The University of Iowa Health Care provides an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency with a specialized focus on Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Programs. This comprehensive one-year program is meticulously designed to provide residents with extensive learning experiences across diverse settings, fostering advanced knowledge in ambulatory care within a prominent academic medical center. Our program emphasizes hands-on learning within interdisciplinary teams, specialized pharmacy practices, primary care environments, and various ambulatory pharmacies. This practical experience is deeply rooted in health system protocols and team-based care models. This robust ambulatory care pharmacy residency program is structured to cultivate proficient, patient-centered care skills and equip residents with the expertise necessary to excel as competent ambulatory care clinicians.
Program Overview
The primary objective of our ambulatory care pharmacy residency program is to nurture residents into becoming skilled, confident, and critical-thinking practitioners. Through a carefully curated series of rotations across various clinical areas, tailored to meet individual needs and preferences, residents will refine the essential practice skills for thriving in clinical pharmacist positions or pursuing postgraduate year two pharmacy residencies. Upon successful completion of our program, and in addition to fulfilling all ASHP-established outcomes, residents will be adept at:
- Building effective collaborative relationships within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
- Delivering efficient, evidence-based, and impactful patient care.
- Applying leadership and management acumen to enhance practice, shape policy, and optimize medication utilization.
- Providing valuable education and training to fellow healthcare professionals in diverse practice and training settings.
- Successfully pursuing board certification as a pharmacotherapy specialist.
Rotation Curriculum
The residency year is thoughtfully structured around a variety of rotational experiences, incorporating both blocked and longitudinal formats. The program commences with an in-depth orientation, followed by a customized schedule designed to align with each resident’s unique interests and professional development needs in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
The initial eight weeks are dedicated to comprehensive orientation. This crucial period focuses on immersing residents in the responsibilities of a clinical pharmacist and the staffing components integral to the residency.
Throughout each rotation, residents are actively involved in all facets of patient medication therapy management, from medication selection and comprehensive assessment to diligent monitoring, medication reconciliation, safety protocols, and adherence strategies. Residents function as integral members of multidisciplinary teams, offering expert guidance to physicians, nurses, and patients on optimal medication use. Rotations are typically four to five weeks in duration, allowing for focused and immersive learning experiences within ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Core Ambulatory Care Experiences
Our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs require residents to complete core rotations across several essential clinic areas, including acute care settings, anticoagulation case management, family medicine/geriatrics, internal medicine, practice management, and diverse specialty clinics. This core rotation framework is intentionally designed to deliver a well-rounded and comprehensive learning experience within ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs. The specific patient care services within each core rotation are carefully tailored to match each resident’s individual interests and career aspirations. Furthermore, residents have the opportunity to select one additional elective rotation during the residency year, allowing for deeper exploration within core areas or expansion into new specialized domains within ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs. A mandatory component of the program is the completion of at least one rotation in a pediatric-focused area.
Specialized Pharmacy Rotations (Choose 3)
- Dermatology
- Digestive Health
- Hepatology/Virology
- Neurology – Epilepsy/Movement Disorders and Multiple Sclerosis
- Pediatric Specialty Clinics – Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Rheumatology
- Pulmonary/Cystic Fibrosis
- Rheumatology
- Substance Use – Medication for Addiction Treatment
- Transplant – Abdominal, Heart, Lung
- Other specialized rotations may be available to enhance your ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs experience.
Primary Care Rotations (All Required)
- Anticoagulation Case Management Service
- Family Medicine and Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
Pharmacy Management Rotation (Required)
Acute Care Rotations (Choose 1)
- Internal medicine
- Medicine psychiatry
- Solid organ transplant
- General pediatrics
- General cardiology
Teaching and Professional Development
All residents in our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs receive adjunct instructor appointments at the esteemed University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. This affiliation grants access to a wealth of informational, clinical, professional, and educational resources specifically designed for UI College of Pharmacy preceptors. Throughout the residency year, numerous opportunities are provided to hone teaching and presentation skills. Residents are encouraged to participate in the Pharmacy Educator Preparation Program for Residents and Fellows (PEPPR), offered in collaboration with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. Residents who successfully meet the program requirements will earn a certificate of participation and compile a comprehensive teaching portfolio showcasing their accomplishments throughout the year in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Research and Scholarly Activity
A cornerstone of our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs is the mandatory completion of a year-long research project and a medication use evaluation. Residents gain invaluable experience in conducting rigorous research and presenting their project findings in professional poster formats. The dedicated Residency Research Committee provides continuous guidance and support throughout the research process, ensuring a robust learning experience in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Project selection is driven by resident interests and innovative project ideas proposed by residency preceptors, ensuring relevance and engagement in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs. Residents are expected to present their research or other significant projects at prominent meetings such as the Vizient® meeting during the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, the University of Iowa Research Week, and through platform presentations in the spring. Presentation opportunities may also extend to UI Health Care, allowing residents to share their findings with invested healthcare team members. A final manuscript is required prior to residency graduation, and publication in peer-reviewed medical literature is strongly encouraged, highlighting the scholarly rigor of our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Staffing and Service Commitment
Residents in our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs are required to fulfill a service commitment (staffing) designed to cultivate their skills and ensure they develop into competent clinical practitioners.
Within the ambulatory care setting, residents are primarily assigned to the ambulatory care pharmacies, notably the Discharge Pharmacy. Here, they play a crucial role in the transitions of care process, meticulously reconciling discharge medications with inpatient medication regimens. Residents also deliver essential patient education and counseling services as part of the Meds-to-Beds Program, enhancing patient care within ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Based on individual interests and prior experiences, residents may have opportunities to staff in other specialized areas following appropriate orientation, broadening their exposure within ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Staffing Requirements Detail:
- Upon completion of orientation, residents will dedicate a total of 400 hours to staffing over the residency year in the Discharge Pharmacy. This commitment averages to approximately 32 hours per month, generally fulfilled by working every other weekend, ensuring practical experience in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
- Residents are required to work one major holiday (Thanksgiving or winter holiday, including surrounding days) and two minor holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Labor Day, or Memorial Day), contributing to comprehensive service experience in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
- Please note that staffing requirements are subject to change to best meet the evolving needs of our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Application Process
Prospective candidates for our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs must submit their applications through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).
Required Application Materials:
- Completed PhORCAS application form
- Compelling letter of intent outlining your interest in ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs
- Three reference submissions via PhORCAS
- Official college of pharmacy transcripts
- Comprehensive curriculum vitae
- A minimum of one letter of recommendation from a clinical preceptor
All application materials must be received by January 2nd. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview based on a thorough review of application materials. Applicants are also required to register for the ASHP matching program, administered by National Matching Services, Inc. Rankings must be submitted by the specified deadline to be considered for our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
- NMS Code: 297413
Candidate Qualifications
To be eligible for our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs, candidates must meet the following qualifications:
- Graduate of an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy degree program or possess equivalent educational qualifications as determined by the residency program director, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Licensed or eligible for licensure in Iowa by the residency start date. Refer to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy website for complete licensure requirements to ensure eligibility for ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
- Adherence to all rules and procedures of the resident matching program process.
- Please note that candidates requiring a Visa will not be considered, as Pharmacy Residency positions are not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization in our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs.
Contact Information
For further inquiries regarding our ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs, please reach out to us. We are here to assist you in your journey toward advanced clinical practice.
