Michael Brandt, Pharm.D., F.A.S.H.P., will lead the pharmacy
residency program at Kootenai Health.
Pharmacy
Practice
Residency
RAISING THE BAR FOR
PHARMACY PROFESSIONALS
IN NORTHERN IDAHO
By Andrea Nagel
It’s no surprise
that being well educated and having
job experience are two desired qualities in an employee.
But it can make it difficult for students to get jobs in their
field directly out of college. That’s why Kootenai Health is
working to grow educational and hands-on opportunities
for students to gain the experience they need to compete
in the job market. The latest opportunity Kootenai is
working on is a Pharmacy Practice Residency program for
postgraduate pharmacists.
“Pharmacy residencies are in high demand in
the United States right now,” said Michael Brandt,
Pharm.D., F.A.S.H.P., pharmacy clinical supervisor
at Kootenai Health. “The experience is highly valued,
especially in the hospital setting.”
Last year there were approximately 4,000 residency
positions available for graduating pharmacy students
and over 5,000 applicants.
“We’re trying to help meet the need for these types
of programs,” Michael said.
Kootenai’s program will provide two residents with an
intense, one-year program where they will work on-site
with several mentors called preceptors—each with a
different area of expertise. The pharmacy residents
will also be able to interact and work with the family
medicine residents who will also be in their first year.
“We are really excited to have these programs at
Kootenai and to see them team up and support each
other,” Michael said. “Not only will these programs
give us a potential pool of new employees, but these
residents will get a real feel for working in the health
care environment. It also helps us work toward our goal
of becoming a teaching institution.”
A long application and interview process through
the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists
(ASHP) helps to match residents to the best-suited
program. Michael explained that residents first apply
and then interview with various programs throughout the
first part of the year. From there, the program directors
rank their top choices for candidates, and residents rank
their top choices for programs. Residents and programs
are then matched accordingly. The pharmacy residents
are expected to start the first part of July 2014.
“Bringing this level of expertise to our community
draws better employees and a higher level of quality
and learning,” Michael said. “This in turn continues to
raise the bar for patient care and ensures a high level
of expertise from our pharmacists.”
“Not only will these programs give us
a potential pool of new employees, but
these residents will get a real feel for
working in the health care environment.”
—Michael Brandt, Pharm.D., F.A.S.H.P.
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