Medication-Use Safety and Policy Program

Our combined PGY1 and PGY2 Medication-Use Safety and Policy (MUSP) program aims to ensure you develop the knowledge and skills you need to become an advanced pharmaceutical care practitioner and organizational leader in MUSP.

This program has the same rotation and entrance requirements as our traditional PGY1 residency, but includes more MUSP-focused electives. This helps you get an exceptional clinically focused PGY1 experience while jumpstarting your MUSP PGY2.

Key Information

  • Application deadline: January 2, 2025
  • Start date: July 1, 2025 (flexible)
  • Estimated stipends: 
    • PGY1 resident: $52,000
    • PGY2 resident: $56,160

Please refer to the PGY1 Residency Program webpage for more details on how to apply. Use NMS Code 319617 for the combined PGY1 and PGY2 MUSP Residency Program.

  • MUSP Learning Experiences
  • Rotations
  • Additional PGY2 Activities
  • Staffing
  • Program Staff

We aim to provide a well-rounded training experience. As a resident, you will participate in the medication-use process, including:

  • The Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee (P&T) and its subcommittees
  • Formulary management
  • Precepting
  • Developing medication-related guidelines and policies
  • Conducting research
  • Improving medication safety and quality

Rotations are four weeks unless otherwise specified.

Required Rotations

  • Orientation
  • Drug Information
  • Advanced Drug Information
  • Medication Safety
  • Medication Safety and Quality
  • Formulary Management
  • Advanced Formulary Management
  • Pharmacy Operations and Drug Shortages
  • Pharmacy Informatics

Longitudinal Rotations

  • Longitudinal Pharmacy Practice
  • Longitudinal Medication-Use Policy
  • Longitudinal Medication Safety
  • Longitudinal Research
  • ACPE-Accredited Continuing Education Seminar

Elective Rotations

  • Medical Writing
  • Medication-Use Policy Administration

Additional experiences may be arranged based on resident interest and service availability.

As a resident, you will:

  • Complete a longitudinal research project and present it at a regional or national conference.
  • Complete two formal presentations to the Pharmacy Department and one continuing education presentation for pharmacists. We expect residents to present their research project defense and final research presentation.
  • Participate in the System P&T Committee and subcommittees, as well as local P&T and Medication Safety committees.
  • Precept PGY1 residents and pharmacy students during their learning experiences.
  • Be able to participate in a teaching certificate program and present didactic lectures based on available opportunities.

We expect residents to staff:

  • Every third weekend, both Saturday and Sunday
  • One weeknight a week during your first year
  • One winter holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day)
  • One summer holiday (Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day)
Brittany Karas, PharmD, BCPS

Brittany Karas, PharmD, BCPS
Residency Director, PGY2 MUSP Residency Program
Program Manager, Medication Use Policy
Northwestern Memorial Hospital

312.695.4631
brittany.leel@nm.org

Karas is from the Chicagoland area and received her Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and a PGY2 drug information residency at Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin.

After her residency, she returned to Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a medication-use policy pharmacist. Karas helped form the Northwestern Medicine System Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee. The Medication-Use Policy team has grown from two pharmacists to four pharmacists and a PGY-2 MUSP resident.

Karas is board-certified in pharmacotherapy and an active member of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists. Before she became PGY2 MUSP Residency Director, Karas was actively involved with the residency program and has served as primary preceptor for the required PGY1 medication-use policy rotation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, including her French bulldog Mack. You can always find her cheering on her favorite sports teams — Go Chicago Bears and Fighting Illini!