Development of a community-academic collaborative pharmacy residency program.

PURPOSE

To describe the development of a collaborative community-academic postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program in San Diego that provides a hybrid experience of opportunities in community practice, ambulatory care, and teaching.

SUMMARY

Residency training programs are being developed to better match the evolving role of the community pharmacist. In 2016, the University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences partnered with Ralphs Pharmacy, a division of the Kroger Co., to launch a 1-year community residency to develop community-based pharmacists with diverse patient care, leadership, and education skills. Learning experiences include pharmacy operations, clinical services focusing on chronic disease management and education, teaching, and practice-based research. Training settings include community pharmacy, corporate pharmacy, ambulatory care, and academia. Graduates are prepared to work in these settings as well as capitalize on advanced training opportunities, including postgraduate year 2 residencies and professional certifications. The program has been successfully accredited, and graduates have completed the program: one completed a postgraduate year 2 residency, and both have obtained a management or clinical pharmacist position.

CONCLUSION

An innovative community-academic residency program preparing postgraduate year 1 learners for careers in community-based pharmacy, corporate, ambulatory care, and academic settings was developed, with positive preliminary outcomes.