Two Join Pharmacy Residency Program

The PCOM School of Pharmacy recently welcomed two new residents to its Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY-1) Residency Program. Brandon Cunningham, PharmD, and Keith Johnson, PharmD, started their year-long residency on July 1, 2016. They make up the second class of residents to participate in the PCOM School of Pharmacy residency program.

Dr. Cunningham earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. After completing his PGY-1 residency, he hopes to attain a position as a clinical pharmacist with an adjunct faculty position that also allows him to teach. Dr. Johnson, who is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, aspires to attain a PGY-2 residency specializing in ambulatory care and eventually work as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist.

Launched in 2015, the School of Pharmacy’s PGY-1 residency program is designed to prepare residents to work as clinical pharmacists with the ability to practice in a variety of patient care clinical settings and in academia. Residents also complete a teaching and learning curriculum over the course of the year and receive a teaching certificate. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), which is the national accrediting body for pharmacy residency programs, recently completed a two day site visit to survey the program. ASHP's Commission on Credentialing will meet in March 2017 to grant full accreditation to the program.

Kacie Waters, PharmD, and Priyam Mithawala, PharmD, were the first candidates to complete the PCOM School of Pharmacy’s PGY-1 residency and received certificates at the end of June. Dr. Waters accepted a position as a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist focusing on Acute Care with Kaiser Permanente, located in Atlanta. She will also serve as a PRN staff pharmacist for Gwinnett Medical Center. Dr. Mithawala joined the faculty at Presbyterian College's School of Pharmacy in Clinton, South Carolina as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice.