Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency

The University of Kansas Health System offers a 25-month post-PharmD training program specializing in health system pharmacy administration and leadership (HSPAL). The first year, focusing on pharmacy practice is an organized, directed, postgraduate training program that centers on development of the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to pursue rational drug therapy. The second year will build on clinical and leadership skills developed in year 1, focusing on patient-centered specialty training in health system pharmacy administration.

This program is designed for first- and second-year postgraduates (PGY1 and PGY2).

The residency is designed to provide postgraduate training in the provision of direct patient care to multiple patient populations. Residents will develop effective written and verbal communication skills to provide education to, and interact with, patients, students and a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers. To help develop leadership skills, in preparation for their own clinical pharmacy practices, the residents will demonstrate and continue to develop their leadership skills through professionalism and a focus on quality improvement.

The purpose of the residency is to provide educational and training experiences for pharmacists in the fundamentals of exemplary contemporary pharmacy practice in an integrated healthcare system. Through various clinical, practice management and pharmaceutical practice training segments, the residency instills a philosophy of practice that embraces the concept that pharmacists must be accountable for optimum drug therapy outcomes and act as leaders in advancing care of patients.

• Length of program: 25 months (approximately June-July)
• Number of positions: 3

Residents will receive a Master of Science in pharmacy practice from the University of Kansas. A minimum of 30 hours of coursework is required to be completed during the 2-year residency. Classes are taught through the Health Policy and Management Department, College of Business, College of Pharmacy, and by administrators in the pharmacy department. The majority of classes take place during the evenings to avoid interference with clinical rotations. Graduate student tuition is paid for by The University of Kansas Health System.

• Annual salary: $48,000
• Benefits include PTO, paid holidays, health/dental/life/liability insurance
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Phone: 913-588-2820

PGY1

• Orientation: Hospital and pharmacy (5 weeks)
• Central and transitions of care staffing and training (3 weeks)
• Acute care (6 weeks)
• Ambulatory care (4 weeks)
• Critical care (5 weeks)
• Advanced independent practice (6 weeks)
• Personal leadership and management essentials (2 weeks)
• Introduction to pharmacy administration (6 weeks)
• Medication safety and formulary management (5 weeks)
• Expansion rotation (5 weeks)
• Longitudinal rotation orientation (3 weeks)

PGY2

• Longitudinal track management orientation (5 weeks)
• Inpatient clinical management (6 weeks)
• Operations and distribution systems (8 weeks)
• Pharmacy informatics (6 weeks)
• Pharmacy executive leadership (2 weeks)
• Ambulatory and specialty management (6 weeks)
• Supply chain and finance (6 weeks)
• Cancer care and investigational drug services (6 weeks)

Practice foundation skills

• June through mid-July: Hospital and pharmacy department orientation and training
• Mid-July through mid-August: Central staffing and transitions of care staffing training
• Mid-August: Beginning of clinical rotation on selected clinical team

Acute care

• Internal medicine
• Cardiology
• Pediatrics

Ambulatory care

• Heart failure
• HIV
• Hepatology
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Solid organ transplant
• Psychiatry
• Women's health

Critical care

• Surgical ICU (Level I Trauma Center)
• Medical ICU
• Cardiovascular ICU
• Neurosurgical ICU
• Neonatal ICU
• Transplant ICU

Expansion rotation

• An expansion of the resident's interests in a select area*
• Program leaders work with residents to design experience

Chief resident (longitudinal)

• Coordination of duties within the residency program
• Facilitation of projects in cooperation with the administrative team

*Rotations from other categories can be chosen as electives. The resident is responsible for initiating contact and setting up goals for any off-site rotations.

Resident staffing

• PGY1: Every other weekend
• PGY2: Every fourth weekend

Key preceptors

• Rick Couldry, vice president of pharmacy and ancillary services
• Samaneh Wilkinson, director of ambulatory services
• Chris Bell, director of inpatient operations
• Kat Miller, director of inpatient clinical services
• Leigh Anne Scott, director of cancer care 
• Korby Lathrop, associate director of informatics
• Chris Loucks, associate director of supply chain

Additional pharmacy education and leadership opportunities

• Residents are involved in committees led by PGY2 residents to support the needs of residency programs (communications, conferences, social, alumni, fundraising).
• Residents are encouraged to participate in local and national pharmacy organizations such as GKCSHP, KCHP, ASHP, ACCP.
• University of Kansas School of Pharmacy offers a teaching certificate for local residents.

PhORCAS

Deadlines

• Application deadline: December 28
• Must have a valid pharmacy license in the state of Kansas prior to residency start date or July 1 at latest.

Checklist for application

• Photo
• Letter of intent
  • Topics to consider: Why you want to pursue this particular residency, why you have chosen our program, and personal goals that the program would help you accomplish
• Completion of the following essay questions:
  1. It is important to our program that residents discover and capitalize on their strengths throughout the year. Please purchase Buckingham's "Now Discover Your Strengths" or Rath's "Strengthsfinder 2.0" and determine your top 5 strengths. Upon completion, list your strengths, and comment on the results. Are they accurate? Are there any surprises?
  2. Describe your ideal day as a resident.
  3. Do you feel that you are generally superior to your co-workers or your classmates? Please explain.
  4. Think of someone really close to you (parent, sibling, spouse). What 3 words or phrases would they use to describe you?
• Example of a project completed on a rotation (PowerPoint, poster, document)
• Curriculum vitae
• College transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation
• PhORCAS residency program application
• ASHP resident matching program registration

Important dates after completion of match process

• June: Annual resident's meet-and-greet event and orientation

National matching services (NMS) code: 180718