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.
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 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; 1 Saturday monthly and rotating major and minor holidays
Elective Learning Experiences
- Ambulatory Care II – 4 to 6 weeks
- Cardiology – 4 to 6 weeks
- Critical Care & Infectious Disease – 4 weeks
- Emergency Department – 4 weeks
- Geriatrics – 4 weeks
- Inpatient Psychiatry – 4 weeks
- Neurology – 4 weeks
- Outpatient Psychiatry – 4 weeks
- Pain Management – 4 to 6 weeks
- Residency Program Management – 2 to 4 weeks
- Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) - 4 weeks
- Women’s Health – 4 to 6 weeks
- Gout Clinic – 8 to 10 weeks, 1 day per week
- Pharmacogenomics – 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)
- Drug information Service Organizer
- Longitudinal Staffing Organizer
- Adverse Drug Event (VADERS) Organizer
- Tuesday/Thursday Pharmacy Lunch & Learn Conference Schedule development
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 IPPE/APPE 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
Brochure and Flyer
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) accredited School 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.
- Residents should be licensed or eligible for licensure in any U.S. state or territory or District of Columbia. Each resident should be licensed upon entry into the residency program, or as soon as testing scheduling allows. Residents should attempt to schedule their licensure exams prior to the start of residency. If residents are unable to obtain licensure before the start of residency, they should contact the RPD and schedule their licensure exams as soon as possible. Licensure must be obtained within 120 days of the residency start date. Residents not licensed by September 1st risk being terminated from the residency program if any learning experiences completed during the pre-licensure period indicate poor performance. Per ASHP requirements, licensure must be obtained within 120 days of the residency start date.
- Review eligibility requirements (https://www.va.gov/oaa/hpt-eligibility.asp)
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 5th, 2026
Submit your application through PhORCAS and include the following:
- Letter of intent, curriculum vitae, three (3) letters of recommendation, and official pharmacy school transcripts
- Unofficial copies for undergrad/pre-pharmacy transcripts are accepted
Benefits
Competitive salary
Medical insurance (including optional dental and vision insurance)
Annual leave (13 days)
Sick leave (13 days)
Paid federally-observed holidays (11 days)
Funding for travel and tuition to a national and a regional conference