The purpose of the Western University School of Health Sciences/Ralphs Pharmacy PGY-1 Community Pharmacy Residency Program is to build upon the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop community-based pharmacist practitioners with diverse patient care, leadership, and education skills who are eligible to pursue advanced training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies and professional certifications.

This program develops pharmacy practitioners who are leaders and skilled patient care providers within the community pharmacy or health center setting. This program prepares its graduates to assume positions as outpatient clinic/community pharmacy clinicians, community pharmacy managers, to serve as adjunct faculty for a college of pharmacy, or to pursue careers in academia.

The resident will rotate through a variety of community and ambulatory care pharmacy practices providing various clinical services at Ralphs pharmacies and a safety-net clinic. Clinical service activities include counseling patients, initiating and adjusting medication therapies, ordering laboratory tests, performing physical assessments, implementing patient care programs, communicating with other health care providers, and managing a clinical practice. The resident will also get hands-on experience in community pharmacy corporate management. Through the program, the resident will have the opportunity to receive a teaching and research certificate and participate in didactic and experiential teaching activities. Research experience will involve the completion of a major clinical project during the course of the residency year. Findings from the project will be presented at the Western States Conference in the Spring of the residency year.

For more information, please visit http://www.westernu.edu/pharmacy/residency-fellowship