Published on May 13, 2020 by Sarah Waller  

Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy offers two postgraduate pharmacy residency programs. Earlier this month, its postgraduate year one (PGY1) community-based residency received a three-year extension of its accreditation from the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists, or ASHP.

The purpose of a PGY1 residency is to build upon a Doctor of Pharmacy education to develop community-based pharmacists with diverse patient care, leadership and education skills. Residents work to advance community pharmacy practice, educate patients, conduct practice-based research and innovate patient care services.

At Samford, this 12-month intensive learning experience is done in partnership with Christ Health Center, a federally qualified health center with medical, dental and pharmacy services in Birmingham, Alabama.

“We are incredibly proud of our PGY1 residency program, and the extension of our accreditation confirms the important role it serves in our mission of preparing exemplary pharmacists,” said Marshall Cates, professor and chair of McWhorter School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacy Practice. “At Samford, we expect a lot of our pharmacy residents, challenging them to be innovative through an interprofessional approach to patient-centered care.”

In addition to the PGY1 residency, McWhorter School of Pharmacy offers a postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency, which offers advanced training in ambulatory care practice.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.