The overall goal of the teaching certificate program is to introduce residents to the elements of effective teaching and allow the resident to select a pedagogical approach that fits her/his teaching philosophy. The University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy's teaching certificate program adheres to national guidelines for such programs through requirement of a self-reflective teaching philosophy, assignment of a teaching mentor, interactive seminars on core pedagogy topics, participation in a variety of teaching activities, and clear criteria for achievement of the previous guidelines.

In order to earn a teaching certificate, the resident must document:

Active participation in 12 seminars on effective teaching during the first and second year of residency
Facilitate 20 small group labs in the Applied Pharmacy Care courses or Pharmacotherapy Conference
At least three hours of faculty-mentored didactic teaching during the second year of residency
Submission of a teaching portfolio for review prior to completion of the second year of residency

There are five required components of the pharmacy resident's teaching portfolio:

A teaching philosophy
Teaching goals
Documentation of teaching experience
Teaching reflections
Appendix of teaching materials

Teaching certificate seminars include the following topics:

Student integrity and civility
Introduction to teaching strategies and learning styles
Learning objectives and domains of learning
Dealing with student feedback
Assessing student learning
Creating a syllabus
Experiential education
Active learning strategies in large classrooms
Collaborative learning
Teaching philosophy: a reflective card-sort exercise
Creating a teaching portfolio

Research and Presentations

Research and dissemination of knowledge are important activities for all clinical pharmacists and educators.

In this program, the resident is expected to:

Complete at least one major research project and submit it for publication.
Create one major research project and obtain IRB approval.
Complete at least one additional peer-reviewed article and submit for publication.
Present research findings as a PGY2 at the ALCALDE Southwest Leadership Conference.
Present one continuing education seminar through a professional organization.
Present one formal presentation per year in Controversies in Clinical Therapeutics seminar.
Participate in one peer review of a manuscript.
Present one poster or platform presentation at a professional meeting.

Please see the "Research and Presentations" accordion below for more detailed information regarding program requirements and past presentations and publications.

Please see the Residents tab below for information on current and former UIW Pharmacotherapy residents.

Learn More About Research and Presentations

Research and dissemination of knowledge are important activities for all clinical pharmacists and educators. In this program, the resident is expected to gain experience with clinical or academic research with a research mentor and committee. Research activities may include writing an institutional review board proposal, writing a grant proposal, writing and submitting an original research manuscript as well as an additional peer-reviewed article, and responding to reviewer comments. In addition, dissemination of research and innovative ideas is a key function of clinical pharmacists and educators. Multiple presentations are required throughout the 24-month program to ensure that residents can artfully deliver both topic- and research-based formal presentations with appropriate depth and mastery of content.

Research

Each resident is required to complete at least one major research project during the 24-month program. After the resident selects a topic or area of interest, the resident will select a research mentor. The resident and research mentor will invite appropriate faculty or preceptors to serve on the research committee. It is expected that the resident, by completion of the program, will have written and submitted at least one original research manuscript and one additional peer-reviewed article.

Residents are required to present their research findings at ALCALDE Southwest Leadership Conference and at a professional meeting of their choice which can be tailored to their career interests. In addition to writing their own manuscripts for presentation, residents must also participate in the peer review process for one manuscript. A research timeline is available to guide residents with research deadlines and requirements.

Continuing Education Presentation

Each resident is required to present one Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) approved continuing education seminar through a professional organization. Local professional organizations submit potential presentation requests to include but are not limited to, the Bexar County Pharmacy Association (BCPA) and the Central Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CTSHP).

Controversies in Clinical Therapeutics

Each resident will select a controversial topic in an area of interest to present in the Controversies in Clinical Therapeutics series. The purpose of the Controversies in Clinical Therapeutics series is to effectively and concisely provide evidence-based treatment recommendations on a controversial topic after an evaluation of appropriate evidence. Other goals of this presentation include development of verbal and written communication skills, and clinical reasoning.

Examples of Research and Presentations

Presentations

Dr. Markus Reedy, PharmD: Shake It Off: Navigating the Rhythm of HIV ART for Pharmacist. Presented at Bexar County Pharmacist Association meeting. March 2024.

Dr. Sarah Edwards, PharmD (with Dr. Briana Williams, PharmD, BCACP): Is there a clear role for bempedoic acid in cardiovascular risk reduction? iForumRx. Peer reviewed podcast. June 2023. Link to podcast and script: https://iforumrx.org/clear-outcomes-bempedoic-acid/

Dr. Sarah Edwards, PharmD: Ticagrelor Vs Prasugrel in Acute Coronary Syndromes. 6^th Annual Cardio Renal Connections. San Antonio, Texas. April 2023.

Dr. Blake Wassom, PharmD: Assessment of Longitudinal Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Programs in Preparing Pharmacy Students for Residency Training. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 56^th Midyear Meeting. Virtual Conference. December 2021.

Dr. Haley Tierce, PharmD: Direct oral anticoagulants in patients with severe obesity. Presented at Bexar County Pharmacy Association meeting (virtual). April 2021.

Poster Presentations

Lilley J. Acute coronary syndrome readmission rates with transitions of care pharmacist communication. Presented at TSHP Annual Seminar, Irving, Texas. April 2025. - Best Resident Poster Award.

Mattes RG, Gutierrez GC, Nguyen JV, Habib SA, Morneau K, Attridge RL. Effect of desmopressin and hypertonic saline versus hypertonic saline along on length of stay in critically ill patients with severe hyponatremia. Presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting, December 2019.

Hulsizer AL, Witte AP, Urteaga EM. Hyperglycemia post-influenza vaccine in patients with diabetes. Presented at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting, October 2019.

Publications

Truong J, Cauthon KAB. Combination inhaled corticosteroid and short-acting beta2 agonist (ICS-SABA) use for older adults with asthma. Sr Care Pharm. 2025; 40: 3-9.

Diocee H, Harcus J, Cauthon KAB. Four clicks of the liraglutide pen: a case report of administration error and adverse effects. ADCES in Practice. 2023; 11(4):14-18.

Edwards SB, Lam C., Thomas L. Evaluation of the Safety and Tolerability of Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors in the Older Population: A Systematic Review. Sr Care Pharm. 2023 Jul 1;38(7):276-287.

Tierce HE, Lusk KA, Kitten AK, Long C. Factor Xa Inhibitors Versus Warfarin in Severely Obese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation or Venous Thromboembolism. Am J of Pharmacother Pharm Sci. 2024;3(3).

Wassom BM, Lusk KA, Snoga JL, Wassom MB, Long CM. Assessment of Longitudinal Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Programs in Preparing Pharmacy Students for Residency Training. Am J Pharm Educ 2024;88(1):100622.

Lusk KA, La-Viola BA, Long C. Effect of lecture recording on student outcomes: A focus on pharmacy students. Am J Pharmacother Pharm Sci 2023;2:15.

Cota JM, Giancola SE, Benavides TM, Wiederhold NP. Implications of evolving and emerging pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic research for triazoles and echinocandins. Current Fungal Infection Reports, 2020.

Snoga J, Lusk KA, Attridge RT, Attridge RL. Effect of non-selective beta-blockers on mortality in patients with end-stage cirrhosis. Ann Pharmacother 2020;54(4):322-330.

Glaess SS, Gutierrez GC, Attridge RL. Clonidine as a strategy for discontinuing dexmedetomidine sedation in critically ill patients: a narrative review. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2020;77;515-522.

Learn More About Controversies in Clinical Therapeutics Seminar

Throughout the academic year, a resident presents a clinically controversial topic as ACPE Continuing Education. It is open to all interested healthcare providers and is held on certain Fridays from 2-3 p.m. at the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP).

2024-2025

2023-2024

2022-2023

Residency Advisory Committee

The UIW Pharmacotherapy Residency Program consists of a director and faculty who serve on the Residency Advisory Committee:

Program Director:

Sarah Berman, PharmD, BCCCP

Program Coordinator:

Briana Williams, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

Advisory Council:

Residents

Current Residents

Postgraduate Year Two

Monét Giles, PharmD (2025-2027)

Education

Doctor of Pharmacy, 2025

Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy

Clinical Focus

Critical Care, Emergency Medicine

Research Focus

Ketamine as the Primary Sedative in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Surgical/Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU)

Finding a residency program that would foster both my professional and personal development was one of my top priorities. UIW offers a strong teaching environment with exceptional pharmacists in both clinical practice and academia, allowing me to continue pursuing my career goals while expanding my interests. The program's flexibility and partnerships with multiple institutions provide opportunities to continually challenge myself without feeling limited in my development.

Since becoming a resident, I have immediately felt welcomed as part of the UIW family. I know this supportive environment will enable me to continue developing not only as a pharmacist, but also as an individual outside of the profession.

Former Residents

Former UIW Pharmacotherapy Residents Bios

Jennifer Rivas, PharmD (2019-2021)

Former UIW Pharmacotherapy Residents Keep in Touch

Residency Alumni Newsletter August 2025 (pdf)

Residency Alumni Newsletter August 2024 (pdf)

Residency Alumni Newsletter August 2023 (pdf)

Residency Alumni Newsletter August 2022 (pdf)

The UIW Pharmacotherapy Residency would like to keep in touch with the residency alumni. Please submit professional and personal updates including change of address or employment via the Resident Information Update Form.