Clinical Intern Program

Duke Hospital

Program Overview 

The Duke University Hospital (DUH) Clinical Pharmacy Internship Program is a year-round opportunity designed for pharmacy students seeking hands-on experience in clinical, acute care pharmacy practice. Two interns will work alongside the Clinical and Patient Care Services (CPCS) division of the DUH Department of Pharmacy, gaining exposure to key aspects of acute care services. The program's goal is to prepare interns for future clinical roles by developing their skills in direct patient care, clinical decision-making, and collaboration with healthcare teams. Additionally, interns may collaborate on projects with pharmacy staff, contribute to the clinical workflow, and engage in professional development through mentorship with the CPCS pharmacist and leadership team.

Program Objectives: 

The objectives of the Clinical Pharmacy Leadership Internship Program are to:  

  1. Enhance clinical knowledge and decision-making skills through application of pharmacotherapy principles, particularly in antimicrobial and anticoagulation management
  2. Develop patient-centered communication skills through real experiences providing patient education and collecting patient information
  3. Expose interns to unique clinical cases, management of medical emergencies, and quality improvement opportunities
  4. Support professional growth in clinical pharmacy through mentorship by CPCS pharmacy staff

Internship Experiences Include: 

  • Direct patient education (i.e. new start warfarin teaching)
  • Pharmacokinetic calculations (vancomycin/aminoglycosides)
  • Antibiotic allergy assessments
  • Anticoagulation monitoring
  • Medication histories
  • Patient medication storage
  • Clinical scoring tool/profile review
  • Attend rapid response medical emergencies with pharmacy residents and pharmacists
  • Projects identified by manager and/or mentors
  • Supporting the clinical pharmacy staff!

Participation in the Internship Program 

  • Interns must currently be enrolled in an ACPE accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program in a College of Pharmacy. 
  • Applicants must be currently in their 2nd or 3rd year of pharmacy school to apply.
  • An active North Carolina Pharmacy Intern License is required at the start of the program.
  • This internship is part-time. The intern is expected to work 32 hours every four-week schedule block, which should consist of two (2) 8-hour weekend shifts and four (4) 4-hour weeknight shifts.
  • Target start date for training is in April of each year, but there may be some flexibility.
  • This internship is compensated based on an hourly rate calculation.  
  • Parking is not included but is available for student interns to pay for during the internship should they choose. 

How to Apply 

  • Interested students should apply to the Clinical Pharmacy Internship at this link: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehr2oFcWIOac2ii
  • Please be prepared to submit your CV, Letter of Intent, a copy of College of Pharmacy unofficial transcripts, and ONE (1) letters of recommendation. 
    • Letter of recommendation may be from an employer, professor, academic / student organization advisor, research mentor, or preceptor. 
  • The letter of recommendation should be submitted SEPARATELY by the letter writer at this submission link: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PFUPDcBIFo7kPA
  • Selected candidates will be invited to interview in early 2025. 
  • ​​​​​​​All application materials must be submitted by December 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM to be considered. ​​​​​​​

Contact Information: 

Jenn Garson, PharmD
PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Resident
Duke University Hospital 
Email: jennifer.garson@duke.edu