Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program

ASHP Residency Accredited Logo

The PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program conducted by Denver Health in Denver, Colorado is accredited by ASHP.

 

Denver Health – Ambulatory Care:

Denver Health is an integrated, efficient, high-quality health care system caring for nearly one-third of Denver’s population. We serve as a model for other safety net institutions across the nation, and in the last ten years, Denver Health has provided more than $2.1 billion in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health has 9 family health centers and 18 school-based clinics across the Denver-metro area. Our federally qualified health centers are Level 3 NCQA certified patient-centered medical homes and include the following services: primary care, clinical pharmacy, retail pharmacy, dental health, behavioral health, social work, medication-assisted treatment, and addiction counseling.

Our integrated healthcare system is also home to Denver Public Health Department, Correctional Care Medical Facility, Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Information Center, and Denver Health Managed Care to name a few. The ambulatory clinical pharmacy team provides comprehensive disease state management and population health services both in clinic and via telephone. Majority of disease state management in primary care includes anticoagulation, ASCVD risk reduction, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, hypertension, and latent tuberculosis infection, but this is not all-inclusive.

 

Program Purpose:

The purpose of the PGY2 pharmacy residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) 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 a PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

The ultimate goal of the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program at Denver Health is to train ambulatory care clinical pharmacists to become proficient in the design and delivery of ambulatory clinical pharmacy services within an integrated safety net health system as part of an interdisciplinary team.

 

Program Structure:

The residency program is structured into four quarter blocks. The resident will have 1-3 learning experiences each block either in a required and/or elective setting. Additionally, the resident will have one continuity of care experience throughout most of the year (October – June). The resident will also have 1-2 one-half days per week of administrative time to work on research, projects, etc.

The PGY2 Ambulatory Care resident will have the opportunity to build his/her own panel of patients and manage various disease states via collaborative practice agreements alongside other healthcare professionals (primary care and specialty providers, medical residents, nurses, behavioral health providers, social workers, etc.). To augment residency learning experiences, the resident may also choose to moonlight in the outpatient pharmacies within Denver Health. 

 

Required Learning Experiences

  • Primary Care – Adult, Family Medicine, Population Health (rotational; 3 months)
  • Leadership and Management (longitudinal; 12 months)
  • Research / Quality Improvement (longitudinal; 12 months)
  • Continuity of Care Clinic (longitudinal; 9 months)

 

Elective Learning Experiences (2-3 per year)

  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology Clinic
  • Oncology
  • Specialty Pharmacy
  • Pediatrics
  • Teaching Certificate through The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (longitudinal)

(Electives are 2 days per week for 6 weeks, unless otherwise specified)

 

Research and Teaching Experiences

  • Develop, review, and assess medication use evaluation (MUE) project. Present MUE at approved conference in December.
  • Design, conduct, assess, evaluate, and submit for publication a quality improvement research project. Present research project at approved conference near end of residency year.
  • Present Pharmacy Grand Rounds presentation (1 hour, CE accredited)
  • Optional participation in “A Structured Program to Guide Residents’ Experience in Research” (R.E.S.U.L.T.S.) Program.
  • Complete Colorado Pharmacy Residency Teaching Certificate Program (if not already achieved during PGY1 residency).
  • PGY2 Ambulatory Care residents will be required to co-precept the PGY1 residents, APPE students, and IPPE students while on learning experiences. In addition, the resident will provide in-services to pharmacy colleagues and other healthcare providers throughout the year.

 

Application Information

Applicants must be a PharmD graduate of an Accredited Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited degree program and completed or in progress of completing an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy residency. Applicants must be licensed and in good standing, or eligible for licensure in the state of Colorado by September 1st of the starting year. If not licensed by November 1st, the resident will be terminated from the program.

Denver Health participates in the ASHP National Matching System. Applications should be submitted electronically through PhORCAS. All materials must be received by January 3rd to be considered for the residency program. Necessary application materials include:

  • Letter of intent (maximum of 2 pages) highlighting the following:
    • Why you chose to apply for the Denver Health residency program
    • Your short and long term career goals
    • Your strengths and weakness at this point in career and how residency will help you develop and achieve your goals
  • Essay response to question about your personal experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Three letters of reference using the PhORCAS Standardized Reference Template with at least one from a preceptor in ambulatory care
  • Official college of pharmacy transcript

 

Current PGY1 Residents at Denver Health Medical Center may early commit to a Denver Health Medical Center PGY2 Residency Programs.

All completed applications will be reviewed by the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Advisory Committee to determine which candidates will be invited for an interview. Resident applicants are responsible for submitting all required materials online through PhORCAS. 

 

ASHP Code: 82027 

NMS#: 777265

 

Current PGY2 Ambulatory Care Resident: Christina Berg, PharmD (2023-2024)

 


Contact:

Kristin Rieser, PharmD, BCACP
Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Denver Health Eastside Clinic
501 28th Street
Denver, CO 80205
Email: kristin.rieser@dhha.org
Telephone: 303-602-6416
Twitter: @acdpharmd