Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency

The postgraduate year-2 (PGY2) ambulatory care pharmacy residency at The University of Kansas Health System is designed to provide year-1 (PGY1) graduates the opportunity to accelerate growth beyond generalist practice and further the development of practice specific to the needs of ambulatory patients. The resident will have already achieved a basic level of competency commensurate with that of a PGY1 pharmacy practice resident. The PGY2 residency focuses on developing the knowledge, attitudes, training and skills necessary to cultivate pharmacists who are competent and compassionate practitioners who are prepared for a role as an ambulatory care pharmacist.

Graduates of the residency have the capability to design, implement and secure collaborative interdisciplinary practice agreements necessary for establishment and ongoing management of ambulatory practice. Graduates are empowered to treat and appropriately triage the most complex chronic and acute illnesses presented by ambulatory patients while providing care within the context of a long-term healthcare partnership with patients and healthcare providers that emphasizes health improvement and disease prevention. Completion of the PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency will provide the practitioner the advanced critical thinking skills and clinical knowledge necessary to practice as an ambulatory care pharmacotherapy expert, enhance ambulatory care services as a clinical coordinator and/or share skills with others by serving as an adjunct faculty member. Moreover, program graduates will be primed for ambulatory practice leadership to serve as experts in prescribing medication.

Completion of this residency program prepares pharmacists for a wide variety of ambulatory care positions. Previous residents have taken positions as pharmacists in primary care clinics, specialty clinics such as gastroenterology, rheumatology and HIV, and assumed teaching roles with colleges of pharmacy and residency programs.

PGY2 residency programs build upon a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals and objectives for advanced practice areas. Residents who successfully complete PGY2 residency programs are prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions and board certification in the advanced practice area, if available.

• Length of program: 12 months, starting in early July
• Number of positions: 2

• Annual salary: $56,000
• Benefits include PTO, paid holidays, health/dental/life/liability insurance
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The PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency is tailored to the interests and career goals of each resident. A variety of practice settings is available.

PGY2 Ambulatory Care Supplemental Manual

Required learning experiences

The PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy residents are required to complete the following learning experiences for the coordinating durations:

• Orientation (5 weeks)
• Ambulatory leadership (4 weeks)
• Research (2 weeks)
• Introduction to longitudinal clinic (6 weeks)
• Longitudinal clinic experience (1 full day per week)
• Comprehensive care clinic 1 (6 weeks)
• Comprehensive care clinic 2 (6 weeks)
• Specialty care clinic (6 weeks)

Clinic learning experiences

Residents are required to complete 2 comprehensive care clinic rotations and a specialty care clinic rotation from the options listed below. All rotations are 6 weeks in length.

Comprehensive care clinics

In comprehensive care clinics, the pharmacist evaluates the complete patient and not a specific disease or medication. While they may focus on a disease state, within their scope they provide care for the majority of the patient’s diseases.

• Primary care
• The primary care clinics offer pharmacist-led comprehensive medication management (CMM) services. The pharmacy resident will be part of the primary care pharmacy team that manages patients referred by providers to CMM services for a variety of reasons, including diabetes management, hypertension management, dyslipidemia, GLP-1 management for obesity, medication tapering, deprescribing, comprehensive medication reviews and management of other chronic diseases. The pharmacist independently completes patient appointments and makes changes to patients’ pharmacologic regimen as needed. The pharmacist is also involved in answering drug information questions from providers, providing population health services, contributing to ongoing clinic development and providing patient and/or provider education.
• Preceptors
• Mallory Freeman, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Wesley Medical Center
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: Parkland Health and Hospital System
• Amanda Johnston, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: University of Iowa
• PGY1 pharmacy practice – ambulatory focus: Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: Intermountain Healthcare
• Kaitlyn Jones, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: The University of Mississippi
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: TTUHSC / North Texas VA Health Care System
• Kathy Nguyen PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: Oregon State University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Yakima Valley Hospital
• Nolan Schmitz, PharmD, BCPS
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) St Margaret
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) St. Margaret
• Hannah Poppen, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: South Dakota State University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Sioux Falls Veterans Affairs Health Care System
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: Mayo Clinic Health System
• Kristen Thompson, PharmD
• Pharmacy school: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: University of Missouri Health Care (Community-based program)
• PGY2: Mercy Hospital Springfield
• Cystic fibrosis
• The cystic fibrosis (CF) clinic has integrated pharmacists who assist in providing long-term management for pediatric and adult patients living with CF. The pharmacy resident will play an integral role on the multidisciplinary care teams for both the pediatric and adult CF programs. Each care team consists of physician(s), nurse coordinator(s), dietitian, social work, respiratory therapy, psychology and pharmacy. The resident will have opportunities for direct patient care experiences in and outside of clinic. These opportunities include providing patients and family members with medication education, medication adherence assessment and support tools, as well as assessment for and management of side effects and drug interactions. CF is a complex disease affecting multiple organ systems and requires numerous medication therapies. The resident will serve as a medication information resource for all CF- and non-CF-related medication therapies for both the care team and patient. Additionally, the pharmacy resident will act as a liaison between the patient and/or care team and specialty pharmacy to assure optimal medication access.
• Preceptors
• Lindsey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS
• Pharmacy school: Creighton University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Mercy Medical Center
• Michelle Simonsen, PharmD, BCPS
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• Infectious diseases (HIV)
• The infectious diseases clinic has integrated pharmacists who assist with providing long-term management for HIV-positive adults. The pharmacy resident will gain direct patient care experience providing patients with education on medications, adherence and general HIV information. They will also discuss and assist in the management of other non-HIV medication-related issues. Additionally, the pharmacy resident will work with providers on HIV regimen simplification and optimization, drug-drug interactions and side effect management. The pharmacy resident will collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide drug information support and assist with retention of patient in care.
• Preceptors
• Megan Herrman, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP
• Pharmacy school: Sullivan University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• Kelly Robertson, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• Solid organ transplant
• The Center for Transplantation clinics offer care to kidney, pancreas, liver and heart transplant recipients. Clinical pharmacists see patients in the clinic in conjunction with transplant providers and work closely with social workers, dietitians and other multidisciplinary team members. Transplant pharmacists provide care for patients at all points of their transplant care, from their pretransplant evaluation to comprehensive medication management post-transplant. Residents will be involved in the full scope of pharmacists’ work along with teaching clinic staff and providers, answering drug information questions, providing recommendations and providing medication education to patients. The transplant pharmacists serve as integral members of the transplant team and are a resource for physicians, nurse practitioners, nursing and pharmacy staff.
• Preceptors
• Melissa Borsh, PharmD, (liver transplant and hepatology)
• Pharmacy school: University of Nebraska Medical Center
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Nebraska Medicine
• PGY2 solid organ transplant pharmacy: Nebraska Medicine
• Rexhian Brisku, PharmD (abdominal transplant)
• Pharmacy school: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Henry Ford Hospital
• PGY2 solid organ transplant pharmacy: Cleveland Clinic
• Katie Stogner, PharmD (abdominal transplant)
• Pharmacy school: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: CoxHealth, Springfield, Missouri
• PGY2 solid organ transplant pharmacy: Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Houston, Texas
• Advanced heart failure
• The advanced heart failure clinic has pharmacist-led services that focus on anticoagulation and cardiovascular pharmacotherapy management of patients with left ventricular assist devices. Additionally, the pharmacist provides independent pharmacist managed services for heart failure patients referred for GDMT titration and optimization, GLP1/SGLT2 initiation and titration and lipid management for high-risk patients. They also provide support for medication education, imitation and monitoring for patients with amyloid and obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The pharmacy resident would be part of a multidisciplinary team, including attending physicians, medical residents and fellows, pharmacists, nurse coordinators, clinic nursing staff and several other allied health professionals (dietitians, social workers, etc.). Residents will also be involved in teaching clinic staff and providers, answering drug information questions, developing medication-related policies and procedures, and providing recommendations, counseling and education to patients.
• Preceptors
• Belinda Darkwah, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: Cedarville University School of Pharmacy
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: The University of Kansas Health System
• Sara Tarnowski, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: Creighton University
• PGY1 community pharmacy: Cleveland Clinic

Specialty care clinics

In specialty care clinics the pharmacist provides care to patients with a focus on a specialized disease. While they may evaluate the complete patient, the focus is on a specific disease or set of diseases.

• Multiple sclerosis
• The multiple sclerosis clinic has pharmacists integrated into its team to manage medication therapy decisions, provide education, manage medication initiation, support adherence and mitigate adverse events. The pharmacy resident will have direct patient care experience through patient appointments to evaluate patients for appropriateness of medication, make drug therapy recommendations, manage patient side effects, evaluate labs, perform medication follow-up and answer medication questions from providers/staff. In addition, they will be involved in nursing and patient education opportunities.
• Preceptors
• Kelsey Morris, PharmD, MSCS
• Pharmacy school: University of Nebraska Medical Center
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Kansas City VA Medical Center
• Megan Snodgrass, PharmD, MSCS
• Pharmacy school: University of Missouri – Kansas City
• PGY1 community pharmacy: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
• Rheumatology
• The rheumatology clinic has integrated pharmacists who care for patients with various rheumatologic conditions. The pharmacy resident will be a part of the care team helping to determine the best therapy for patients, educate patients on new therapy, and teach patients how to administer injections as well as monitor efficacy and safety of specialty medications. The pharmacy resident will serve as a resource for patients, providers, clinic staff members, infusion pharmacists, specialty pharmacies and other multidisciplinary clinics.
• Preceptors
• Elizabeth Barron, PharmD, BCPS
• Pharmacy school: The University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• Connor Hayes, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: The University of Missouri – Kansas City
• PGY1 pharmacy practice- ambulatory focus: Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin
• Tumi Osunsanmi, PharmD
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas School of Pharmacy
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Hennepin Healthcare
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: The University of Kansas Health System
• Dermatology
• The dermatology clinic has integrated pharmacists who care for patients with various dermatologic conditions, with a focus on those requiring biologic or infusion therapies. The pharmacy resident will be a part of the care team helping to determine the best therapy for patients, educate patients on new therapy, and teach patients how to administer injections as well as monitor efficacy and safety of specialty medications. The pharmacy resident will serve as a resource for patients, providers, clinic staff members, infusion pharmacists, specialty pharmacies and other multidisciplinary clinics.
• Preceptors
• Lauren Roder, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: The University of Kansas Health System
• Gastroenterology (IBD)
• The gastroenterology clinic has integrated pharmacists who provide care to all GI patients with a primary focus on those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The pharmacy resident is expected to work closely with the IBD multidisciplinary team, which includes pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, as well as retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy and infusion teams, to ensure optimal patient care. Resident responsibilities include recommending optimal therapies, providing medication and injection education, assisting with medication access and affordability, assessing medication safety and efficacy, ensuring patient compliance and answering drug information questions.
• Preceptors
• Lauren Fox, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: CoxHealth
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: CoxHealth
• Cassandra Effken, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: Drake University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Ralph H. Johnson VAMC
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: The University of Kansas Health System
• Women's health (infertility)
• The advanced reproductive medicine clinic has integrated pharmacists who assist with providing reproductive endocrinology and infertility services. The pharmacy resident will assist with providing therapy recommendations and education for patients seeking infertility treatment and fertility preservation. The pharmacist resident will assist pharmacist-led management of conditions related to infertility and prenatal care (e.g., thyroid disorders, hypertension, hyperglycemia) along with evaluating medication regimens for pregnancy safety, answering drug information questions, managing conditions, coordinating care with outside physicians and assisting with medication access.
• Preceptor
• Rachael Smith, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: Purdue University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: The University of Kansas Health System
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: The University of Kansas Health System
• Allergy and immunology
• The pharmacist who covers allergy also splits time in the rheumatology clinic and is integrated into the clinical team in both spaces (splitting time between the 2). In Allergy and Immunology, the pharmacist provides care to patients on specialty therapy or complex medication regimens. The pharmacy resident is expected to work closely with the multidisciplinary teams, as well as retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy and infusion teams, to ensure optimal patient care. Resident responsibilities include recommending optimal therapies, providing medication and injection education, assisting with medication access and affordability, assessing medication safety and efficacy, ensuring patient optimal adherence and answering drug information questions.
• Preceptor
• Connor Hayes, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: The University of Missouri – Kansas City
• PGY1 pharmacy practice-ambulatory focus: Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin
• Pulmonology
• Rotation currently in development
• Preceptor
• Brittni Gochnauer, PharmD
• Pharmacy school: Creighton University
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: UNC Health Rex
• Epilepsy
• The epilepsy clinic pharmacist provides services for a variety of indications, including epilepsy medication regimen assessment, pharmacokinetic recommendations, adverse effect mitigation, medication education and adherence support. In addition to patient management, the pharmacy resident will collaborate with other providers in the clinic to provide high-quality care. Clinic providers look to the pharmacist to answer drug information questions and to make recommendations on the management of complex patients.
• Preceptor
• Katie Henn, PharmD, BCACP
• Pharmacy school: University of Kansas
• PGY1 pharmacy practice: Medical University of South Carolina Health
• PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy: Medical University of South Carolina Health

Longitudinal clinic

Residents will have a longitudinal clinic experience. The resident will spend their first 6-week rotation (Introduction to longitudinal) in this area and will continue 1 full day per week throughout the remainder of the year.

Additional elective learning experiences

Additional opportunities may be available based on the schedule and interests of the resident.

• Hematology/oncology (palliative care) clinic (4 weeks)
• Comprehensive or specialty care clinic rotations that the resident has not yet completed (6 weeks)

The PGY2 ambulatory care resident will work in The University of Kansas Health System outpatient pharmacy 1 of every 4 weekends (Saturday and Sunday), 1 major and 1 minor holiday.

Research

• Each resident will complete 2 research projects. The goal is to enhance the personal and professional growth of the resident while benefiting the pharmacy department through pharmacy practice.
• Examples of previous projects
  • Incorporation of Pharmacist in Hepatology Clinic Improves Access to Hepatitis C Treatment
  • Evaluation of Pharmacist Intervention, Medication Adherence and their Impact on Long-Term Outcomes for Patients with Cystic Fibrosis on CFTR Modulator Therapy
  • Impact of Pharmacist-Managed Anticoagulation in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices
  • Evaluating the Incidence of Weight Gain in Persons Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy
  • Impact of Pharmacy Services on Time to Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor Initiation
  • Incidence of CMV Viremia with Mini-Dose Valganciclovir Prophylaxis After Renal Transplantation
  • Time to Goal Hemoglobin A1c with Pharmacist Management Compared to Non-Pharmacist Management
• Residents will present research findings within the health system and at regional and national meetings. Residents will also prepare a manuscript suitable to submit for publication.

Teaching and precepting

• The resident will present a 1-hour seminar.
• Residents have experiences precepting students and residents on rotation.
• Residents have the option of presenting didactic lectures at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy as available.
• Residents have the option of presenting additional didactic lectures at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy as available.
• Residents will prepare and present drug- and/or disease-focused lectures to ambulatory, hospital, pharmacy and multidisciplinary staff.
• Residents have the option of completing a teaching certificate program through the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.

Informational sessions

• See social media for links and dates
• Instagram: @tukhspharmres
• Facebook: @tukhspharmres
• LinkedIn

PhORCAS

Requirements

• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited PharmD program
• Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency before the beginning of the PGY2 residency year
• Eligibility for licensure in Kansas and Missouri

Deadlines

• All application materials must be received by January 2
• Must have a valid pharmacy license in the state of Kansas 60 days after starting residency

Checklist for application

• Letter of intent
• Topics to consider: Why you want to pursue a residency and career in ambulatory care, why you have chosen The University of Kansas Health System and personal goals that the program would help accomplish
• Supplemental materials as outlined in the ASHP residency program directory
• Curriculum vitae
• College transcripts (undergraduate and pharmacy school)
• 3 letters of recommendation and/or PhORCAS forms
• PhORCAS residency program application
• ASHP resident-matching program registration

National Matching Services (NMS) Code: 752665

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