The purpose of the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program is to build from the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) foundation to develop the ability of clinical pharmacists to responsibly manage the medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions. Throughout the residency training program, pharmacists will independently and confidently manage patients’ disease state-specific drug therapy as integral members of the healthcare team to help achieve appropriate patient outcomes. Additionally, resident pharmacists will proactively manage practice issues, will exhibit effective teaching and communication skills, and will commit to continuous lifelong learning and the advancement of the pharmacy profession. Upon completion of the PGY-1 program, the resident will be eligible for board certification and a PGY-2 pharmacy residency training program.

The VAMC Memphis has a long-standing tradition of providing clinical pharmacy services to the medical center and training highly-qualified pharmacy residents. The program was first accredited in 1963 and over 250 residents have completed training. Pharmacy residency training program at the VAMC Memphis has allowed residents to train at an advanced level of practice in a progressive pharmacy environment. Thirty-eight clinical pharmacy specialists contribute to clinical services throughout the medical center. Clinical Pharmacy Specialists provide a wide variety of clinical pharmacy experiences including medical ICU, surgical ICU, cardiology ICU, nutrition support, internal medicine, geriatrics, palliative care, spinal cord injury, hematology/oncology, emergency medicine, practice management, pharmacoeconomics, ambulatory care, mental health and home based primary care. Longitudinal clinic experiences include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, pain management, heart failure, emergency medicine, rheumatology, hematology/oncology,  geriatrics, infectious disease, nephrology, mental health and Hepatitis C.

The VAMC Memphis PGY-1 residency program is a twelve-month postgraduate training program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. At the completion of the program, pharmacists will have developed the clinical skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to provide excellent pharmaceutical care to both ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Residents have the opportunity to train with experienced clinical pharmacy specialists in a wide variety of clinical settings. Training schedules allow for flexibility, enabling residents to pursue areas of personal interest. Instructional and educational opportunities are available for residents to develop teaching and precepting skills by presenting lectures, leading small group discussions, and precepting students on clinical rotation. Associated PGY-2 programs in Internal Medicine and Ambulatory Care provide opportunities for training continuity following completion of the PGY-1 year.  

Program Structure:

Core required rotations (4 weeks)
- Ambulatory Care
- Critical Care Medicine (MICU)
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
- Nutrition Support/Surgical ICU
- Practice Management/Pharmacoeconomics  

Elective rotations (4 weeks):
- Repeat core rotation(s)
- Cardiology
- Home Based Primary Care
- Palliative Care/Pain Management
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Hematology/Oncology
- Mental Health Outpatient
- Mental Health Inpatient
- Antimicrobial Stewardship/ID

Pharmacotherapy longitudinal experiences (half-day per week for 8 weeks; choose 3-4):
- Rheumatology Clinic
- Hypertension Clinic
- Lipid Clinic
- Heart Failure Clinic
- Pain Clinic/Pain Coping Group
- Emergency Room
- Hepatitis Clinic
- Nephrology Clinic
- Endocrinology Clinic 
- Antimicrobial Stewardship/ID/HIV
- Outpatient Mental Health                 

Other required learning experiences
- Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring
- Formulary Management
- Applied Pharmacokinetics & Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Case report publication or poster presentation
- Journal Club
- Drug Usage Evaluation
- Pharmacotherapy Presentations (2 CE)
- IRB approved research project with opportunity to publish results
- University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy Teaching Learning Program
- Clinical/Operational Staffing on a rotational basis
- Pharmaceutical preparation and dispensing, applied pharmacy practice
- On a rotating basis, each resident serves as Chief Resident concurrent with other rotations.

For more information about our residency programs:
Visit our website: https://www.memphis.va.gov/careers/Pharmacy_Residency_Program.asp 

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