The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at South Shore University Hospital is a twelve-month structured training program in a variety of pharmacy practice settings. The program is tailored to meet the needs and interests of the resident and designed to enhance the resident’s skills and competence in providing optimal pharmaceutical care. As part of the training, the resident will develop a broad understanding of pharmacotherapeutic principles, ethical and socioeconomic issues affecting medical care and pharmacy practice. Our program is actively committed to building and fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where our residents feel respected, valued, and empowered to represent South Shore University Hospital. The goal of the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at South Shore University Hospital is to accelerate the growth of pharmacists through provision of medication related patient care, pharmacy practice management, and operational services.

Clinical Training 

The program will be individualized to meet the needs and interests of the resident to further develop skills in the medication use process and inpatient medication therapy management. Residents will have the opportunity to

• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams including medical providers, nursing, advanced care practitioners, and pharmacy.
• Receive guidance from experienced clinical pharmacists to obtain the skills required to effectively manage patients across the spectrum of illness severity.
• Network with fellow pharmacy residents and practicing clinicians through professional membership and conferences.
• Serve as a source of drug information, fielding questions real time and participating in education opportunities for medical providers, other healthcare professionals, students, patients, and the community.

For more than a century, South Shore University Hospital has been providing quality care to the people in our community. We are dedicated to bringing exceptional care closer to home, which is why over the past few years, we have expanded several key services, including Cardiology, Orthopedics, Neuroscience and Women's Health. Our hospital offers a full range of medical and mental health care services that are tailored to the needs of families and individuals throughout the local area. We're here to serve a diverse population with innovative and effective programs that promote health in fundamental ways.

Residency Learning Experiences

Core 

• Administration
• Critical Care, Medical 
• Critical Care, Neurosurgical 
• Emergency Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Internal Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Unit-Based Pharmacy

Elective

• Ambulatory Care, Infectious Diseases & HIV
• Ambulatory Care, Oncology
• Clinical Informatics
• Critical Care, Cardiothoracic
• Psychiatry

Longitudinal   

• Administrative Duties
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Patient Education
• Community Outreach
• Internal Publications
• Medication Use Evaluation
• Research Project / Manuscript
• Staffing Responsibilities
• Student Preceptorship
• Teaching Certification 

Pharmacy Director

Jack Kann, BS, MPh, MBA
Current position: Director of Pharmacy
Rotation: Administration
Pharmacy school: Northeastern University; Long Island University; Adelphi University
Areas of interest/research: Leadership, pharmacy operations

Program Director

Vani Thiyagarajan, PharmD, BCPS
Current position: Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Residency Program Director
Rotation: Administration, Clinical Informatics, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry
Pharmacy school: St. John’s University
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: Christiana Care Hospital
Areas of interest/research: Diabetes, psychiatry, medication safety

Preceptors

Christine Garibotto, PharmD, BCPS
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Infectious Diseases
Pharmacy school: Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Areas of interest/research: Infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship

Ilsim Kim, PharmD, BCCCP
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Critical Care, Medical; Critical Care, Cardiothoracic
Pharmacy school: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System
Areas of interest/research: Critical care, cardiology

Vincenza Maiello, PharmD
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Emergency Medicine
Pharmacy school: St. John’s University
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: Stony Brook University Hospital
PGY-2 pharmacy residency: The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Areas of interest/research: Emergency medicine, critical care

David Menendez, PharmD
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Critical Care, Neurosurgery
Pharmacy school: St. John's University
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: South Shore University Hospital
Areas of interest/research: Neurological/surgical critical care, bariatric surgery

Jessica Morales, PharmD
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Emergency Medicine
Pharmacy school: St. John’s University
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: South Shore University Hospital
Areas of interest/research: Emergency medicine, critical care

Wynter Waite, PharmD
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Pediatrics
Pharmacy school: Hampton University School of Pharmacy
PGY-1 pharmacy residency: Long Island Jewish Valley Stream
PGY-2 pharmacy residency: Cohen Children's Medical Center
Areas of interest/research: Pediatrics, infectious disease, hematology

Kanwal Zahidi, PharmD, BCPS
Current position: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rotation: Unit-Based Pharmacy
Pharmacy school: St. John’s University; University of Florida
Areas of interest/research: Pain management, oncology, informatics

Requirements 

Applicants interested in the pharmacy residency training program at South Shore University Hospital should submit applications via the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS™).

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of intent (2 pages maximum)
• Official college of pharmacy transcript
• Three letters of recommendation

For more information or questions: 

Website: Residency in Pharmacy at South Shore University Hospital | Northwell Health

Contact:
Vani Thiyagarajan, PharmD, BCPS
vthiyagara@northwell.edu

About South Shore University Hospital

South Shore University Hospital is Northwell’s most eastern tertiary hospital and Level II trauma center. We are an integral member of Long Island’s South Shore community, providing quality care to our neighbors for over 100 years. Our centers of excellence include heart and lung, orthopedics, neuroscience, and women’s health. As a member of Northwell Health, South Shore University Hospital strives to improve the health of the communities it serves and is committed to providing the highest quality clinical care; educating the current and future generations of healthcare professionals and caring for the entire community.

Connections working at South Shore University Hospital