Pharmacist

Pharmacist

About City of Hope,
City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked top 5 in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope's uniquely integrated model spans cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its work. City of Hope's growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas.

The successful candidate:

Prepares, compounds, and dispenses investigational drugs provided by the clinical trial sponsor for research studies as well as manages required record-keeping, shipping, ordering, and inventory activities. Ensures the accuracy and integrity of products prior to their delivery to trial subjects. Ensures compliance with all applicable CTCA policies, governmental, and sponsor regulations, laws and policies related to the conduct of trials involving investigational or marketed drugs. Maintains records as required by FDA regulations and legal requirements for investigational drug services.

Creates SWIs and drug preparation worksheets for the handling of investigational drugs. Creates order sets for each research study in SCM. Reviews all protocols and ensures that all pharmacy staff are trained as it relates to the use of the investigational products or study treatments. Reads, interprets, and processes orders for investigational drugs. Clarifies orders with prescribers as needed. Accurately dispenses medications and prepares sterile products, following proper aseptic and cytotoxic technique. Oversees the work performed by pharmacy technicians preparing investigational products to ensure that performance standards are maintained and that work is accurate and in accordance with the clinical trial protocol as well as state, federal and organizational regulations.

Serves as a resource to the CTCA research department and investigators in strict adherence to industry sponsored trials and in the development of investigator-initiated studies. Regularly conducts blinded and unblinded monitoring visits with clinical trial sponsors including site selection, site initiation, interim and closeout visits and is responsible for all required investigational drug responsibilities related to a monitoring visit. Assists data management with investigational drug related query resolution. Conducts concomitant medication reviews for all clinical trial patients prior to treatment and throughout the trial with an investigational drug either in person or via medical chart review to avoid drug-drug interactions and protocol deviations and to ensure patient safety. Also attends Site Initiation Visits and sponsor monitor visits; provides patient medication education and is a resource to the investigator and study team.

Job Responsibilities

35% - Responsible for full review and comprehension of protocols and pharmacy manuals to ensure proper investigational drug ordering by investigators, dispensation, sterile preparation using aseptic technique, and administration to the patient. Ensures adherence to all aspects of clinical trial protocol investigational drug processes and procedures for the duration of the trial. Ensures prohibited and contraindicated concomitant medications are avoided for clinical trial patient safety.

35% - Creation and maintenance of investigational drug accountability records to be able to demonstrate to the State Board of Pharmacy, the Joint Commission, the FDA, and Industry sponsored drug monitors that we are complying with legally required aspects of utilizing human test subjects for an investigational product. Manages required investigational drug record-keeping, shipping, ordering, and inventory activities. Responsible for conducting blinded and unblinded pharmacy monitoring visits.

10% - Responsible for the full review of protocols, with the development of educational materials for the pharmacy, research, and infusion center staff. They will be responsible for the development of SWI for the preparation of all investigational medications and will train the pharmacy staff on this process.

10% - Responsible for the education of pharmacy staff as it relates to chemotherapy admixing, unit dose drug preparation, and investigational drug dispensing following the clinical research protocol guidelines.

10% - Development of investigational product orderable items, and orders sets to be used within the electronic health record.

Experienced Required

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited School of Pharmacy (RPh or Pharm D)
• License in good standing as issued by the relevant State Board of Pharmacy
• Human Subjects Protection training/certification within 90 days of employment
• Good Clinical Practice within 90 days of employment

Preferred Experience

• Minimum of 5 year institutional pharmacy experience with oncology related experience
• Minimum of 1 year experience working with investigational drug studies

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.

To learn more about our comprehensive benefits, click here:Benefits Information

City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.