Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy offers a postgraduate year one (PGY1) community-based pharmacy residency program, which is a 12‐month intensive learning experience based in a community pharmacy. It is designed to develop leaders through experiences in patient care, dispensing, practice management, teaching, research and public health.

Residents will advance community pharmacy practice, educate patients and students, conduct practice-based research, innovate patient care and services and engage in community service.

The residency is offered in partnership with Christ Health Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

The purpose of this residency is to build upon the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to develop community-based pharmacists practitioners with diverse patient care, leadership and education skills who are eligible to pursue advanced training opportunities, including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies and professional certificates. 

Learning Experiences and Opportunities

Learning Experiences

The PGY1 community-based pharmacy residency is structured around six learning experiences:

  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Leadership and professional development
  • Pharmacy management
  • Practice advancement and improvement
  • Research
  • Teaching and learning

 Opportunities

  • Teaching and Learning Certificate
  • Presentation and state/regional/national meetings
  • Elective rotations

Travel

  •  American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacy Midyear Clinical Meeting
  • Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Clinical Meeting
  • Other travel as needed

Application Process

Applications are due by January 3.

Applicants must first register for the National Matching Service, then you may apply to our program via PhORCAS. Required materials include:

  • Completed PhORCAS application
  • Letter of intent
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Official pharmacy school transcript
  • Three letters of recommendation (one from a community pharmacist)

Note: Due to state regulations that significantly delay licensure, we are unable to consider international applications.

Current Residency Site

Christ Health Center

Christ Health Center is a federally qualified health center with medical, dental and pharmacy services that focus on patient centered medical care through an interdisciplinary approach located in a poor, predominantly African American neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama. With a full dispensing pharmacy located within a medical clinic, this site offers residents the opportunity to see work with patients from the start of care all the way to the completion of counseling. Founded by a local church to meet the needs of this underserved population, Christ Health Center takes a faith-based approach to care. Residents work with patients to improve affordability of medications through a 340B program and patient assistance programs. In addition to these services, Christ Health Center is an innovative pharmacy with both a Travel Medicine Clinic and Diabetes Clinic.

Learn More

We are always looking for ways to elevate community pharmacy practice.  If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact Stephen Brown.

Preceptors

Stephen A. Brown, J.D., Pharm.D.

Assistant Professor and Director, Community-Based Pharmacy Residency
Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Patrick Devereux, Pharm.D.

President/CEO at Family Medical Services, Inc. 

B. DeeAnn Dugan, Pharm.D., BCACP

Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice
Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Anna M. Lochamy, Pharm.D., BCACP

Site Coordinator, Christ Health Center 

Terri M. Wensel, Pharm.D., BCPS, TTS

Professor at  Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Residents

Current 2023-24 PGY1 Community Pharmacy Residents

Kristie L. Sanchez, Pharm.D.

PGY1 Community Pharmacy Graduates

 Jennifer Ha, Pharm.D.
Christ Health Center
Samford Univerity

Yelitza Nieves-Prosper, Pharm.D.
Christ Health Center
Samford University

Morgan W. Williams, Pharm.D., TTS

Christ Health Center
Samford University

 

Rebecca Clark, Pharm.D.

Christ Health Center
Samford University alumna
First position: Pharmacist, Cahaba Medical Care

Bianca Lascano, Pharm.D.

Christ Health Center
Virginia Commonwealth University alumna 
First position: PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency, University of Mississippi

Tiajana Gonzales, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at CVS Health
University of Hawaii alumna
First position after residency: Pharmacist, CVS

Matthew Holland, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Chad's Payless Pharmacy
East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy alumnus
First position after residency: Pharmacist, Chad's Payless Pharmacy

Heather Shiflett, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Pharmacist, Specialty Compounding and Wellness Pharmacy

Casey Mabus, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Chad's Payless Pharmacy
Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Pharmacist, Longs Drugs

Marie Welch, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Purdue University College of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Clinical Pharmacist, UAB Outpatient Clinic

Lindsey DeLoach, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
University of Tenneesse College of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Clinical Pharmacist, UAB Outpatient Clinic

Chelsea Leonard, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Chad's Payless Pharmacy
East Tenneessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Clinical Pharmacy, Chad's Payless Pharmacy

Anthony Bolus, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at FMS Pharmacy
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumnus
First position after residency: Clinical Coordinator, FMS Pharmacy 

Kara Walters, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
University of Mississippi alumna
First position after residency: Clinical Coordinator, Hometown Pharmacy

Mike Sigmon, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Chad’s Payless Pharmacy
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumnus
First position after residency: Co-Owner, Sigday Pharmacies

Deborah Suggs, Pharm.D.

PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Pharmacist, Hometown Pharmacy

Candice Mercadel, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident
Howard University alumna
First position after residency: Transition of Care Pharmacist, St. Vincent's Hospital

Logan Norman, Pharm.D.

PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumnus
First position after residency: Pharmacist, CVS Pharmacy

Zack Miller, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy alumnus
First position after residency: Clinical Pharmacist, Brookwood Hospital

Lowell Stone, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at FMS Pharmacy 
University of Mississippi alumnus
First position after residency: Pharmacist in Charge, 4th Avenue Drugs

Kim Hood, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Pharmacist, Walgreens

Lanae Kaney, Pharm.D.

Community Practice Resident at FMS Pharmacy
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Infusion Pharmacist, Solutions Infusion Therapy

Anna Meador, Pharm.D., BCACP

Community Practice Resident at Christ Health Center
Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy alumna
First position after residency: Assistant Professor, McWhorter School of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Director, Christ Health Center

In the News

Please see select recognition and articles from our team!

Articles

Walters KJ, Meador A, Galdo JA, Ciarrocca K. A Pharmacotherapy Review of Noval, Oral Antithrombotics. Specialty Care in Dentistry. September 2016

Welch M, Mabus C, Galdo JA. Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Influenza. US Pharmacist, April 2017

Leonard C, DeLoach L, Cohenour C, Galdo JA. Impact of an insurance plan comparison platform on costs for Medicare part D beneficiaries. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. May 2017.

Grants

Alabama Department of Public Health

  • Development of a Cardiovascular Clinic
  • Chad's Payless Pharmacy, 2016-2017

Alabama Department of Public Health

  • Diabetes Self-Management Education
  • Chad's Payless Pharmacy, 2015-2016