The Pharmacy Department at Deaconess is dedicated to educating and developing future pharmacists. The Pharmacy Department consists of approximately 100 pharmacists and 100 technicians who staff multiple locations throughout the health system, including multiple inpatient hospitals, oncology infusion center, The Women’s Hospital, and several ambulatory clinics.
The pharmacy internship program provides students with the opportunity to experience the broadening scope of pharmacy disciplines while fostering an educational environment. It allows students to prepare for a hospital-based career, guided by our mission and vision statements.
Pharmacy Department Mission: Be an innovative team that safely and efficiently provides quality medication therapy and outcomes to the patients and communities we serve.
Pharmacy Department Vision: Be the regional leader in medication therapy by providing safe, quality, and cost-effective programs that ensure proper medication use and will improve the health of our employees, patients, and community.
Program Description
The pharmacy internship consists of paid, supplemental positions with the expectation of each intern working a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least 8 weeks of the summer with a commitment of at least 2 summers. The interns may work up to 40 hours a week during the summer months. Additional hours can be worked over holiday breaks and other breaks. Applicants will be accepted in November/December of each year so candidates can interview over their winter break. This will allow the interns to start as soon as they return from school in May and will be invited back until graduation.
With a goal of 2-3 interns per school year, the number of interns hired each year is dependent on how many return from previous years. The breakdown is as follows:
| Year of School |
Number of Positions |
| Pre-Pharmacy Years 1 and 2 |
2-3 |
| Pharmacy Year 1 |
2-3 |
| Pharmacy Year 2 |
2-3 |
| Pharmacy Year 3 |
2-3 |
Applicant Requirements
- Each applicant must be enrolled in a Doctorate of Pharmacy program in a College of Pharmacy that is ACPE accredited or seeking accreditation, unless student is a pre-pharmacy student. Pre-pharmacy students must be enrolled in a university with the goal of enrolling in a Doctorate of Pharmacy program in a College of Pharmacy that is ACPE accredited or seeking accreditation.
- Eligible for licensure as a pharmacy technician-in-training, pharmacy technician, or pharmacy intern. Applications must be submitted upon acceptance into the Deaconess Internship Program.
Application Requirements
- Letter of intent and curriculum vitae sent to Michelle Schymik (contact info below) discussing your reasons for pursuing an internship at Deaconess and why you are interested in hospital-based pharmacy.
- Completion of the online application at Deaconess.com/careers(/Careers)
A virtual or in-person interview will be conducted for the selected applicants. All applicants will be notified of either acceptance or denial into the internship program.
Objectives
- Work in operations to understand all features of medication ordering, stocking, compounding, delivery, distribution, administration and inventory management.
- Shadow clinical pharmacists and other pharmacy disciplines to understand how they provide and impact patient care while working cooperatively with other disciplines.
- Participate in discussions and case studies that reinforce and expand on classroom education.
- Assist with departmental projects that have an impact on practice and present to staff.
Curriculum
Below is a breakdown of what can be expected each year as a pharmacy student intern. Activities may be adjusted based on the needs of the organization while taking the student’s interests into consideration.
Pre-Pharmacy Years 1&2
- Train and work in all technician positions with a focus on training in the IV room and Medication History roles
- Participate in Group Project Days
- Shadow Operations, Women’s, Oncology Infusions, Family Pharmacy Pharmacists, and Clinical Pharmacists on rounds
Pharmacy Year 1
- Work as technician in all operational roles
- Train and assist as needed in the Medication Assistance Program at Deaconess Health System
- Participate in Group Project Days and some Individual Projects
- Shadow Operations, Women’s, Oncology Infusions, Family Pharmacy Pharmacists, and Clinical Pharmacists on rounds
Pharmacy Year 2
- Work as technician in all operational roles
- Participate in Group Project Days and Individual Projects
- Shadow Operations, Women’s, Oncology Infusions, Ambulatory Care, and Clinical Pharmacists
- Accompany leadership to P&T Committees and other leadership meetings
- Complete at least one of the following: disease state topic discussion or patient case
Pharmacy Year 3 & 4
- Work as technician in all operational roles
- Participate in Group Project Days and Individual Projects
- Shadow Operations, Women’s, Oncology Infusions, Ambulatory Care, IT, and Clinical Pharmacists
- Shadow adjacent healthcare professionals (such as cardiac procedures, diabetes clinicians, or heart failure navigators)
- Accompany Clinical Pharmacists to code blues
- Assist with patient consults and educations as appropriate
- Present a change to the P&T Committee if possible
- Complete at least 5 medication counseling sessions with pharmacist oversight
- Complete at least two of the following: disease state topic discussions, journal club, or patient case
Staffing Expectations
Pharmacy interns are expected to be available for the following staffing requirements:
- Every 3rd weekend (we will fill weekend shifts with usual staff, but use interns if open shifts to be filled)
- Three (3) evenings per 6 week schedule
- One Med History shift per week after trained in that role
Please contact Michelle Schymik or Bob Scheller with any additional questions.
Michelle Schymik, PharmD, BCPS Bob Scheller
Clinical Lead Pharmacist Human Resources Generalist
Deaconess Health System Pharmacy Recruiter
4011 Gateway Boulevard Deaconess Health System
Newburgh, IN 47630 600 Mary St.
Michelle.Schymik@deaconess.com Evansville, IN 47747