PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program at WVU School of Pharmacy and Family Medicine

Program Director: Angela L. Goodhart (angela.goodhart@hsc.wvu.edu)
Program Coordinator: Heather A. Johnson (hejohnson@hsc.wvu.edu)
Positions: 1

PGY2 Purpose Statement

PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

Program Description

The Post-Graduate Year Two (PGY-2) Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at WVU School of Pharmacy builds upon the ambulatory care-related competencies established in Post-Graduate Year One of residency training. The PGY-2 Ambulatory Care program increases the resident’s depth of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities to raise the resident’s level of expertise in medication therapy management and clinical leadership in the ambulatory care setting. The resident will exhibit a commitment to the profession of pharmacy and be able to develop their own personal plan for professional development. Residents will conduct their daily practice with a high level of maturity and leadership. Residents completing this program will have knowledge, skills, and abilities that are highly marketable for positions in physician offices, pharmacist-run ambulatory care clinics, community pharmacies, population health departments, and Schools of Pharmacy. They will also be able to sit for board certification in ambulatory care pharmacy.

Program Overview

The PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at WVU School of Pharmacy provides the resident with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to become an expert in clinical pharmacy practice as it relates to ambulatory care and teaching. The program is a twelve-month, postgraduate training experience composed of the core elements of service, teaching, and scholarship. The program varies for each resident based upon their goals, interests, and previous experience. Elective rotations are available to permit the resident flexibility in pursuing individual goals. Additional requirements include the development and completion of practice-related research, the development of oral/written communication skills, the presentation of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited continuing education (CE) seminar, the participation in various School committees, operational practice in various clinic settings, and completion of the teaching and learning curriculum. Upon successful completion of the requirements, residents will receive a residency certificate.

PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program – Learning Experience Structure

Residency Program Design and Structure

Learning experiences provide the structure of resident training in specialized areas of pharmacy practice. The resident is expected to review the learning activities and objectives for each learning experience as a foundation for practice. Residents are expected to perform independently and demonstrate proficiency in the learning experience. The preceptor provides guidance and assistance to the resident and ensures that the goals set forth by the resident and program are met. The preceptor provides the resident with evaluation of their progress, including an evaluation at the midpoint and conclusion of each longitudinal experience. 

Frequent, clear communication is the key to a successful resident-preceptor relationship. In order to maximize the learning experience, the resident is expected to, in a timely manner, inform the preceptor of all absences, conflicts, or concerns that might arise during the learning experience. Residents shall prepare for topic discussions, read materials in a timely manner, and perform other tasks as assigned. Prior to the beginning of each learning experience, the resident should meet with the preceptor to discuss the requirements and expectations of both parties.

The first learning experience for PGY-2 residents in Ambulatory Care is orientation. The introductory experience includes, but is not limited to, pharmacy-based lectures and departmental orientation to be completed at the WVU School of Pharmacy, University Town Center Department of Family Medicine, and Ruby Memorial Hospital. Following orientation, the resident completes an Introduction to Family Medicine Learning Experience based at the University Town Center Department of Family Medicine.

Required Block rotations

  • Orientation (3 weeks)
  • Introduction to Family Medicine (3 weeks)
  • Family Medicine Preceptorship (6 weeks)

Required Longitudinal Rotations

  • Family Medicine and subspecialty clinics:
    • Family Medicine Continuity Clinic 1 (2 half days x 20 weeks)
    • Family Medicine Continuity Clinic 2 (2 half days x 20 weeks)
    • Metabolic Weight Management (1 half day x 20 weeks)
    • Diabetes Care (1 half day x 20 weeks)
    • Chronic Respiratory Care (1 half day x 20 weeks)
    • Geriatric Care (1 half day x 20 weeks)
    • Home Based Primary Care (20 weeks)
    • Pharmacy Clinic (20 weeks)
  • Outpatient Psychiatry (1 half day x 20 weeks)
  • Academic Experience 1 (2 half days x 16 weeks)
  • Academic Experience 2 (2 half days x 12 weeks)
  • Leadership and Practice Management (1 half day x 20 weeks)
  • Leadership Selective (1 half day x 20 weeks or 2 half days x 10 weeks, depending on selection): Course Coordinating and Academic Administration, Patient Centered Medical Home and Population Health, Advanced Community and Advocacy)
  • Research and Scholarship (1 half day x 49 weeks with 2 extra half days per week for 3 weeks in December)

Elective Longitudinal Rotations (1/2 day x20 weeks or 2 half days x 10 weeks)

  • Internal Medicine
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Long Term Care (Nursing Home)
  • Women’s Health
  • Pharmacy Quality
  • Endocrinology
  • Neurology

Other options other than those listed may be considered for elective rotations as opportunities arise. Residents must complete at least 3 separate electives, although they may choose to repeat an elective based on interest and feasibility, provided they determine new goals to focus the experience on. 

A 52-week schedule of the resident learning experiences provides a framework for structured learning activities.  The resident and the director or coordinator will meet at the beginning of the year to form a plan for development. As the resident acquires additional knowledge and learning experiences, their goals may change.  The resident’s schedule and expectations for each individual learning experience are determined by the preceptor and reviewed with the resident at the beginning of each longitudinal learning experience.  It is the responsibility of the resident to, in a timely manner, personally inform the preceptor of all time conflicts.  This includes additional meetings that might arise, absences to attend professional meetings, etc.

Application Instructions

Candidates should submit 

  • A curriculum vitae
  • Letter of intent stating career goals, strengths and opportunities for growth
  • Three letters of recommendation (through PhORCAS)

Instructions for letter writers: Please comment on the candidate's clinical problem-solving skills and their response to constructive feedback.

Because of timelines and competition within the pool of applicants, the University is unable to sponsor visas for foreign pharmacy residency applicants.