PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Danbury Hospital
The PGY-1 Residency Program at Danbury Hospital will supplement the academic pharmacy education of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions. Upon successful completion of the PGY-1 Residency program, residents will be eligible for board certification and for PGY-2 pharmacy residency training. This residency program is designed to prepare residents to become successful pharmacy leaders by providing a wide array of experiences with leaders in pharmacy administration, clinicians, and experts in research and education.
This twelve-month post-graduate program offers training to highly motivated, team-oriented pharmacy professionals on advanced patient care skills, distributive and administrative roles of pharmacy, and prepares residents to be leaders of change in the medical and academic community. Residents will have direct patient care experiences in a variety of settings throughout the year, allowing residents to gain confidence to effectively become integral members of an interdisciplinary health care team. The pharmacy residency is set alongside the physician residency and fellowship programs at Danbury Hospital, resulting in extensive collaboration between physicians and pharmacy residents both as co-learners and care team providers. The program curriculum is structured to enable the resident to develop his or her own career interests in addition to participating in the required learning experiences of the residency. The residency program will also serve to develop and refine the resident’s writing, presentation, teaching, research, and leadership skills.
PGY-1 Pharmacy Program Structure and Curriculum
The PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program at Danbury Hospital is a 12-month (June – June) post-graduate training program. The program structure may be subject to change in order
to meet individual interests, goals, and needs of the resident as determined by the Residency Advisory
Committee (RAC).
Required Core Learning Experiences
Hospital/Pharmacy Orientation and Central Operations
Infectious Disease
Critical Care
Transitions of Care
Internal Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
Teaching Certificate
Ambulatory Care
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Practice Management
Oncology
Elective Learning Experiences
Medication Safety
Pharmacy Informatics
Academic Leadership
Sterile Products
Cardiology
Additional Residency Experiences
BLS/ACLS certification
Research project
Attendance and presentations at regional and national conferences
Current Residents
Name: Ashleigh Aulet, PharmD
ashleigh.aulet@nuvancehealth.org
Hometown: Valley Cottage, NY
Pharmacy School: Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Professional Interests: Some of my professional interests throughout school include cardiology, oncology, and critical care. I am excited for the opportunity to explore these areas further and gain valuable knowledge across all specialties.
Personal Interests: Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy spending time with friends, watching movies, and discovering new restaurants. I am very excited to be able to explore and find the best bite in Danbury! When I’m not working, you can probably find me planning my next beach trip or baking a new chocolate dessert recipe that I found online and just had to recreate.
Why Danbury Hospital PGY-1 Residency:
What initially drew me to Danbury Hospital was the people. From my first interview day and tour, I felt a genuine sense of community that stood out compared to other programs. It was clear that the team truly cared about each other and about resident growth. I am very excited to become part of that team and grow as a pharmacist alongside such a supportive group!
Advice for Students/Pharmacists Interested in applying to a residency: For those thinking about pursuing a pharmacy residency, one of my biggest pieces of advice would be to simply believe in yourself. The application and interview process can feel overwhelming, but it is important to trust the skills and experiences that you have already built. Every path looks different, and the right program will also recognize that you have just as much to offer them as they do you!
Name: Elizabeth Itzler, PharmD
Elizabeth.itzler@nuvancehealth.org
Hometown: Ambler, PA. Born in Colombia!
Pharmacy School: Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia
Professional Interests: I enjoy both emergency medicine and ambulatory care. I am drawn to the fast environment and high-acuity cases seen in emergency medicine but I also appreciate the patient education and longitudinal follow-up that ambulatory care provides. As a bilingual pharmacist, I hope to use my Spanish-speaking skills to improve patient understanding and address barriers to care.
Personal Interests: I enjoy exploring new coffee shops or thrift stores with friends. I am also big fan of Asian cuisine and always excited to go to buffet, hot pot, or dim sum! To destress and move my body, I enjoy going to the gym and taking Latin dance classes.
Why Danbury Hospital PGY-1 Residency: I chose Danbury Hospital because it combined what I was looking for in a residency program. The program offers strong inpatient exposure while also providing opportunities in ambulatory care and academic leadership. It serves a diverse and medically complex patient population, which was an important factor for me. Lastly, during my residency interview, I was impressed by the program’s challenging yet supportive environment and its strong sense of mentorship and community.
Advice for Students/Pharmacists Interested in applying to a residency: If you’ve gone through pharmacy school or worked in a pharmacy setting and felt that there was still more to learn clinically, a residency may be a good next step. Residency offers the experience to increase your clinical knowledge and develop skills in multiple areas, both professionally and personally. Every pharmacist I have spoken with who completed a residency has described it as a valuable and rewarding experience.
Previous Residents
Class of 2025-26
Angela Courgi, PharmD
Where are they now: Clinical Pharmacist Danbury Hospital, Northwell Health