Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Residency

Residency Mission Statement

Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency

The University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy

El Paso, TX

Celebrating more than 15 years of Pharmacy Residency Training in El Paso

The UTEP School of Pharmacy in partnership with Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc. (La Fe) Community Health Center has created a unique community practice pharmacy residency experience located on the US-Mexico border.

PGY1 Purpose: PGY1 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

Brief Description: The unique focus of this residency program is to cultivate practitioners who are innovators, leaders, and mentors who have the genuine desire and perseverance to serve culturally diverse populations and advance patient care through team-based practice models in community pharmacy and ambulatory healthcare settings.

Experiences: Residents gain experience in a primarily Spanish-speaking community through direct patient care, pharmacy management, patient and health professional education, interdisciplinary team leadership, writing, and public health opportunities.

At the end of the program, residents will be prepared to:

• Navigate and adapt to a culturally and linguistically diverse patient population who often face socioeconomic challenges
• Develop and expand innovative community pharmacy and ambulatory care-based clinical services
• Provide community pharmacy administration, staffing, and management expertise
• Be a drug information and distribution resource for safe and appropriate medication use
• Engage in the educational development of current and future healthcare professionals
• Problem-solve and address the challenges of the present and evolving roles of our profession through participation in professional organizations

Residency graduates should be able: to obtain a position as a clinical pharmacist or pharmacy manager in a community or ambulatory healthcare setting, to continue education in a PGY2 residency, or to pursue a clinical faculty position based in an outpatient healthcare setting. 

This residency site agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any resident applicant.

PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Overview

The University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy, in collaboration with Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc. community health center in El Paso, Texas, has developed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program.

This community-based pharmacy residency helps establish a solid foundation of clinical and administrative skills needed in the ambulatory and/or community pharmacy setting with a special focus on pharmacy practice in a community health center setting in primarily Spanish-speaking communities.

Residents are matched with the main practice site and have the opportunity to rotate through other affiliated site(s) during the year. The Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program has been accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Pharmacists Association. The residency program was first established at Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc. (community health center pharmacy) in October 2005.

During the year, residents will also have the opportunity to learn about unique cultural and pharmacy issues affecting diverse patient populations, earn a teaching certificate, work with public health issues, and advance communication skills (e.g., Spanish tutoring) for working with Spanish-speaking patients.

Elective Opportunities: Inpatient Family Medicine. Others available based on resident interest and preceptor availability.

Certifications/Training: Residents will receive the following certifications/training depending on prior experience:

• Systematic Curriculum Design and Implementation (SCDI) through ASHP/APhA
• Teaching certificate through the UTEP School of Pharmacy
• Spanish Tutoring

Stipend: Competitive Package (Salary $40,000 + Excellent Fringe/Benefits + Robust Travel Allowance)

Travel Allowance: Residents receive funds to assist with travel to ASHP Mid-year meeting, the APhA Annual Meeting, and other local/regional travel/meetings as appropriate.

Vacation: 12 days (including professional interview days) + 12 clinic holidays

Benefits: Retirement Matching, Healthcare Insurance, Clinical Faculty Appointment, Earned Sick Leave

Contact: Jeri Sias, PharmD jjsias@utep.edu

Application Due: January 10^th via NMS

Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc.

Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc. (https://lafe-ep.org/) is a federally-qualified community health center serving the health and social-justice needs of a primarily low-income Mexican-American population. The La Fe Central Clinic and its affiliated sites address not only the community’s health-care needs, but also the area’s educational, and cultural needs.

Mission: La Fe’s Mission is “to improve the quality of life of those we serve by continually enhancing the health and human services provided.”

Clinical Pharmacy Services:

• Anticoagulation
• Diabetes, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia
• Health Education – Diabetes Empowerment Education Program^TM
• HIV/AIDS
• Immunizations
• Medication Reconciliation
• Smoking Cessation    
• Transitions of Care 

Other La Fe services:

• Pediatrics
• Social Services - Behavioral Health
• Women Infant and Children – Lactation Consultant
• Preparatory School (Pre-K through 8^thgrade)
• Cultural and Technology Center –Classes and services include: computer literacy; theater/dance/music; culinary arts; muralism; arts & crafts; poetry; ESL/GED/Citizenship Preparedness; and the La Fe Recording Studio

The Pharmacy Residency Program provides experience in working with different disease states and collaborating with physicians and primary care practitioners to provide clinical services to the community.  Residents will use current therapeutic guidelines and drug information resources to provide optimal care. There is a unique opportunity to develop Spanish-language skills to better communicate with patients. Because La Fe embraces a holistic approach to health care, residents will enjoy being able to connect with a community beyond clinical pharmacy services.

Clinic Sites:

PGY1 Learning Experiences

Clinic-Based Learning Experiences

• Disease State Management/Education (DSM/E) – anticoagulation, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking cessation, medication reconciliation & preventative care
• Family Practice– interprofessional teamwork, patient assessment, treatment of acute outpatient problems
• Transitions of Care – interprofessional teamwork, medication reconciliation
• Opportunities in HIV - interprofessional teamwork, La Fe HIV CARE clinic, preventative care

Patient-Centered Dispensing Learning Experience

• Develop staffing skills two days of the week (16 hours) in community health center pharmacy
• Integrate targeted interventions such as point-of-care device use, nutrition education, and immunizations
• Counsel in Spanish, serve as Pharmacist-in-Charge for an 8-hour shift each month, participate in staff meetings/development, participate in annual physical inventory

Administrative Learning Experience

• Work in a Joint Commission-accredited pharmacy, conduct a Drug Use Evaluation, lead a Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee meeting, develop a community pharmacy budget, oversee a 340B formulary, and present ISMP suggestions to P&T committee
• Develop collaborative drug therapy protocols as per Texas Pharmacy regulations

 Project/Writing Learning Experience

• Complete a year-long research project based in advancing pharmacy services at the primary site
• Apply for a small pharmacy grant, submit for a national poster presentation, and complete a manuscript

 Other Learning Experiences

• Culture, Literacy & Community Health- receive tutoring in Pharmacy Spanish (as needed) gain public health experience, and volunteer in community events
• Professionalism & Leadership - participate in local pharmacy association and service to the community
• Teaching- earn a teaching certificate (Didactic: 40 hours; Experiential: 110 hours), co-precept students, lead practical experimental labs, formal pharmacotherapy presentation, interprofessional education, health screenings
• Orientation – Introduction to the residency, start DSM/E, learn about the communityElective Learning Experiences: Inpatient Family Medicine, others available upon request and availability

 Elective Learning Experiences: Inpatient Family Medicine, others available upon request and availability 

Week-at-a-glance

* The residency week is based on a 45-hour week. Duty hours are integrated into the week to accommodate teaching, professionalism engagement, and other learning experience activities.

Current Residents

Carina A. Salazar, PharmD (2023-2024)

Education/Training:

PharmD – University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy
Bachelor of Sciencce – The University of Texas at El Paso

Practice Interests:

HIV Care, Diabetes, Disease State Management

Residency Project:  Expanding Pharmacy Access for Continous Glucose Monitoring Services in a Predominantly Hispanic Patient Population with Diabetes

Contact: casalazar7@utep.edu

“I chose the University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy Community-Based PGY-1 Residency to return to my hometown to serve the communities that first inspired me to enter the pharmacy profession. As a native El Pasoan, I enjoy what Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe does for its patients throughout the city. My favorite part about residency so far is working with the patients I see every day. I collaborate with an incredible team who support my career goals and are leading me to be well prepared for the next step in my career. The academic portion of residency has guided me to become a better leader in pharmacy and has introduced me to the role as a preceptor and educator. It is great to be back in El Paso and serve my community!”

Past Residents

Miriam T. Easo, PharmD (2022-2023)

Education/Training: PharmD - University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy

Practice Interests: Ambulatory Care, Family Medicine, Mentorship

Contact: mteaso@utep.edu

“I chose the University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy Community-Based PGY-1 residency not only because the program aligned with my practice interests, but it also allowed me the chance to serve a community that is traditionally underserved in medicine. Ambulatory care and service to the underserved are a few of my biggest passions and this residency has many opportunities to integrate these passions in multiple ways throughout the year. There is also an academia component to the residency that meets my interests in leadership and mentorship to student pharmacists. Although I have lived in Texas my entire life, El Paso is its own when it comes to the diverse and welcoming culture and community. My favorite part of the residency so far has absolutely been the people! The faculty, staff, and patients are wonderful and genuinely thankful for your service to them. As one of the PGY-1 residents, I feel that the program supports my career goals as well as my growth into a competent and confident pharmacist.”

PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Preceptors

Residency Director

Jeri Sias, PharmD, MPH

Residency Program Director 2008 - Present

Clinical Professor
The University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy

Education:
Texas Christian University (BA)
University of Kansas (PharmD)
The Ohio State University (Ambulatory Care Residency)
The University of Texas – Houston (MPH)

Practice Interests: Disease state management, medication literacy, public health, cultural competency, nutrition

Maribel Duran, PharmD

Pharmacy Director, Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc.

Education: University of New Mexico (2003), Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe – UTEP Community-Based Pharmacy Residency (PGY-1 Community-Based Pharmacy Practice Residency)

Practice Interests: Guiding and helping pharmacy residents and students achieve their optimum potential as pharmacy leaders.

Rafael Sanchez, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist at La Fe, Inc. and Clinical Assistant Professor for UTEP School of Pharmacy

Education: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (BS), University of Florida College of Pharmacy (PharmD), Aza Health (PGY-1 Ambulatory Care Focused), UF Health (PGY-2 Ambulatory Care)

Practice Interests: Family Medicine/Primary Care, Administration, Academia

Babette Pedregon, PharmD

Staff Pharmacist at La Fe Inc.

Education: University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Practice Interests: Community Pharmacy, Mentorship

Sandra Saenz, PharmD

Staff Pharmacist at La Fe Inc.

Education: University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy (BS and PharmD)

Practice Interests: Community Pharmacy, Mentorship

Karen Olivas, PharmD

Staff Pharmacist at La Fe Inc.

Education: University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Practice Interests: Community Pharmacy, Mentorship

Alaa Abdelhakiem, PharmD

Clinical Assistant Professor, UTEP School of Pharmacy

Preceptor: Teaching

Providers:

Juan Loya, MD: Medical Director

Roberto Johannson, MD: Pediatrics, Acute Care

Hector L. Rodriguez, DNP, FNP-BC: Community Medicine/Family Practice

Cesar G. Morales, P.A.: Transitions of Care

Post-Residency Placement and Certifications Earned Post-Residency