This PGY2 Pain Management/Palliative Care residency program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency training to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives for advanced patient care in pain management and palliative care.  Residents who successfully complete this PGY2 program are  prepared for advanced patient care or other specialized positions and board certification in pain management.   

The resident will be trained to be proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of both malignant as well as non-malignant chronic pain, acute pain and other symptoms commonly seen at the end of life. These skills will enable the resident to gain the necessary tools to be competent for positions in a variety of clinic settings where pain and symptom management are the primary focus.

As a member of one of the world’s largest integrated health care systems, the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) is a tertiary care, teaching facility that serves as the primary health care provider for more than 88,000 Veterans in Arkansas and is a referral center for VA Medical Centers in surrounding states.   CAVHS is a busy health care center, logging over 1.2 million ambulatory care clinic visits each year. This includes satellite clinics in Searcy, Pine Bluff, Conway, Mena, El Dorado, Mountain Home, Hot Springs, and Russellville.  CAVHS provides healthcare services on two main campuses, the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital located near downtown Little Rock and the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, located on the grounds of an old Army Post known as Fort Roots, approximately 7 miles away in North Little Rock. CAVHS provides a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology.  Comprehensive healthcare is provided through primary, tertiary, and long-term care.  General medicine and surgical services are offered as well as many specialty areas including mental health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, dentistry, ophthalmology, geriatrics, and women’s health.  The Medical Center has 280 operating hospital beds on both campuses as well as a 152-bed Community Living Center on the North Little Rock campus.  In addition, a 119-bed Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Unit provides long-term rehabilitative care on the North Little Rock campus.  Both campuses have an inpatient and outpatient pharmacy.

CAVHS is physically connected to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, home to the UAMS College of Pharmacy. The Pain and Palliative resident has the opportunity to complete the Teaching Certificate Program and the Research Certificate Program offered through the UAMS College of Pharmacy.  In addition, they may be appointed to the faculty as a clinical instructor for the purpose of facilitating in the P-2 and P-3 Therapeutics Recitation course.

Pharmacy Service at CAVHS is progressive and growing.  We employ over 90 pharmacists in operations and clinical areas.  Clinical Pharmacists are an integral part of the treatment teams, serving acute care teams, as well as practicing in various outpatient clinics including primary care, geriatrics, home care, psychiatry, integrated medicine, pain, women's clinic,  and hepatitis C.   Clinical pharmacy services are in high demand at this federal facility, giving us ample opportunity to develop innovative and advanced patient care practices in collaboration with the medical staff.

Estimated Stipend: $45,221

Accrued vacation and sick leave

Health insurance policies offered

11 Paid Federal holidays

Positions available: 1

Qualifications

All residents must be United States citizens and have graduated from an American Council on Pharmaceutical Education accredited college or school of pharmacy.  Applicants must meet requirements for federal employment, including physical exam. Candidates for our PGY2 specialty residencies should have completed a PGY1 Residency and maintain a pharmacist license in any state.

Application Checklist* 

CAVHS will accept residency applications through PhORCAS.  Application requirements include;

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Official Transcript from a U.S. Accredited Pharmacy Program
3. Letter of Intent
4. Three references using recommendation form through PhORCAS.  One letter must be from PGY1 RPD.
5. Copy of Pharmacist License (Upload in Supplemental Documents)
6. Proof of US Citizenship (Copy of Social Security Card, birth certificate, passport)

About Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

Pharmacy Residency Programs offered: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency, PGY2 Ambulatory Care Specialty Residency, PGY2 Geriatrics Specialty Residency, PGY2 Pain/Palliative Care Specialty Residency

Connections working at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System