Program Description

A community-based pharmacy residency is designed to be a comprehensive postgraduate experience that advances a pharmacist's education and training in drug therapy and disease management for patients in the community/ambulatory setting. The residency prepares pharmacists for the current and future realities of patient care in a rapidly changing health care environment. It provides opportunities for integrating the pharmaceutical care practice model and practice-based outcomes research in community/ambulatory settings. Key components of the residency experience are the advancement of the pharmacy profession and the discovery of new knowledge that leads to improved patient care.

The residency provides an opportunity for a pharmacist to:

• Refine and build upon skills in communications, patient care, health promotion and wellness, applied research, practice management, marketing and reimbursement strategies, and technology;
• Provide direct patient care in a community/ambulatory pharmacy practice environment;
• Work with preceptors, pharmacy faculty and other health professionals whose personal and professional goals include a commitment to the advancement of the profession of pharmacy and to lifelong learning in the environment in which they practice;
• Engage in practice-based research that leads to new knowledge about the beneficial and adverse outcomes of drug therapy; and
• Gain the experience and abilities needed to prosper in a competitive health care system.

The community/ambulatory pharmacy residency experience will focus on the following competency areas:

1. Professionalism
2. Practice Management
3. Clinical Problem Solving
4. Communication
5. Medical Informatics, Data Collection and Management
6. Practice-Based Research
7. Completion of a publication-ready report of a research project

It is expected that each practice site will offer additional experiences and opportunities to take advantage of the unique programs and services available.  Additionally, each site offers flexibility in designing different rotations and educational experiences, to achieve the required competences and to include the residents' specific interests.  Residents will have opportunities to work with other residents in Washington state as well as attend local, regional and national meetings.

A recruitment handbook is also available for your reference.

This program has attained ASHP-APhA accreditation.

There are currently four sites in the program. See menu on right for more information.