UK HEALTHCARE Specialty Pharmacy Administration & Leadership

UK launched a dual PGY1/PGY2 residency in Specialty Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (SPAL) in July 2018.  This program encompasses a two‐year experience that combines the well-rounded clinical experience of UK’s separate PGY1 residency program with the rotational and longitudinal management and leadership experiences during the PGY2 SPAL residency year.  Although this program is marketed as a combined PGY1/2 program it is actually two separate programs where the accepted candidate is committed to completing their PGY1 at UK followed by their PGY2 in SPAL at UK. Residents in this program also pursue a Master of Science degree from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Graduates of the program will be experts in the clinical, operational, and business aspects of a health system specialty pharmacy. 

The PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on pharmacy education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care for patients with a wide range of conditions. 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.

The program is offered in 3 separate segments:

• PGY1 portion
• Master's of Science portion 
• PGY2 portion

PGY1 Portion

The first year of the program focuses on enhancing patient care skills. Residents are encouraged to develop their communication skills by teaching PharmD students in classroom lectures, pharmacotherapy breakout groups, and clinical clerkships. An AACP award‐winning certificate program in scholarship and teaching exposes residents to teaching philosophies, innovative teaching techniques, and accreditation standards.  Research is readily available and required throughout the program in each resident's area of interest. The program encourages residents to pursue their personal interests while becoming well‐rounded clinicians by providing them with the flexibility to directly design their residency year schedule.  Each resident will give an ACPE accredited presentation at UK College of Pharmacy Grand Rounds.  A certificate will be awarded upon completion of the PGY1 portion. For additional information on the PGY1 portion and requirements associated with this year, please reference the PGY1 Residency Program manual.

PGY2 Portion 

The second year of the program focuses on developing business and leadership skills in the area of Health-System Pharmacy with a focus on specialty pharmacy. Residents are given opportunities to participate in implementation projects, participate regularly on interdisciplinary committees, and lead process improvement initiatives. This program will foster an environment of safe and effective use of medication practices from a leadership perspective. Research is readily available and required throughout the program in specialty pharmacy.  Each resident will give an ACPE accredited presentation at UK College of Pharmacy Grand Rounds.  The resident will work closely with the pharmacy leadership team to manage all of the human resources aspects of our Pharmacy Intern Program. Rotations will be sequenced based on preceptor availability and the resident’s career interests. A certificate will be awarded upon completion of the PGY2 portion.

Masters Education (replaces MBA component)

This program includes the completion of a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (with specialization in health system pharmacy administration) from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The degree is offered collaboratively with residency leadership training programs at leading institutions across the country and allows residents to gain experience in a variety of settings, while also fostering collaboration in didactic education. The MS degree is completed longitudinally over the two-year residency and is fully covered as a component of the residency program (may result in tax implications).

More information is available HERE