Alexandra Herman, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP
Pharmacy Service (119T)
Chantal Weiss, Pharm.D., BCACP
Pharmacy Service (119T)
Sami Roseberry, Pharm.D., BCPP
Email: samantha.roseberry@va.gov
Pharmacy Service (119T)
PGY1 Program Overview
The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program at the VA Central Texas Healthcare System (CTVHCS) in Temple, Texas, is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy (UTCOP). The CTVHCS PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program offers comprehensive training with a goal of producing well-rounded clinical pharmacists who, when finished, are well prepared to enter the role of a clinical pharmacist responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, pursue specialized PGY2 residency training, and are eligible for board certification. The ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency provides experiences in a broad array of clinical inpatient and outpatient pharmacy practice areas at a multidisciplinary teaching facility. The program’s required rotations are well-balanced between inpatient and outpatient settings, but residents can customize their year with the multitude of available elective rotations.
CTVHCS is comprised of two large VA medical centers located in Temple and Waco; a stand-alone multi-specialty outpatient clinic in Austin; five outpatient clinics in Temple, Brownwood, Bryan/College Station, Cedar Park, and Palestine; two contract clinics in Killeen and Copperas Cove; and a rural outreach clinic in La Grange. The CTVHCS PGY1 residency is based out of the medical center in Temple. There are opportunities to complete rotations at other sites including but not limited to Austin, Waco, and Cedar Park. This means travel between sites may occur during the residency year depending on the rotation schedule and incorporating resident preferences.
Do not hesitate to reach out to the Residency Program Director, Residency Program Coordinators, and/or current residents for more specific questions regarding our program. Choosing a residency program is an exciting yet stressful first step in your career, and we are committed to helping you obtain all the information you need to determine if we are the best match for you!
Please view our residency flyer for additional information.
Training
Required Learning Experiences
- Ambulatory Care I – 8 to 10 weeks
- Anticoagulation – 4 weeks
- Inpatient Pharmacy Operations – 4 weeks
- Internal Medicine – 8 to 10 weeks
- Orientation – 4 weeks
- Outpatient Pharmacy Operations – 4 weeks
- Pharmacy Benefits Management – 2 to 4 weeks
- Pharmacy Practice Management – 2 weeks
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Residency Project
- 12 months; two 1-week blocks in the fall & spring
- Education & Academia
- 12 months; 1 hour weekly
- Pharmacy Leadership
- 12 months; 2 hours weekly
- Staffing (Meds to Beds)
- 12 months; on Saturdays and holidays on a rotational basis amongst co-residents
- Population Health
- 8 weeks, 2 hours weekly
Elective Learning Experiences
Elective Block Learning Experiences
- Ambulatory Care II – 4 to 6 weeks
- Cardiology – 4 weeks
- Emergency Department – 4 weeks
- Geriatrics – 4 weeks
- Inpatient Psychiatry – 4 to 6 weeks
- Neurology – 4 weeks
- Outpatient Psychiatry – 4 weeks
- Pain Management – 2 to 4 weeks
- Residency Program Management – 2 to 4 weeks
- Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) - 4 weeks
- Women’s Health – 4 to 6 weeks
Elective Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Cardiology 10 to 12 weeks, 1 day per week
- Gout Clinic – 8 to 10 weeks, 1 day per week
- Pharmacogenomics – 12 weeks, 1 day per week
- Residency Program Management – 12 weeks, 1 day per week
Leadership
Major Leadership Position (2 residents per role)
- Quarterly Continuing Education Program Co-Coordinator
- Tuesday/Thursday Pharmacy Lunch & Learn Co-Coordinator
Minor Leadership Position (1 resident per role)
- Longitudinal Staffing Organizer
- Adverse Drug Event (VADERS) Organizer
- Pharmacy Week Organizer
- Preceptor of the Year Organizer
Shared Leadership Tasks for all PGY1 residents
- VA-ADERS Report
- Adverse Reaction Tracking System (ARTs) Report
- Hypoglycemia Safety Initiative (HSI) Report
- Present findings of the reports at P&T Meeting on rotating schedule
Projects and Presentations
Residents will complete the following projects/presentations:
- 1 continuing education (CE) presentation
- 1 patient case presentation
- 1 journal club presentation
- 1 quality improvement project (with a team of pharmacist mentors) to present at ASHP Midyear national conference and TSHP ALCALDE local state conference
- 1 drug monograph for pharmacy practice management rotation
- 1 UT Pharmacotherapy Rounds presentation
- UT TLFP teaching certificate (which involves precepting)
Mentorship
The CTVHCS PGY1 residency program offers a mentorship program to guide residents throughout the year. The mentor may assist the resident in personal or professional challenges encountered throughout residency, career goals and objectives, and navigating interpersonal relationships with providers, preceptors, supervisors/RPD, and co-residents. The mentor also serves as a role model and friend, acts as a resource and guide for residency related tasks and processes, and helps with any other concerns as they arise.
Residency Details
Location
Temple-Waco-Austin, Texas
Length of Residency
1 year
Positions Offered
4
Start Date
July 1st
Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. citizenship
- Pharm.D. from ACPE accredited College of Pharmacy
- Per National VA Policy, colleges of pharmacy must be fully accredited at the time of application; unfortunately, applicants from candidate status colleges of pharmacy are not eligible.
- Candidates should be eligible for licensure in any U.S. state or territory or District of Columbia
- Acceptance & participation in interview process
- Appointment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment screening to include a physical exam and drug test
Application Instructions
Application instructions can be found at the following website:
https://www.ashp.org/phorcas
Residents will be selected through National Matching Services.
ASHP Code: 74915
NMS Code: 122213
Application Deadline: January 4th, 2027
Submit your application through PhORCAS and include the following:
- Submission by the due date
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letter of intent
- Three (3) completed PHORCAS recommendation forms
- Official pharmacy school transcripts
- Unofficial undergrad transcripts are accepted
- Do not use artificial intelligence (AI) software in any component of your residency application
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Medical insurance (including optional dental and vision insurance)
- Annual leave (13 days accrued throughout the year)
- Sick leave (13 days accrued throughout the year)
- Paid federally-observed holidays (11 days)
- Administrative leave available for first attempt for licensure exams or VA interviews. This is approved on a case-by-case basis.
- On site parking
- Shared office space
- Funding for travel and tuition to a national and a regional conference
- You will not need any additional practice liability insurance during your residency
- Government cars are available for reservation for rotations not scheduled at the main facility. If utilized, the cost of gas and tolls is covered. The cars must be picked up and dropped off daily.