Pharmacy Residency
The CAVHCS PGY1 Pharmacy Residency is an ASHP-accredited 12-month postgraduate training program beginning in July each year. Three applicants are selected through the National Matching Service (NMS) to complete the program. The program consists of 8 required rotations and 4 elective rotations, each of four weeks duration. Residents will also be required to participate in four longitudinal experiences as well as provide inpatient staffing every third weekend.
Locations
CAVHCS-West Campus
215 Perry Hill Road
Montgomery, AL 36109
CAVHCS-East Campus
2400 Hospital Road
Tuskegee, AL 36083
Required Rotations:
- Orientation
- Administration
- Ambulatory Care I
- Ambulatory Care II
- Anticoagulation
- Home Based Primary Care/Community Living Center (Long-term Care)
- Internal Medicine
- Psychiatry I
Elective Rotations:
- Academia
- Academic Detailing
- Anticoagulation/Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Inpatient Psychiatry
- Pain
- Women's Health
*Residents may choose to repeat a required experience as an elective if no more than one-third of the twelve-month program is conducted with a specific patient population or practice area.
Required Longitudinal Rotations:
- Interprofessional Mental Health
- Medication Safety
- Major Project
- Professional Presentations
Elective Longitudinal Opportunity:
- Residency Teaching and Learning Program offered by the Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University
Benefits:
- Competitive Stipend: Estimated $49,000/year
- Eleven paid federal holidays per year
- Thirteen days of paid annual leave
- Thirteen days of paid sick leave
- Health Insurance
- Optional Dental/Vision insurance
- Administrative leave for attendance to the ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting and/or Southeastern Residency Conference (SERC)
Application Requirements:
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, graduate of an accredited school of pharmacy, and hold an active pharmacy license or be eligible for licensure in any U.S. state or territory. All applicants must participate in the ASHP resident matching program.
Application Process:
Candidates should complete a standard application in the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS), at http://www.ashp.org/phorcas. Requirements for completed applications include:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Intent
- Official Pharmacy School Transcript
- Three Letters of Reference
Application Deadline:
All application materials must be submitted via PhORCAS by the first Friday after the January 1st holiday.
Interview Notification:
Candidates will be notified of interview status no later than the end of February each year.
Position Appointment:
Appointment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of physical exam (including drug test). Applicants must meet all requirements for federal employment.
Note: The VA Central Alabama pharmacy residency program agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any residency applicant. The program adheres to the rules of the ASHP Resident Match Program.
Contact Information:
All correspondence should be addressed to the following:
Merideth Hope Allen, Pharm.D.
Residency Program Director
Central Alabama Veterans HCS
Pharmacy Service (119)
Merideth.Allen3@va.gov
Virtual Tour:
Current Residents
Kylee Clay
Kylee Clay, Pharm.D. received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics in 2018 and her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2021 from Auburn University. Her current ambulatory care interests include diabetes management, pain management, polypharmacy, and smoking cessation. Following her PGY1, she hopes to pursue additional training in ambulatory care. Ultimately, she aspires to offer services in her areas of interest with the VA. Outside of the pharmacy, she enjoys baking, crafting, reading, spending time with friends, and traveling.
Harrison Riggs
Harrison Riggs, Pharm.D., received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University and his Doctor of Pharmacy from The Harrison College of Pharmacy at Auburn University. He is originally from Auburn, Alabama, and is primarily interested in ambulatory care. After completion of his PGY1 year, he plans to continue his career within the VA and hopes to become an ambulatory care pharmacist. Harrison’s interests include spending time with his wife and 5-month-old son, hanging out with family and friends, working out, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with his two dogs Carl and Jenny.
Aurelia Tess Willcoxon
Aurelia Tess Willcoxon, Pharm.D., received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies with a minor in Culture and Health, as well as a Doctor of Pharmacy from East Tennessee State University. She is from Sevierville, Tennessee and her current career interest is ambulatory care, allowing her the opportunity to work with core disease states, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and COPD. After completion of her PGY1, she hopes to continue her career within the VA as an ambulatory care pharmacist. She is passionate about making a positive impact in each veteran’s life. Outside of pharmacy, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, family, and animals. She also likes exercising, camping, listening to music, eating sushi, and traveling.
Holly Webster
Holly Webster, Pharm.D. received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University and her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2023 from the Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy. She is originally from Huntsville, AL, and her current career interests include ambulatory care and academia. Following her PGY1 year, she hopes to continue her career with the VA as an ambulatory care pharmacist and pursue a role in academia. She enjoys spending time with her husband, hiking, traveling, and teaching dance.
Past Residents
2022-2023
Elizabeth Brooks, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Columbus, GA
Shelby Buller, Pharm.D., PGY2 Pharmacy Resident Mental Health, VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT
Abigail Switzer, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, Marion IN
Sara Tyler, Pharm.D., PGY2 Pharmacy Resident Ambulatory Care, VA South Texas, San Antonio TX
Leah Winchester, Pharm.D., Anticoagulation Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
2021-2022
Lee Arphai, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, Ralph H Johnson VA Health Care System, Charleston SC
Jaycee Mandernach, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Columbus, GA
Wendy Zheng, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA South Texas, San Antonio, TX
2020-2021
Brianca Fizer, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Tennessee Valley, Nashville, TN
Perry Thompson, Pharm.D., Acute Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, VA Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
Jaqueline Waller, Pharm.D., BCPS, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Columbus GA
2019-2020
Michelle Adams, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist, Ambulatory Care, Upstream Healthcare, Greensboro, NC
Jordan Bates, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, Extended Care, DeBakey VA, Houston, TX
Rebecca Wynn, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist, HCA Florida Capital Hospital, Tallahassee, FL
2018-2019
Hope Allen, Pharm.D., Patient Aligned Care Team Pharmacist Supervisor, VA Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
Morgan Fisher, Pharm.D., Professor of Practice, Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn, AL
Kelsie Welch, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist –Ambulatory Care/Transitions of Care, Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport, LA
2017-2018
Sonya Spiller, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist, Kaiser Permanente, Seattle, WA
Matt Cole, Pharm.D., VISN Pharmacy Program Manager (Informatics & Data Analytics) Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) VA Capital Health Care Network (VISN 5) Linthicum, MD (Virtual)
Cassidy Moses, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
2016-2017
Elliott Carey, Pharm.D., Pharmacist, Publix Pharmacy, Pensacola, FL
Melanie Geiszler, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist, Department of Defense, Ft. Stewart, GA
Britney Willis, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL
2015-2016
Amber Cardoza, Pharm.D., BCACP, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VISN 7 Clinical Resource Hub, Veterans Health Administration
Stacy Evans-Forney, Pharm.D., Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist, University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso, TX
Cain Eric Kirk, Pharm.D., BCACP, Cardiology/Population Health Management Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VISN 4 Clinical Resource Hub, Veterans Health Administration
2014-2015
Jennifer Cook, Pharm.D., Anticoagulation Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VISN 12 Anticoagulation Hub, Veterans Health Administration
Eun Pyung Philip Im, Pharm.D., BCPP, Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Takova Wallace-Gay, Pharm.D., BCACP, Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Tyler—Fisch College of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacist, UT Health Science Center Tyler-North Campus Family Medicine Clinic; Director of Interprofessional Education, The University of Texas—School of Medicine
2013-2014
Alicia Crawford, Pharm.D., BCGP, Community Living Center (CLC) Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Tuskegee, AL
Lauren Massingill, Pharm.D., BCGP, Co-Managed Care/Formulary Clinical Pharmacist, VA Central Alabama, Tuskegee, AL
Sarah Sutton, Pharm.D., Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2012-2013
Brandon Benson, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Richmond, Richmond, VA
Lauren Rass, Pharm.D., BCPS, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, VA Central Alabama, Montgomery, AL