PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program

Purpose

The St. Joseph’s/Candler (SJ/C) Ambulatory Care PGY2 Residency Program is designed according to ASHP standards build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings.  Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

Description

The SJ/C PGY2 Ambulatory Care residency program provides a 12-month ambulatory care pharmacy practice experience. The residency program will strive to provide an optimal environment for residency learning through continued preceptor development, frequent two-way feedback between the resident and preceptors/administrators, and a commitment to the individual goals and interests of each resident. The residency will be structured with as much flexibility as possible allowing the resident to explore areas of interest while meeting the primary goals and objectives set forth by ASHP. It is also affiliated with The University of Georgia (UGA) College of Pharmacy which provides a graduate certificate program for the PGY2 resident. The resident will enroll in graduate school at the University of Georgia and receive a graduate certificate upon completion of assigned course work. This residency program is ASHP-accredited.

Training Site

St. Joseph’s/Candler is a 714-bed community-based regional referral health system comprised of two hospitals (St. Joseph's Hospital and Candler Hospital) with multiple associated outpatient clinics and primary care offices. Practice sites will be at various locations, including Center for Medication Management (CMM) and Physician’s Network – Primary Care (otherwise known as MGM). CMM focuses primarily on anticoagulation management while MGM provides opportunities for disease state management and Medicare Annual Wellness Visits. A variety of elective options are also available. A more detailed description of the learning experiences is described below.

Learning Experiences/Program Structure

• Underserved Primary Care
• Primary Care: Physician Network – Primary Care in Rincon (focusing on Annual Wellness Visits)
• Primary Care: Physician Network – Primary Care Eisenhower, Islands, and Pooler (focusing on disease state management)
• Population Health + Administration (CMM Savannah and various locations)

Required Core (various lengths):

• Hepatitis C (Candler Infusion Center)
• Anticoagulation
• Precepting + Academia
• SOURCE

• Various options which may include but are not limited to academia, cardiology, endocrinology, inpatient transitions of care and oncology (based on availability)

Residency Benefits

Residents are paid a competitive stipend by SJ/C and UGA for the 52-week residency year. Participation in health, dental, and vision insurance benefits is available to the resident through the health system. Residents must complete physical and health screening examinations and a background check prior to starting the residency. Residents are provided a travel allowance to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, the Southeastern Residency Conference (SERC), and the spring Georgia Society of Health System Pharmacists (GSHP) statewide meeting. Membership in GSHP is paid by the health system and UGA provides membership to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and reimbursement for the Board of Pharmacy Specialties exam upon successful completion. Membership in ASHP or other organizations is maintained by the resident.

Preceptors

The director of the PGY2 Ambulatory Care residency program is Chelsea Keedy, PharmD, BCACP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. Ambulatory Care pharmacy preceptors include Melissa Johnson, PharmD, BCACP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care; Abby Case, PharmD, BCACP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Ambulatory Care; Kristen Pierce, PharmD, BCACP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care; Sherlie Llorens, PharmD, BCACP; and Ashley Woodhouse, PharmD, BCACP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care. Ashley Woodhouse also serves as the Residency Program Coordinator. 

To learn more about our preceptors, please click here.

Number of Positions

Two

ASHP Resident National Match Program

The St. Joseph’s/Candler pharmacy residency programs participate in the ASHP Resident National Match Program. All applicants must be registered for and participate in the Match. The resident candidate should complete the Resident Matching Program “Applicant Agreement”. This residency site agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any residency applicant. Further information, rules and regulations, and the Applicant Agreement, can be found on the ASHP website at www.ashp.org.

Match Number: 780265.

Applicant Qualifications

Applicants for the PGY2 residency in Ambulatory Care should have graduated from an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program and completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 residency. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification should be current and maintained throughout the residency year. 

Pharmacist Licensure

Pharmacist licensure in Georgia is required. It is recommended that resident complete licensure applications through the respective boards of pharmacy within 30-60 days of matching to initiate the process and receive the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) authorization(s) to test. Residents must be licensed no later than September 30th of the residency year.

Georgia licensure is initiated through filing an application with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. Georgia requires passing the GA MPJE and GA practical exam. If residents will not be licensed in Georgia prior to start of residency, they must obtain a Georgia temporary pharmacist license to comply with Georgia law.

Application Process and Requirements

Application submission is required via PhORCAS by the deadline of January 4th to be considered for an onsite interview. Mailed or emailed applications are not accepted and will not be reviewed for consideration. 

Application submission must include:

Three letters of recommendation

• One letter of recommendation must be from your PGY1 Residency Program Director or Residency Program Coordinator. The letter must include a statement confirming PGY1 resident is in good standing and whether the resident has ever been on a performance improvement plan, probation, or disciplinary action.

A one page letter of intent discussing why you are interested in our program and in ambulatory care.

Interviews

An on-site interview will be expected for candidates to move forward in the application process. All application materials must be complete and received by the deadline in order to be considered for an interview. All interviewees will be expected to complete a 15 minute ambulatory care focused presentation on a patient case, disease state, or development/changes in ambulatory care practice.  If you require further information or have questions, please email the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program Director at keedyc@sjchs.org.