The learning environment for Saint Vincent Hospital (SVH) pharmacy residency program participants is exceptional.
Saint Vincent Hospital is a 375-bed tertiary care center which serves as a regional referral facility and emergency services center. Saint Vincent offers graduate pharmacist practitioners a wide variety of educational opportunities yet still allows for personal contact with patients and other staff members in a friendly and community atmosphere. Saint Vincent has an affiliation with one smaller rural hospital - Westfield Memorial Hospital (Westfield, NY). In addition, Saint Vincent operates a large primary care network known as the Saint Vincent Medical Group. With over 250 physicians on staff, Saint Vincent offers care in 35 different medical specialties. The system has approximately 3000 employees and provides care to over 14,500 hospitalized patients annually. Saint Vincent has medical/surgical residencies in Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Colon and Rectal Surgery and Sports Medicine and has affiliations with several colleges and universities in Western Pennsylvania.
Saint Vincent is part of the Allegheny Health Network, which is an integrated healthcare delivery network of ten hospitals in Western Pennsylvania including Allegheny General, Allegheny Valley, Canonsburg, Forbes, Grove City, Jefferson, West Penn, Wexford, and Westfield Memorial.
With a population of around 100,000 people, Erie is Pennsylvania’s fourth largest city and it’s only lake port. One of Erie’s greatest advantages is its central location and close proximity to other larger metropolitan areas such as Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Erie’s central location, along with Lake Erie itself, has made Erie a growing center for economic development and tourism. The current population of Erie County is approximately 270,000 primarily located in the greater Erie area. Erie’s economy is predominately driven by its manufacturing sector with more than 550 manufacturing firms located in the greater Erie area. Erie’s low cost of living, low crime rate and abundance of recreational activities enhance the quality of life of its residents.
In addition to industrial development, the area has experienced intense commercial and retail development given Erie’s central geographical location and its low sales taxes. The commercial and retail sector is concentrated primarily in Summit Township, along Interstate 90. The downtown Erie area has undergone a major revitalization with new improvements such as the waterfront, Bayfront Convention Center, a class-AA baseball stadium, indoor arena, and other new public and private building renovations.
Summer and winter recreation is plentiful. Excellent boating, swimming and fishing exist during the warmer months on Lake Erie near Presque Isle State Park, a 3200 acre park in Erie with seven miles of sandy beaches. The cooler months offer excellent downhill and cross country skiing, ice fishing, skating, and hunting. In addition to several local college sports programs, Erie has professional baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams. The arts are plentiful as well, with numerous excellent theater groups and art center and a philharmonic orchestra.
