The Community Care Pharmacy Practice Residency is a joint program offered by the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in collaboration with both Rite Aid Corporation and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Falk Pharmacy. The goal of the residency program is to provide a structured, postgraduate training experience that focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to provide pharmaceutical care and develop medication therapy management practices for patients in the community setting.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy along with our partners at the Rite Aid Corporation and UPMC Falk Pharmacy have developed a comprehensive Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Service. Pharmacists provide individualized patient care to identify, prevent, and solve drug therapy problems in collaboration with the patient's physician(s). The service is based in four, specially designed Rite CareSM Centers of Excellence in the Pittsburgh area, and at the UPMC Falk Pharmacy, an institutional outpatient pharmacy for patient and employees of the UPMC Health System. Pharmacists interview patients utilizing a standard documentation system. Pharmacists educate the patient on their drug regimen, provide therapeutic recommendations to the patients and/or their physicians, and ensure follow-up of patient care. Pharmacists collaborate with local physicians that may include actively seeing patients in a respective physician's office. In addition to the direct patient care activities in the pharmacy, pharmacists also do community-based talks and evaluations in their local area.
The four Rite Aid Corporation-Rite CareSM Centers of Excellence in Pittsburgh and the UPMC Falk Pharmacy will serve as the primary teaching laboratories for the resident. The resident will gain patient care and management skills through active participation in the provision of medication therapy management services to patients, the development of community outreach programs, the development of collaborative relationships with medical practices in the community, and through projects with Rite Aid, UPMC, and School of Pharmacy executive teams. The resident will have a structured educational component in collaboration with School of Pharmacy faculty. The resident will also collaborate with clinical and research faculty from the University of Pittsburgh to complete a community pharmacy research project. The resident will hold an Adjunct Instructor position at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and participate in teaching student pharmacists.
Program Director: Melissa Somma McGivney, PharmD, CDE
Block Core Rotations
- Community Practice
- Family Medicine
- Patient Care Practice Development
Electives (based on availability)
- Underserved Population Care
- Ambulatory Care
- Teaching and Assessment
- Drug Information
Application Process
Eligible candidates will have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy and will be eligible for Pennsylvania licensure prior to beginning the residency program. An on-site interview is required. Application materials include: letter of intent, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and a pharmacy school transcript. All application materials should be forwarded by January 10 to:
Melissa Somma McGivney, PharmD, CDE
Director, Community Care Pharmacy Practice Residency
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
721 Salk Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: 412-624-8142
E-mail: somma@pitt.edu
Residency Program
Duration/Type: 12 months
Number Positions: 2
Application Deadline: January 10
Starting Date: July 1
Estimated Stipend: $32,000
Benefits: Health, dental, eye care, life, and disability; 2 weeks vacation; minimum 1 week professional travel, travel support available
Interview Required: Yes
Training Site Type: Community
Owner/Affiliates: Private
