SOMC Pharmacy Residency Program Earns Accreditation

The SOMC Pharmacy Residency Program recently earned a 4-year accreditation through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Earning a 4-year accreditation through this prestigious society is one of the longest terms you can earn for a new program.

“We are really pleased because we are doing the right thing for our residents and showing the level of excellence that our patients deserve,” said Rory Phillips, SOMC Director of Pharmacy and Respiratory Therapy.

Pharmacists who are entering the field generally go on to attend a 1-year residency (known as a PGY1), and some continue as a PGY2 for an additional year of training. The world of pharmacy continues to grow more complex, and a residency essentially jump-starts their career, said Phillips.

During their residency at SOMC, pharmacy students will go through rotations approximately every 5 weeks where they will spend time with pharmacists and providers in different departments to expand their knowledge of the field.

To earn this accreditation, many of the pharmacists on the team had to take on additional roles, including teaching and documentation. The team includes SOMC Pharmacists: Rory Phillips, Jeremy Janney, Heather Rose, Derek Chapman, Matt Montavon, Casey Ross, Kevin Dilley, Jason Hemminger, Tyler Merritt, Lara Ramey and Jeremy Rawlins.

“Residency keeps us on our toes and challenges us to be the best clinicians we can be personally,” Phillips said,” and it challenges myself and the department to achieve optimal standard of practicing from which our patients benefit.”

Earning this accreditation is a tremendous accomplishment for the team.

“This shows our peers have recognized that we are providing excellence that we strive for every day,” Phillips said.