Residency
Community Pharmacy
General Program Information
Welcome to the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Pharmacy Community Practice website! Thank you for your interest in our program!
We currently offer two post-graduate (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency positions with Emphasis in Community Practice.
Our ASHP/APhA–accredited program is conducted primarily at Kroger® Pharmacy in Athens and Jefferson, GA. Jefferson is located approx. 15 miles north of Athens. In general, approximately 60% of your weekly patient care and project time will be spent at the primary site.
Elective ambulatory care sites may include:
- Athens Regional Medical Center Warfarin Clinic
- Mercy Healthcare Clinic, Athens
- Specialty Care Clinic, Athens
- VA Outpatient Clinic, Athens
- Village Drugs, Athens
Through these practice sites, residents will have opportunities to:
- develop innovative community pharmacy and medication therapy management services and patient care clinics
- perform screenings, immunizations, and lab tests
- interact and collaborate with physicians and nurses as a part of a healthcare team to optimize pharmaceutical care
- provide community service health fairs and educational sessions
- precept and train pharmacy students both in small and large group settings at practice sites and in the classroom.
Residents will have access to highly diverse patient populations through a number of varied ambulatory care practice sites. UGA Community Practice Faculty members have developed unique practices, which provide excellent resident learning environments. Through Kroger Pharmacy, our primary residency program partner, residents have the opportunity to utilize learned ambulatory care skills in a busy, highly complex retail store.
Residency preceptors at each site will oversee the day to day activities of the resident and provide coaching and feedback on performance. Learning activities will be planned based on the resident’s individual practice needs and interests. Within this structure, the resident will develop patient care skills, design and implement programs and projects, precept students, work with and educate other healthcare providers, and teach patients.
All residents are required to conduct and complete (and submit for publication) a major research project. Preliminary data will be presented in poster format at the APhA Annual Meeting; more formally analyzed data will be presented at the Southeastern States Regional Residency Conference, held in Athens each spring. You will also be provided other professional travel and networking opportunities throughout the year.
All UGA residents will enroll in and complete the UGA Residency Teaching Program. A special teaching certificate will be awarded to residents at the end of the year indicating successful completion and proficiency as a pharmacy educator.
Other learning experiences include:
- Residency Orientation (July – mid August)
- Drug Information
- Practice Management Educational Sessions/Projects
- Practice Coverage on weekends
- Residency Class Trip
- Community Service
- Pharmacy Grand Rounds
- Faculty Journal Club
Mission and Purpose
The Mission of the University of Georgia Residency Program is to:
- promote and transform pharmacy practice in our community, state, and nation.
Upon completion of the residency, the resident pharmacist will:
- demonstrate proficiency in providing evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy management with interdisciplinary teams
- demonstrate excellence in providing medication and practice-related education and training and community service
- demonstrate professional maturity by exercising practice management and leadership skills
- demonstrate project management skills by designing, conducting, and publishing projects that advance the practice of community pharmacy
- manage the medication use process to assure, promote, and improve patient safety
- incorporate medical informatics into practice
The residency will enable community pharmacists to become proficient (competent, confident, and compassionate) direct patient care providers. Through rigorous coaching, these individuals will accept accountability for promoting evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy management programs that produce optimal drug therapy outcomes.
Residency practitioners will exercise skill in educating other healthcare professionals, students, patients, and the community on drug therapy-related topics. They will possess proficiency in resolving medication-related problems and conducting practice-related research. Through these experiences, residents will develop a fundamental understanding of and respect for community practice medication use processes.
UGA residents will at all times exhibit strong work place values of idealism, professionalism, excellence, and integrity. In this way, others might be inspired to take up the program’s mission. Furthermore, these individuals will demonstrate leadership by exhibiting a commitment to patients, colleagues, community, and profession.
Current Resident Information
Josh Guffey, Pharm.D.
Pharm.D.: Wingate University
Practice interests: Ambulatory care, smoking cessation, academia
Current project: Development and implementation of a smoking cessation clinic in a chain community pharmacy practice setting
E-mail: wguffey@mail.rx.uga.edu
Amber Watts, Pharm.D.
Pharm.D.: Campbell University
Practice interests: Diabetes, hypertension, self-care
Current project: Impact of a community pharmacist on patient knowledge of over the counter medications
E-mail: awatts@mail.rx.uga.edu
Graduate Resident Information
Patricia H. Powell, Pharm.D.
Community Pharmacy Practice Resident 2006-2007
Pharm.D.: University of Rhode Island
Current position: Clinical Assistant Professor in Community Practice, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Columbia, SC
Research project: Design of a medication therapy management practice model in a large chain drug store
Community Residency Preceptors
Preceptor biographies below include title, practice site(s), College of Pharmacy attended, residency training completed, practice and/or research interests, and email contact information:
Brian Buck, Pharm.D.
Clinical Associate Professor and Director of
Residency Programs
Practice site: St. Mary’s Health Care System, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: University of Georgia
Pharmacy Practice Residency: Shands/University Medical Center Jacksonville, FL
Critical Care Specialty Residency: University of Maryland/R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, MD
Practice interests: Residency Program Development, Critical Care/Emergency Medicine, Practice Management/Pharmacy Leadership, Patient Safety
Other interests: Scuba diving, hiking, music, writing
E-mail: bbuck@rx.uga.edu
Landon Castleman, Pharm.D.,
Clinical Assistant Professor (Adjunct), Pharmacy Manager, and Site Preceptor
Practice site: Kroger Pharmacy, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: University of Georgia
Practice interests: Clinical Practice in Community Pharmacy, Medication Therapy Management, Patient Education, Geriatrics, Psychiatry, Infectious Diseases
Other interests: Music, meditation, foreign languages, literature
E-mail: lbcastleman@hotmail.com
Daniel Forrister, Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Practice site: Village Drugs, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Community Practice Residency: University of North Carolina / Kerr Drug, Raleigh, NC
Practice interests: Community Practice, Resident and Student Precepting, Diabetes, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, HIV
Other interests: Travel, Music, Running
E-mail: dforrist@mail.rx.uga.edu
Tessa Hall, Pharm.D.
Pharmacist and Site Preceptor
Practice site: Kroger Pharmacy, Jefferson, GA
Pharm.D.: University of Georgia
Community Practice Residency: University of Georgia
Practice interests: Diabetes, dyslipidemia, MTM, smoking cessation, community practice
Other interests: Wakeboarding, traveling, snowboarding, family and friends
E-mail: ttickerhoo@aol.com
Keith Herist, Pharm.D., CPA
Clinical Associate Professor
Practice site: Specialty Care Clinic, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: University of Georgia
Practice interests: HIV/AIDS, Dyslipidemia
E-mail: kherist@mail.rx.uga.edu
Tommy Johnson, Pharm.D., CDE
Clinical Associate Professor
Practice site: Mercy Clinic, Athens, GA, Georgia Pharmacists Association, Atlanta, GA
Pharm.D.: University of South Carolina
Practice interests: Providing care for uninsured patients; clinical outcome improvement in diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension through patient education and medication therapy management (MTM)
Other interests: Rock and roll music, coaching youth sports, destroying Austin Powers
E-mail: tjohnson@mail.rx.uga.edu
Beth Bryles Phillips, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Associate Professor
Practice site: VA Outpatient Clinic, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: University of Kansas
Pharmacy Practice Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Ambulatory Care Specialized Residency: VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA
Practice interests: Ambulatory care, Residency training, NSAID-induced hypertension, Osteoporosis, Dyslipidemia
Other interests: Bicycling, spending time outdoors, traveling, playing with my girls
E-mail: bbp@uga.edu
Sukhmani (Sukh) Sarao, Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Practice site: Village Drugs, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: Virginia Commonwealth University
Community Care Pharmacy Practice Residency: University of Iowa
Practice interests: Community Pharmacy, Diabetes, Smoking Cessation, Hyperlipidemia
Other interests: Reading, Music and Dancing
E-mail: ssarao@mail.rx.uga.edu
Robin Southwood, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Practice site: St. Mary’s Health Care System, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: Purdue University
Critical Care Specialty Residency: Shands Medical Center, Gainesville, FL
Practice interests: Critical care medicine
E-mail: rsouthwood@mail.rx.uga.edu
Becky Waltman, Pharm.D.
Anticoagulation Management Service, Clinic Manager
Practice site: Athens Regional Medical Center Warfarin Clinic, Athens, GA
Pharm.D.: University of Georgia
Pharmacy Practice Residency: Methodist Healthcare of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Practice interests: anticoagulation, cardiology
E-mail: bwaltman@armc.org
Benefits and Services
Stipend/Benefits
Current resident stipend is $36,500 paid monthly over 12 months July 1-June 30. The resident is considered an employee of the University of Georgia and receives medical and dental insurance as well as paid vacation and holiday time. Appointment as Clinical Resident with the title of Clinical Instructor will be conferred. The residents have office space in the Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy. A computer with internet access will be provided. Additionally, project, presentation, and travel reimbursement will be available. Residents receive full Faculty access to college and web-based resources.
Holidays
The University of Georgia observes 12 official paid holidays each year. A schedule of the holidays is published each year by the University.
Vacation
The resident shall be entitled to accrue leave at the rate of 10 hours for each month during the term of the residency. During your residency, you must take all accrued annual leave as there is no provision to pay you the unused accrued annual.
Earned annual leave can be taken at times mutually acceptable to the employee and his/her immediate supervisor. Generally, a two-week notice to the Residency Director is needed before leave can be approved.
Professional Leave
Residents are allowed up to 10 days professional leave to attend professional meetings or participate in other professional activities. All professional leave must be approved through the Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy. The resident must submit a Travel Authority at least 2 weeks prior to their leave date.
Sick Days
The resident will accumulate paid sick leave at a rate of 8 hours per calendar month of service.
Lab Coats
Each resident will be furnished with one monogrammed lab coat at the beginning of the residency program. The resident will be responsible for cleaning/pressing. Residents may purchase additional coats if needed.
Malpractice Insurance
Residents will be responsible for their own malpractice insurance during their year of residency.
Outside activities and employment
Outside activities and work should not interfere with the normal schedule of the residents training. Any questions regarding this matter should be addressed to the Residency Director.
Parking
Parking passes are required for parking at the College of Pharmacy. Passes may be purchased from Parking Services Department at 325 River Road, Athens, Georgia 30602-6004 or online at http://www.parking.uga.edu. Phone (706) 542-PARK (7275) or FAX (706) 542-6301. Offices are open Monday--Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Application Process
Resident applicants should submit the following items when applying for the University of Georgia Community Pharmacy Residency Program:
- Letter of Intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Completed application form
- Transcripts from all Colleges of Pharmacy attended
- Copy of valid pharmacy intern license or pharmacist license
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from clinical practitioners who can evaluate your skills
Application materials may be downloaded and printed by using the links below:
Application Checklist
Application Form with Instructions
Recommendation Form (3 required)
All application materials should be mailed to:
Brian D. Buck, Pharm.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Director of Residency Programs
University of Georgia
College of Pharmacy
Athens, GA 30602
Important Web Links
University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
Georgia State Board of Pharmacy
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
American Pharmacists Association
Online Athens (information about Athens, GA)
University of Georgia Athletics
Contact Person
Brian D. Buck, Pharm.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Director of Residency Programs
Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy
Phone (706)542-5321.