Authors: Catherine Du, PharmD Candidate, Oregon State University & Tara Pfund, PharmD, Residency Program Director (Cascadia Pharmacy Group)
As a fourth-year pharmacy student on the cusp of graduating, I’ve spent countless hours weighing my options for the future. While clinical and hospital residencies often dominate the conversation, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to community-based residency programs. After speaking with several pharmacists at Cascadia Pharmacy Group (CPG) who have either completed these residencies or are supporting future programs, I’m convinced that this path offers unparalleled benefits and opportunities for growth.
What is a Community-Based Residency?
Community-based residency programs are designed to develop clinical, managerial, and leadership skills within the community pharmacy setting. Unlike traditional residencies, these programs focus on providing patient care in community settings, including independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies, and outpatient clinics. The goal is to train pharmacists who are well-versed in direct patient care, medication therapy management, immunizations, health screenings, and other services that enhance public health. Community-based residencies enhance patient care in the communities they serve and provide valuable support to the practitioners and leaders involved.
Why Community-Based Pharmacy Residency?
Direct Patient Impact: One of the most compelling reasons to choose a community-based residency is the opportunity to make a direct impact on patients’ lives. Community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare providers, and the relationships built with patients are deeply rewarding.
Diverse Clinical Experience: These programs offer a breadth of experience that is both deep and wide. From managing chronic diseases to providing preventive care, community-based residencies cover a wide array of clinical services.
Professional Flexibility: Community-based residencies often offer more flexibility in terms of elective rotations. This allows residents to tailor their experiences to their interests, whether it’s diabetes management, business ownership, academia, informatics, or public health.
Longitudinal Rotations: Unlike traditional residencies, community programs often include longitudinal rotations. These extended experiences in a specific area allow for a deeper understanding and continuity of care, fostering stronger patient relationships and better health outcomes.
Lifelong Connections: A residency year is not just about professional development; it is also about building lifelong connections and relationships. The pharmacists you meet and work with during your residency become part of your professional network, providing support, collaboration, and opportunities throughout your career.
Focused Learning with a Safety Net: Completing residency training gives pharmacists one more year to focus on learning and developing their skills while being the final decision-maker, but with the support and guidance of experienced mentors. This additional year of structured learning helps build confidence and expertise in a real-world setting.
Academia and Teaching Experience: Many community-based residency programs are layered with academic components, allowing residents to gain experience in teaching and precepting. This not only enhances their knowledge but also prepares them to educate and mentor future generations of pharmacists.
Community-Based Residency Experiences
As a student, the prospect of a community-based residency is incredibly enticing. It offers a unique blend of clinical and interpersonal skills, providing opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. Mikalya Turner, PharmD Candidate Oregon State University and fourth-year pharmacy student on rotation with CPG states “Pursuing a community-based residency aligns with my goal of serving underserved communities. Through independent pharmacy rotations, you develop the skills necessary to build meaningful relationships with community members and connect with future pharmacists who share similar goals.”
Mikayla Turner, PharmD Candidate at Oregon State University
“Through independent pharmacy rotations, you develop the skills necessary to build meaningful relationships with community members and connect with future pharmacists who share similar goals.”
During my fourth year as a pharmacy student, I realized the true essence of a community pharmacy residency. It offers a unique blend of clinical and interpersonal skills, allowing me to form lasting relationships with patients while providing comprehensive care. Hands-on experience and the ability to make a tangible difference in a close-knit community are invaluable. Community residency is not just a steppingstone in my career but a profound opportunity to grow as a healthcare professional dedicated to personalized patient care.
Insight from Cascadia Pharmacy Group Pharmacists
After speaking with several pharmacists who have completed community-based residencies or support future programs within CPG, I’ve gained valuable insights into what makes these programs exceptional. Many pharmacists emphasized the unique importance of longitudinal rotations not typically found in other residency programs. These extended periods (for example a single day, all year long) in a particular setting allow them to develop strong, trusting relationships with patients, pharmacy team members, providers, and the community. This enables them to see the long-term impact of their interventions.
The ability to choose elective rotations was a highlight for many. This flexibility allowed them to explore different areas of interest, tailoring their residency to their career goals and passions. One of the most significant benefits cited was the network of pharmacists they built during their residency. These connections provided ongoing support, collaboration, and opportunities long after the residency ended. The residency program was a period of immense growth, both professionally and personally. The hands-on experience, combined with the mentorship from seasoned pharmacists, helped them develop confidence, expertise, and a deep sense of purpose in their careers.
Crystal Bryan, Cascadia Pharmacy Residency Program Preceptor and past Community-Based resident stated “My residency set a different trajectory for my career as I was challenged to grow personally and professionally by each of my preceptors. Not only did I have dedicated time to develop my clinical skills and work on my research project, but I was also exposed to many different teams, thought processes and approaches to complex situations. It further instilled a passion for lifelong learning, an appreciation for alternative viewpoints and collaboration and a strong work ethic. Like with anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it and I’d challenge every resident to pour their hearts into their year of networking, learning and growth and it will be one of your greatest investments.”
Crystal Bryan, CPG Residency Program Preceptor and Past Community-Based Resident
“Not only did I have dedicated time to develop my clinical skills and work on my research project, but I was also exposed to many different teams, thought processes and approaches to complex situations.”
Community-based residencies are not only beneficial for students but also incredibly enticing for pharmacy owners. New pharmacists bring fresh ideas and the latest knowledge from their academic and clinical training. They expose pharmacy owners to cutting-edge practices and innovations within the field, helping keep the pharmacy at the forefront of healthcare. This influx of new ideas and approaches can invigorate the pharmacy’s practice and lead to the implementation of new services and programs.
Matt Binder, Pharmacy Owner and Primary Preceptor of the Seattle-Based residency program out of Ostrom’s Drug & Gift, states, “We’ve been taking students at our stores for years and have been recognized by the universities as top preceptors. Even as I’ve become the owner of three stores, I’ve always prioritized time with upcoming students. I know each pharmacy owner has a dedication and an obligation to the future – no matter how hard we work we simply cannot make as big of an impact on the world as we can by helping bring up the next generation, just as the pharmacists who came before us put time into raising us. We had a great experience with our first LEAP student who spent 3 months at our stores. This gave us the proof of concept that now was the right time to start a residency program – a project we had wanted to start on for years.”
Matt continued to describe his innovative practice site, stating “our independent stores offer a great opportunity for a resident to work on projects that are interesting to them. We staff our stores well and our ownership is entirely local. Our transparent ownership and management can give a resident real insight into our role in the industry and our ability to help patients.”
Moreover, having a resident provides tremendous value to the residency site as well. With a resident on-site year round, completing longitudinal rotations, the pharmacy has increased flexibility to try new initiatives that they may not have had the capacity to explore before. Whether it’s starting a new patient care service, enhancing community outreach programs, or adopting new technologies, residents can spearhead these projects, bringing their enthusiasm and up-to-date knowledge to the table.
“It has always been a deep passion of mine working with residents. Community-based residencies allow us to truly push our profession forward combining brilliant minds, outstanding pharmacy sites, and innovative ideas”, states Tara Pfund, PharmD, Residency Program Director (RPD) with CPG and past Community-Based Resident.
The Path Forward
Choosing a community-based residency program is an investment in your future. It offers a unique blend of clinical experience, patient interaction, and professional development. For those who are passionate about making a tangible difference in their communities and building lasting relationships with patients, a community-based residency is an excellent choice.
As I prepare to embark on my own journey, I am excited about the prospect of joining a community-based residency program. The experiences and insights from the pharmacists at Cascadia Pharmacy Group have solidified my belief that this path will not only enhance my clinical skills but will also enrich my professional and personal life in ways I had not imagined.
For any fourth-year pharmacy student considering their next steps, I encourage you to explore community-based residency programs. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable.
Ready to Learn More?
Or, email our Residency Program Director, Tara Pfund, at tara@cascadiapharmacygroup.com.