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 PGY1 Community-Based Specialty Pharmacy Residency 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 both their PGY1 Community-Based Specialty Pharmacy Residency 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 program builds on pharmacy education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care for specialty pharmacy 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:
Master's of Science 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.
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 one of our call center teams. 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.
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
Samantha Bochenek, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, CSP Department of Pharmacy Services
Application Deadline: January 2
Starting Date: Mid-June 2026
Number of Positions: 1
Requirements: Doctor of Pharmacy degree, licensure (or eligibility for licensure) in the state of Kentucky
Required PGY1 Rotations: Refer to the PGY1 Specialty website
Meet Our Preceptors
Residents will complete experiences from the opportunities listed below.
Specialty Pharmacy (S.P.) Experiences
(select one option from each category)
Specialty Pharmacy Call Center Practice
Specialty Pharmacy Clinic Practice
Thank you for expressing interest in the University of Kentucky pharmacy residency programs! All applicants must be a graduate of an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy and be eligible for licensure in the state of Kentucky. Please direct any application-related questions to: Samantha Bochenek, Residency Program Director.
Applicants must participate in the match process sponsored by the National Matching Service, Inc. (http://www.natmatch.com/ashprmp).
Applicants should complete the standard PGY1 application on PhORCAS. (https://portal.phorcas.org/). Please note this includes three (3) recommendations from individuals who can comment on the applicant's clinical abilities. It is preferred that at least two recommendations come from preceptors. Formal letters are not required.
Applicants should have all PhORCAS application materials submitted by January 2, 2027, 11:59 PM EST.
