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PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency

The purpose of the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program is to build upon 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.

VA residents

Residents who successfully complete the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency will be able to maintain an independent or collaborative practice of management of chronic disease states across the ambulatory spectrum. The program will develop the skills necessary to act as a mentor and teacher to pharmacy students, residents, and health care providers. Successful graduates of the program will have the skills necessary for attainment of a clinical pharmacy practitioner or academic position at a college of pharmacy and position them eligible for attainment of board certification in ambulatory care.

Requirements for completion of residency

To successfully complete this program, the PGY2 resident must complete all assigned required, elective, and longitudinal learning experiences. The resident must complete a research project, present the project at an approved venue, and submit a manuscript suitable for publication. The resident will present, at minimum, one pharmacotherapy conference (Res Rounds) lecture, one didactic lecture and one journal club. Additional requirements include completion of a medication use evaluation (MUE), publication of one article in the RXPress newsletter, and completion of an electronic residency portfolio. The resident must also be in compliance with institutional and departmental policies.

Required Learning Experiences

  • Orientation (1-4 weeks depending on incoming experience and skill)
  • Longitudinal Clinical Rotations (6 months)
    • Anticoagulation (2-4 week focused block*, then 1 half day/week)
    • Primary Care/Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) (2-4 week focused block*, then 1.5-2 days/week)
    • Home Based Primary Care (1 half day/week)
    • Population Management (2-4 week focused block*, 1 half day/week)
    • Elective (2-4 week focused block*, then 1 half day/week)
    • Practice Management/Administration (2 half days/week)

Duration of focused block dependent on incoming experience and skill

  • Infectious Disease/HIV (4 weeks)
  • Primary Care – Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) (4 weeks)
  • Women’s Health (4 weeks)

Elective Learning Experiences (4 week blocks)

  • Administration
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Endocrine
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Home Based Primary Care
  • Internal Medicine
  • Mental Health

Longitudinal Learning Experiences:

  • ER-Fast Track/Staffing (year-long)
  • Practice Management/Administration (year-long)
  • Prior Authorization Drug Requests (year-long)
  • Research (year-long)
  • Electives (3-6 month block)
    • Endocrine
    • Home Based Primary Care
    • Infectious Disease/HIV
    • Mental Health
    • Primary Care

Teaching opportunities

The PGY2 resident will gain many diverse teaching experiences throughout the year, including precepting PGY1 residents and/or students. In addition, the resident will be expected to provide in-service presentations to medical and pharmacy staff and a minimum of one therapeutics lecture at Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.

The resident is highly encouraged to apply to become a Texas State Board of Pharmacy licensed preceptor. If not previously obtained during PGY1 residency training, the resident will also have the opportunity to complete a teaching certificate program offered by the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.

Conferences

The resident is highly encouraged to attend two conferences per residency year:

  • American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting
  • Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) Alcalde Southwest Leadership Conference or another ambulatory care focused conference as approved by Pharmacy Leadership

Salary and benefits

  • Yearly salary $58,425 (2023-2024)
  • Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB)
  • Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP)

Application requirements

  • U.S. citizen
  • Licensed pharmacist in any state within the U.S.
  • Graduate of an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program
  • Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency prior to the start of this program
  • Participate in an interview

Applications must include

  • Letter of Intent
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official pharmacy school transcript(s) sent to PhORCAS
  • VA Application form VHA-10-2850d  ***Upload to supplemental application on PhORCAS***

Applications for this program will be accepted through the PhORCAS online application system. The application deadline is January 2nd of every year. The National Matching Service Code is 674665.

Contact

Brittany A. Heyde, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program Director

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Pharmacy Service (119)
2002 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030
Brittany.heyde@va.gov