RESIDENCY INFORMATION
Dear Colleague:
I would like to introduce your students to our PGY1 pharmacy residency program at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (SAVAHCS). I am asking that you forward this message to graduating students to assist our program and your students in determining if SAVAHCS is a good fit for PGY1 pharmacy residency training.
SAVAHCS is an integrated Veteran’s Affairs health care system consisting of over 250 beds, primary care Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) and specialty clinics, two urban and five rural community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) in Tucson’s outlying areas serving over 50,000 Veterans annually. A wide range of inpatient and ambulatory care services are provided at the medical center including internal medicine, primary care, surgery, neurology, infectious diseases, nephrology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, pulmonary, cardiology, oncology, mental health, and emergency medicine.
The Pharmacy Service Line provides progressive clinical services to the medical center with approximately 130 pharmacy staff members, including more than 30 Clinical Pharmacy Specialists in a variety of practice settings. The medical center has a strong affiliation to the University of Arizona allied healthcare professions. Students and residents from many disciplines are trained at SAVAHCS each year, including nine pharmacy residents (8 in PGY1 program accredited since 1984, 1 in PGY2 oncology program accredited 2011), and many students from several colleges of pharmacy. SAVAHCS is also a technology and patient safety leader assisted by the extensive use of robotics and automation.
The residency program is an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited Pharmacy Practice residency and encompasses training in internal medicine, critical care, primary care, pharmacy operations, and administrative activities. Residents may choose electives in other areas of care to tailor specific interests within the training program. In the past, such areas have included oncology, specialty ambulatory care, cardiology, mental health, infectious disease, emergency medicine, geriatrics, and informatics.
The pharmacy residents are considered a vital part of the healthcare system and its mission to provide quality patient care in an environment that encourages active participation in the training process. Our preceptors take pride in being involved in training future pharmacy leaders. The clinical pharmacists are actively involved with teaching Doctor of Pharmacy students and the residents.
Tucson is a city of over 1 million people with a large university that still feels like your hometown. Enjoy warm, sunny weather (approximately 320 days a year) and outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, swimming, golf, tennis, rock climbing and skiing in your own
backyard (yes, skiing in Arizona!). The University of Arizona offers an assortment of sports, music, theater, and dance groups that tour the United States and perform on campus. Tucson is situated two hours southeast of the Phoenix/Scottsdale metropolitan area. Close enough to enjoy all the sports, concerts, theatre and shopping opportunities without the congestion! Click here to learn more about Tucson by visiting: https://www.visittucson.org/visit/around-tucson/about/chambers
The current pharmacy residents and some preceptors will be taking part in the virtual Residency Showcase at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting on Monday (12/7/2020) during the afternoon session to discuss our residency program with students who are considering residency training after graduation. Any additional questions may be sent to any of the contacts listed on our website.
http://www.tucson.va.gov/docs/PGY1_Pharmacy_Residency.pdf
The SAVAHCS PGY1 program participates in the ASHP Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS).
Thank you for your time and we look forward to hearing from your students!
Stephanie Davis, Pharm.D., BCACP
Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy Services and Education PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System
3601 S. 6th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85723
APPLICATION
Applicant Qualifications
- United States citizenship
- Doctor of pharmacy degree from an American Council on Pharmaceutical Education accredited school of pharmacy
- Pharmacist licensure in any state in the United States of America prior to or within 90 days of residency start date
- National Matching Service and Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) registration