Residency Showcase Program Listings

Website: https://www.durham.va.gov/pharmacy/Residency.asp

The Durham VA Health Care System (DVAHCS) PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program is designed to develop a healthcare practitioner with advanced skills to support a specialized practice in the care of ambulatory patients. The practice sites deliver care to veterans following the PACT (patient-aligned care team) model which is a patient-driven, team-based approach that delivers efficient, comprehensive, and continuous care through active communication and coordination of resources. The PACT model places the veteran at the center of the care team. The care team also includes their family members, caregivers, and health care professionals—primary care provider, nurse care manager, clinical associate, and administrative clerk. When additional services are needed to meet the veteran's goals and needs, additional team members may be called in for support. These may include social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, mental health practitioners, specialists, and other non-VA health care professionals. The role of the clinical pharmacy specialist on each team is to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to improve patient outcomes through direct interactions with patients and interdisciplinary healthcare team members. The residency program will build upon the competencies and experience acquired in a PGY1 residency and promote the development of proficient, independent clinicians with an expertise in ambulatory care pharmacotherapy. Graduates of the program will develop in-depth knowledge of primary care disease states and the therapies used to treat them. Additionally, upon completion of the PGY2 program, the resident should possess competencies that enable attainment of board certification in ambulatory care.

Practice Settings

The DVAHCS is comprised of the Durham VA Medical Center, Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic, Brier Creek Dialysis Clinic, Clayton-East Raleigh Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Greenville Health Care Center, Hillandale Road Clinic I, Hillandale Road Clinic II, Morehead City CBOC, Raleigh I CBOC, Raleigh II CBOC, and Raleigh III CBOC. Residents in the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program will have the opportunity to provide direct patient care at the Raleigh I CBOC, Raleigh III CBOC, Durham VA Medical Center, and Hillandale Road Clinic I. The rotation schedule is developed at the beginning of the residency year based on the resident’s interests and career goals. The resident will complete all required rotations, one 1-month elective, and one 3-month elective block to allow for continuity in specialty care. The resident will choose 4-6 specialty learning experiences and spend ½ to 2 days per week in each area for 3 months. Additionally, the resident will have one project month dedicated to their research project and other scholarly activities. Schedules may be tailored throughout the year to meet the resident’s professional goals.

Required Learning Experiences

• Adverse Drug Event Reporting (3 months)
• PACT I (3 months) 
• PACT II (3 months)
• Ambulatory Care I (3 months)
• Ambulatory Care II (3 months)
• Residency Research Project (12 months)
• Staffing (12 months, ~5 weekends per year under dual appointment)

Elective Learning Experiences (1 month)

1 month Electives  

Cardiology
Emergency Medicine
Geriatrics 
Hematology/Oncology 
Internal Medicine 
Medical Writing   
Mental Health     

3-Month Electives

Anticoagulation
Endocrinology
Home-Based Primary Care
PACT Population Management
Pain
Pharmacogenomics
Pulmonology
Women’s Health

Additional Activities

Additional rotations outside of the above-mentioned will be authorized on a case-by-case basis based on the learning opportunity, including potential Duke and/or UNC affiliated experiences.

Teaching Responsibilities

The resident is expected to assist with precepting PharmD students during during PACT I. The resident may also serve as an instructor in the Pharmacy Skills Laboratory or similar course at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy during the fall semester, when available.

Conferences and Educational Opportunities

A variety of educational opportunities are available throughout the year to enhance the resident’s knowledge base and foster relationships within the professional community. The resident is expected to attend scheduled conferences, seminars, and workshops throughout the year.

• ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting
• Pharmacy Grand Rounds
• Quarterly Professional Development and Leadership Series
• Residency Clinical Conference
• UNC Research in Education and Practice Symposium
• VA Pharmacy Residents Conference Call Series

Stipend and Benefits

The Veterans Health Administration sets annual residency stipends (currently $46,613) and benefits for all VA residency programs. Each resident is offered 13 days each of accrued vacation and sick leave/family care, 10 paid federal holidays, and a health care benefits package. Pharmacy residents are also given educational leave with pay to attend and present at local and national conferences. The resident may also be eligible for a faculty appointment with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. 

Eligibility Requirements

Qualified applicants are required to possess a PharmD degree from an accredited college of pharmacy, be a citizen of the United States, have an active pharmacy license in any state by the first day of the residency, and have completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency training program.

How to Apply:

By January 3, 2022, interested individuals should submit an application through PhORCAS with the following components:

• Letter of intent indicating why advanced training through an ambulatory care residency program at the Durham VA is desired
• Curriculum vitae
• Professional transcripts
• PhORCAS recommendation form from three references