Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences at UH Ahuja Medical Center

University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center is an acute care, not-for-profit hospital which is part of the University Hospitals Health System. University Hospitals is one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems, providing high-quality, patient-centered medical care at locations throughout Northeast Ohio. The hospital is situated on a 53-acre campus near the intersection of I-271 and Harvard Road at Chagrin Highlands in Beachwood. The site offers convenient access from Cleveland’s eastern and southeastern communities, as well as Lake and Summit

UH Ahuja Medical Center offers fully integrated services with enhanced medical, surgical and emergency care for children and adults in a family-centered, healing environment. Advanced medical technologies, evidence-based medicine, and an emphasis on wellness and prevention are aspects which promote positive patient outcomes at UH Ahuja Medical Center. Additionally, UH Ahuja Phase 2 recently expanded the medical center’s footprint by 68% to meet the growing needs of the community.

The UH Ahuja Medical Center Department of Pharmacy operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a full range of pharmacy services including medication receipt, storage, repackaging, dispensing, distribution, controlled substance services, sterile product preparation, drug information, drug interaction and allergy screening, and monitoring of drug therapy. The pharmacy department services approximately 165 adult inpatient beds, a 40-bed emergency department (adult and pediatric), 18 operating rooms, as well as interventional suites and radiological areas.

The UH Ahuja Medical Center pharmacy hosts many technologically advanced features. An electronic medical record supports CPOE, and Omnicell carousel and automated dispensing cabinets are utilized for medication storage and inventory control in the pharmacy and on the nursing units. The Omnicell dispensing cabinets provide nursing access to medications immediately after pharmacist order review and verification, without the need for cart fill.

Clinical Rotations

Emergency Medicine

Colton Hill, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine

Lisa Scherer, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine

The Emergency Medicine APPE rotation at Ahuja Medical Center focuses on acute care with a wide variety of involvement. Students will interact with the Emergency Department care team in the management of patients of all ages, ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics. This will include participation in stroke alerts, rapid sequence intubations, and advanced cardiovascular life support, among others. There is ample opportunity for drug information questions, topic discussions, and medication optimization. Rotation hours are variable, with exposure to both morning and late afternoon hours. Students will also be expected to complete one journal club and one case presentation.

General Hospital

Michelle Bezek, PharmD
Pharmacy Operations Coordinator

The General Hospital Rotation at UH Ahuja Medical Center offers students a welcoming, community-oriented experience in both clinical and operational pharmacy. Held Monday through Friday, typically from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., this rotation allows students to engage with a variety of pharmacy teams and specialists in a collaborative, team-based setting. In addition to shadowing opportunities, students can contribute to ongoing projects that support patient care and pharmacy practice. We value professionalism, strong communication, a team mindset, and a genuine eagerness to grow and learn in a supportive environment.

Infectious Diseases

Natalie Kolehmainen, PharmD, MBA
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist – Antimicrobial Stewardship

The Infectious Disease rotation focuses on the review of patients as part of the prospective audit and feedback program at UH Ahuja Medical Center. The focus of the rotation is to optimize patient's antimicrobial therapy and provide recommendations to providers. Activities include interdisciplinary rounds with the Infectious Disease Physician, prospective audit on all patients on antimicrobials, and antimicrobial allergy review. Students will complete either a journal club or a case presentation.

Intensive Care Unit

Jodie Fink, PharmD, BCPS
Lead Pharmacist- Critical Care

This month-long APPE provides students with exposure to adult patients in a multidisciplinary ICU setting. Students will learn to evaluate and discuss drug therapy for a variety of serious medical and surgical conditions, including those requiring complex pharmacologic management or life-supporting therapies. The adult ICU averages 10–14 patients daily. Students will follow assigned patients and participate in daily multidisciplinary rounds with the attending intensivist, advanced practice providers, resident physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians, and the clinical pharmacy specialist. Students will also deliver a formal case or topic presentation.

Internal Medicine

Ngoc (Nikki) Phung , PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Internal Medicine

Aaron Barber, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Internal Medicine

The Internal Medicine APPE rotation at UH Ahuja Medical Center is an inpatient, interdisciplinary team-based experience where students will manage the care of a general adult medicine population. Responsibilities include reviewing patient charts, participating in bedside rounds with the interdisciplinary team, offering medication recommendations and education, and conducting medication histories for assigned patients. Students are also expected to complete a journal club presentation and/or a patient case presentation during the rotation.

Transitions of Care

Mackenzie Yako, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Transitions of Care

This is an observation unit-based rotation where the student will be part of the floor with the pharmacist. This role includes mostly clinical work, but there is an operational component as well. Responsibilities include daily chart reviews, attending table rounds, topic discussions, medication history collection, and patient education.

Non-Clinical Rotations

Pharmacy Management

Matthew Yatsko, PharmD, MHA
Pharmacy Manager

The pharmacy management rotation offers the student an overview of the typical management experiences. The student will spend approximately eight hours per day at the hospital attending manager level meetings and working on projects derived from those meetings. The student will have weekly topic discussions and be expected to complete one presentation during the rotation on either a completed project or a management topic of his/her choosing.

Additional Information

System-wide Epic® as electronic health record
University Hospitals laptop provided, rotation dependent
Free on-site parking
On-site cafeteria and café