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
Learning Experiences
Our PGY1 program provides the following required learning experiences
- Cardiology
- Critical Care
- Emergency Medicine
- Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Internal Medicine
In addition, the following longitudinal experiences are also required
- Clinical Project Management
- Emergency Response
- Hospital Practice
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacy Management
- 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
- 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 approximately $58,800. We provide 10 days of PTO, four paid holidays and short-term illness accrual. 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. 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 required to attend one state and one national pharmacy organization meeting. The program reimburses the residents for conference registration, travel, room and board (if applicable), and provides a daily food stipend.
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. Our residents are enrolled in the Student Precepting and Teaching Certificate for Pharmacists Program. The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program is offered in a joint collaborative effort with the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The college provides teaching opportunities in the classroom. A Patient Care Laboratory also helps to fulfill the requirements of the program.
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). The resident matching program code is 192113. 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.
You can learn more about the Pharmacy Department at EMH from our Pharmacy Fact Sheet.
In addition, you can learn more about our current residents below as well as our 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 2024-2025 residency program year, the tentative start date is June 10 for Hospital Orientation. The Pharmacy Orientation begins June 17.
Current Residents
Dylan Roberts, PharmD
Education: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy Class of 2024
Professional areas of interest: Cardiology, Ambulatory Care, Internal Medicine
Research project: Is The Perceived Level of Stress of PGY1 Residents Improved with Allotted Longitudinal Project Time?
Career goals: Obtain a clinical pharmacy position in a community hospital or a cardiology ambulatory care position
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with my cats, Hanging out with my friends, and Reading
Why I chose Ephraim:
I chose Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center because this place has turned into home for me. Being originally from Eastern Kentucky and living in Lexington for the past eight years, the Danville area brought back the essence of my hometown while also getting a quality residency experience. As a student, I had several rotations here. In each of those, I was challenged and pushed to think outside the box while also learning to lean into the uncertainty with areas I was more wary of. Ephraim McDowell continues to show me how valuable I am as a new practitioner with many forms of mentorship and guidance. I am beyond lucky to have matched at Ephraim!
Casey M. Welch, PharmD, MBA
Education: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy Class of 2024, PharmD; University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business Class of 2024, MBA
Professional areas of interest: Pharmacy Management/Leadership, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Research project: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Inpatient Community Acquired Pneumonia on Atypical Antimicrobial De-escalation
Career goals: To practice as an inpatient clinical pharmacist and to continue to develop the skills necessary to someday serve in a pharmacy management role
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with family and friends, Hiking, Camping, Hunting & Fishing, and Cooking
Why I chose Ephraim:
I find it is important for pharmacy leaders to have a strong core understanding of clinical practice. I chose Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center because of the variety of opportunities our program provides. As someone who wants to grow in both clinical knowledge and pharmacy management and leadership skills, Ephraim’s program stood out as one that would help me obtain both goals. Here at Ephraim I see first hand the impact a pharmacist can make on patient care, both as a clinician and as a pharmacy leader in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
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