
Thank you for your interest in the Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program! Our pharmacy team wants to develop outstanding clinical pharmacists. We will customize your experience based on your strengths, interests and career goals. See below for the details of our program. Be sure to click on the links for more information.
We are located only 34 miles from Lexington. We offer a Post Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency program. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredits our program. Two positions are available. PGY1 candidates must apply through the ASHP application and matching process.
The residency program lasts 54 weeks. It begins with orientation the last two weeks of June. PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on pharmacy education and outcomes. As a result, it helps to develop clinical pharmacists responsible for medication related care of patients. Those patients may have a wide range of conditions. In addition, the pharmacists are eligible for board certification. They also qualify for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.
Our residency program graduates its residents with a broad range of skills. As a result, they obtain positions at community hospitals, academic medical centers, and PGY2 residency positions. In addition, they have the skills to work in ambulatory care clinics and children’s hospitals. Residents also have the training to hold academic appointments.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Accredited
Affiliation with UK
We are an affiliate of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. The UK College of Pharmacy combines innovative teaching and hands-on interactive learning in a world premier facility. As a result, the program produces leaders in the field. Their nationally ranked Top 10 program is evidence of this. The College offers a four-year PharmD degree. It also offers MS and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences. In addition, it continues to offer advanced solutions around pharmacy practice and drug delivery. Our affiliation with UK offers another bonus. Our residents are enrolled in the Student Precepting and Teaching Certificate for Pharmacists Program. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists offers this. The college provides teaching opportunities in the classroom. A Patient Care Laboratory also helps to fulfill the requirements of the program.

Learning Experiences
Our PGY1 program provides the following required learning experiences (six weeks)
- Internal Medicine
- Infectious Disease
- Critical Care
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
In addition, the following longitudinal studies are also required
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacy Management
- Hospital Pharmacy Practice
- Research Project
- Student Precepting and Teaching Certificate (affiliated with the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy)
Elective opportunities available as part of our PGY1 program include (four weeks)
- Advanced Cardiology
- Advanced Critical Care
- Advanced Emergency Medicine
- Ambulatory Care
- Clinical Informatics
- Oncology
- 340B Management and Compliance
Benefits
During the 54-week program, our residents receive a stipend of about $48,000. In addition, we provide standard benefits. Those include health insurance, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. In addition, we offer retirement savings with up to 8% employer match. We also provide 10 days of PTO and short-term illness accrual. Optional benefits include dental and vision insurance. In addition, other options are a flexible spending account and long-term disability. Residents also receive Outpatient Pharmacy and meal discounts.
Our residents are provided the opportunity to attend one state and one national pharmacy organization meeting. The program provides monetary support for both.
Application Process
Application deadline is January 2.
PGY1 candidates must apply through the ASHP Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). In addition, they must participate in the ASHP Resident Matching Program (The Match). We use PhORCAS for all residency candidate applications. We select candidates to offer interviews after reviewing all applications. Applicants must have their Kentucky license by October 15.
For additional information, please review our Pharmacy Residency Manual.
You can learn more about the Pharmacy Department at EMH from our Pharmacy Fact Sheet. Our 2021 Annual Report provides another look at our department and what we do.
In addition, you can learn more about our Current and Past Residents and their Research Projects. Plus, we invite you to learn about our team of Pharmacy Preceptors.
You may direct questions about the residency program to Tara Neitzel, PharmD, BCPS, the Residency Program Director. Contact her at tneitzel@emhealth.org or (859) 239-1717.
For the 2023-2024 residency program year, the tentative start date is June 12 for Hospital Orientation. The Pharmacy Orientation begins June 19.

This residency site agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any residency applicant.
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