PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency

Peconic Bay Medical Center is offering two residency positions in pharmacy practice.

The program duration is twelve months and focuses on optimizing inpatient medication therapy. It is designed to further develop competence and skills in the application of drug therapy knowledge and leadership.

Residents will experience unit-based pharmacy practice during the course of each clinical learning experience and will be involved in direct patient care. Pharmacy Residents will work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary medical team and will serve as a drug information resource. Learning experiences can be tailored with respect to the Resident’s field of interest and ASHP requirements.

This program prepares residents to assume positions as direct patient care clinicians, serve as adjunct or full-time faculty for a college of pharmacy or pursue a PGY2 residency in a focused area of practice.

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Residency learning experiences

Core rotations

• Critical Care I
• Emergency Medicine I
• Infectious Disease
• Internal Medicine I
• Internal Medicine SiBR
• Pharmacy Administration

Elective rotations

• Ambulatory Care
• Cardiology
• Critical Care II
• Emergency Medicine II
• Internal Medicine II
• Orthopedics/Rehabilitation
• Pharmacy Informatics
• Surgery
• Other - Resident’s Area of Interest

Longitudinal experience

• Daily Clinical Pharmacy Monitoring
• Hospital Pharmacy Practice (Staffing)
• Hospital-wide Emergency Responsibilities (Residents are expected to attend all codes, including stroke codes and rapid responses.)
• Preceptor to APPE and IPPE students
• Research Project
• Teaching Certificate Program

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Application process

Applicants interested in the pharmacy residency training program at Peconic Bay Medical Center should apply using the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).

We require the following documents be submitted through the PhORCAS site as part of our application packet. Essential application information includes:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Intent
• Official Pharmacy School Transcripts
• Three (3) Letters of Professional Recommendations

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Current residents

Yaxun (Jerry) Jing

Education	University of Michigan College of Pharmacy Ann Arbor, MI
Professional Organizations	ASHP, APhA, NYSCHP, LISHP
Interests	Ambulatory Care, Oncology, Investigational Drug Services, Health Informatics

Kayla McReynolds

Education	The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Professional Organizations	ASHP, APhA, NYSCHP, LISHP
Interests	Ambulatory Care, Cardiology, Endocrinology

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Past residents

Residency year 2019-2020

Michael Cucuzza

Education	University of New England College of Pharmacy Portland, ME
Professional Organizations	ASHP, NYSCHP, LISHP
Interests	Ambulatory Care, Oncology, Psychiatry

Robert Rotunno

Education	University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy Buffalo, NY
Professional Organizations	ASHP, NYSCHP, LISHP
Interests	Ambulatory Care, Intensive Care, Cardiology

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Faculty staff and preceptors

Brenden Van Slyke, PharmD
Program Coordinator
Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator
Dr. Van Slyke is the Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator. He received his PharmD from MCPHS University. He completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency at Plainview Hospital in 2016. 

Robert Hickey, RPh 
Program Director
Director of Pharmacy
Mr. Hickey is the Director of Pharmacy and Residency Program Director. He received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from St. John’s University.

Arfa Rehman, PharmD
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Dr. Rehman is a clinical staff pharmacist with a focus on transitions of care. She received her PharmD from St. Johns University. She completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency at Huntington Hospital in 2018.

Elizabeth Vaccaro, RPh
Clinical Staff Pharmacist 
Ms. Vaccaro is the Clinical Staff Pharmacist. She received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco. Ms. Vaccaro completed her PGY1 pharmacy residency training at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Muhammad Waqas, PharmD
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Dr. Waqas is a clinical staff pharmacist focusing on emergency medicine. He received his PharmD from Long Island University. He completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency at Plainview Hospital in 2016.

JoMarie Yazak, RPh
Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist 
Ms. Yazak is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from St. John’s University, is certified by SIDP and a member of IDSA.

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Program contacts

Brenden Van Slyke, PharmD
1300 Roanoake Ave
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 548-6391
bvanslyke@northwell.edu

Robert Hickey, RPh
1300 Roanoake Ave
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 548-6720
rhickey2@northwell.edu