The Georgia Poison Center (GPC), a department of the Grady Health System, is seeking qualified applicants for a twelve (12)-month PGY2 fellowship or twenty-four (24)-month PGY1 residency/PGY2 fellowship in clinical toxicology. The goal of the clinical toxicology fellowship is to train a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) graduate to function in a professional, administrative, and research capacity in a regional poison center, clinical toxicology service, and/or academic environment. The GPC also serves as an active learning and training site for pharmacy students and residents in clinical pharmacy practice.
Overview
The GPC, which is certified and accredited by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, is a non-profit organization that provides 24-hour per day poison treatment advice to the public, physicians, nurses, EMTs, and other healthcare professionals. Our services help to reduce the severity of poisonings and in many cases save lives. The program may extend through a one (1) or two (2)-year period, depending on whether the applicant has completed a PGY-1 residency prior to acceptance into the Clinical Toxicology Fellowship. If the applicant will be completing the 24-month combined PGY1 residency/PGY2 fellowship program the first year will be spent primarily at Grady Health, focusing on developing general clinical pharmacy skills. First the fellow will spend the year at Grady Memorial Hospital engaging in direct patient care, rounding with medical teams, enhancing presentation and research skills, and developing leadership qualities. During the second year of the combined PGY1/PGY2 program, or if the applicant will only be completing the 12-month PGY2 fellowship, they will be primarily at the Georgia Poison Center, focusing on the development of clinical toxicology skills and management of poisoned patients.
As a PGY-2 fellow at the Georgia poison center, you will:
- Serve as primary preceptor for rotating P4 pharmacy students on the toxicology rotation
- Regularly participate in the toxicological evaluation, management, and bedside care of patients at five Atlanta-based metropolitan hospitals with the toxicology rounding service
- Serve as on-call toxicology backup for one of the busiest poison control centers in the country
- Attend the annual NACCT toxicology conference
- Become a certified instructor for the Advanced Hazmat Life Support training course
- Prepare and present lectures to various hospitals, universities, and other professional groups
- Attend and participate in regular case conferences, lectures, and journal clubs (occasionally at the CDC)
- Assist with legal/forensic toxicology cases
- Prepare and submit at least one abstract for presentation at a national meeting
- Prepare and submit at least one manuscript for publication
Goals
After successful completion of a clinical toxicology fellowship at the GPC, the fellow will be able to:
- Competently manage poisoned patients in a clinical setting
- Develop a thorough knowledge of the pathophysiology, toxicity, assessment, and treatment of common overdoses
- Skillfully prepare and present didactic lectures and clinical teaching to diverse audiences (e.g. School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, clinical toxicology services, and various healthcare facilities)
- Critically evaluate toxicology literature, prepare manuscripts for publication and lectures for professional presentation
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear
The Georgia Poison Center will be present at ASHP Midyear 2024 in New Orleans, LA. We encourage you to reach out to our current fellows if you are interested in discussing the program further:
Current Fellows

2023-2025 (PGY1/2) Andrew Yetka, PharmD

2024-2025 (PGY1/2) Siavash Panahi, PharmD
Applying
Candidates applying for the 12-month program (PGY2 fellowship only) – CLICK HERE
Candidates applying for the 24-month program (Combined PGY1 residency/PGY2 fellowship) – CLICK HERE
To request more information, contact:
Gaylord Lopez, PharmD, DABAT (Executive Director) | glopez@georgiapoisoncenter.org |
Stephanie Hon, PharmD, DABAT (Director) | shon@georgiapoisoncenter.org |
Patrick Filkins, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT (OP Manager) | pfilkins@georgiapoisoncenter.org |
Past Fellows

2022-2024 (PGY1/2) Amber Patt, PharmD – Clinical Toxicologist, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2021-2023 (PGY1/2) Jay Adams, PharmD, DABAT – Clinical Toxicologist, Operations Manager, Kentucky Poison Center, Louisville, KY

2022-2023 (PGY3) Nicole McElroy, PharmD, BCPPS, DABAT – Pediatric Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL

2019-2021 (PGY1/2) Patrick Filkins, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT – Clinical Toxicologist, Operations Manager, Georgia Poison Center, Atlanta, GA

2020-2021 (PGY2) Connor Walsh, PharmD, DABAT – Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Parkland Health, Dallas, TX

2020-2022 (PGY1/2) Amanda Hammond, PharmD, MPH, DABAT – Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Emory Midtown Hospital, Atlanta, GA

2019-2020 (PGY1/2) Jared Cavanaugh, PharmD, DABAT – Clinical Assistant Professor, California Northstate University College of Pharmacy, Elk Grove, CA

2017-2019 (PGY1/2) Elizabeth Silver, PharmD, DABAT – Managing Director, Kansas Poison Control Center, Kansas City, KS

2016-2017 (PGY2) Alexandra (King) Funk, PharmD, DABAT – Managing Director, Florida Poison Information Center – Tampa, Tampa, FL

2014-2016 (PGY1/2) Lindsay (Schaack) Rothstein, PharmD, DABAT – Sr. Clinical Content Specialist – Toxicology, Merative

2014-2015 (PGY3) Natalija Farrell, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT, FAACT – Senior Patient Safety Specialist for the Emergency Department, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

2011-2013 (PGY1/2) Dayne Laskey, PharmD, DABAT – Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy, Hartford, CT

2010-2012 (PGY1/2) Sara Miller, PharmD, DABAT – Clinical Pharmacist, Emergency Medicine and Toxicology, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA

2010-2011 (PGY2) Rachel Gorodetsky, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT – Clinical Associate Professor, D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY

2007-2008 (PGY2) Stephanie Hon, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT – Managing Director, Georgia Poison Center, Atlanta, GA