Oncology Pharmacist

At Mahaska Health an Oncology Pharmacist is responsible for providing pharmaceutical care to patients in the Oncology Clinic.  This role plays a critical part in ensuring the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of anti-cancer drugs and supportive therapies for oncology patients. This is a collaborative process involving communication, documentation, and coordination between the Oncology Pharmacist, the Oncologist, the patient, and other health care providers. This position has independent responsibility for organizing and planning work to accomplish daily responsibilities, strategic goals for the department, and broad goals and objectives for the organization. Additional responsibilities such as committee involvement, policy development, and special projects will vary based on the needs arising in the Oncology Clinic space. This position will also require additional hospital coverage responsibilities such as staffing in the inpatient pharmacy for rotating on-call, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Essential Job Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To,

• Clinical Pharmacy Practice:
• Inpatient Pharmacy Practice:
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Flexible and able to multi-task; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.
• Ability to deal with confidential information.
• Must be able to perform the physical demands of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance. Attend meetings, as requested.
• All other duties as assigned or requested.
• Provides clinical review of pharmaceutical care to optimize drug therapy for oncology patients through the recommendation, implementation, monitoring, and modification of individualized treatment plans in collaboration with the healthcare team.
• Coordinates with the healthcare team in planning and implementing treatment care plans to ensure safe and timely delivery of drug therapy.
• Participate in educating and counseling patients and caregivers about their chemotherapy regimens, supportive care medications, and discharge medications.
• Presents training and in-service programs as necessary.
• Provide clinical consultation and education to providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals on oncology pharmacotherapy.
• Monitor patient responses to chemotherapy, assess for adverse effects, and recommend therapy adjustments as needed.
• Participate in tumor boards and case discussions with oncology care team.
• Maintain accurate records of medication dispensing and clinical interventions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, ASHP, JCAHO) and institutional policies.
• Participate in formulary management and protocol development for oncology treatments.
• Support research and clinical trials involving investigational oncology agents, as applicable.
• Maintains strong rapport with health care practitioners and must be an excellent team player.
• Maintain knowledge necessary to provide safe and effective medication therapy, including evidence-based medication treatment, disease management, and legal and regulatory requirements related to pharmacy.
• Oversee one or more students per year. Teaching requires project assignment, oversight, grading, and evaluation.
• Participate in scholarly activity through problem identification, literature review, and data collection and analysis independently or in cooperation with other medical and pharmacy staff.
• Maintain proficiency with Clinical Pharmacist job functions to staff when needed as well as assigned on-call, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Job Requirements Include But Are Not Limited To,

• Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy or PharmD Degree from an accredited school of pharmacy.
• Current registration with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy as a Licensed Pharmacist.
• Maintain Iowa Pharmacy Medication Therapy Management (MTM) certification.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in oncology pharmacy practice.
• In-depth knowledge of cancer pharmacotherapy, chemotherapy protocols, and drug interactions.
• Completion of a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency with Oncology experience (preferred).
• Completion of a PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency (preferred).
• Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP) (preferred).
• Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMR), computerized physician order entry (CPOE), and oncology-specific systems (e.g., Beacon, Epic).
• Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work well with a team and interact with patients, physicians, and other team members.
• Required to be current in BLS (Basic Life Support) by the standards of the American Heart Association.
• Will be required to show proof of having completed Mandatory Reporter course at the time of hire or attend within 6 months of the start date.
• Must adhere to all training requirements as mandated by Federal, State, and Professional licensure and regulatory standards.