Community Based Pharmacy Residency: Kroger & UC

Kroger Pharmacy, a prominent community pharmacy chain with over 100 locations in the greater Cincinnati area, is dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care and advancing the pharmacy profession. With innovative pharmacy designs featuring private counseling rooms, pharmacist-patient communication is enhanced, while services such as immunizations, health screenings, and medication therapy management are offered across all Kroger pharmacies in the Cincinnati/Dayton Kroger Marketing Area (KMA).

Within select locations, advanced patient care services are available, encompassing smoking cessation, diabetes self-management education, and coaching for diabetes and heart disease. Collaborative relationships with self-insured employer groups and various providers ensure the highest level of care. Each resident is assigned a primary training site at one of these locations, serving as the focal point for the majority of their training.

Through this program, residents will not only gain insights into managing a community pharmacy but also cultivate the essential foundation for practicing leadership and management skills in this setting. Furthermore, they will have valuable rotational experiences at the Kroger Division office and an ambulatory clinic, broadening their understanding of diverse pharmacy practices and expanding their professional horizons.

Preceptors:

• Mike Pleiman, PharmD, CDE
• Kelly Rogers, PharmD
• Matt Jensen, PharmD

A vital part of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program at the University of Cincinnati, the J. Richard Wuest Family Pharmacy Practice Skills Center offers hands-on training and experiential learning opportunities. Students engage in rotations through various stations, gaining practical experience and honing their skills in sterile preparations, patient counseling, patient assessment, self-care, and drug information.

As part of their role, residents play a pivotal role in teaching pharmacy students, facilitating small group sessions on ambulatory care topics such as blood pressure measurement, immunizations, diabetes patient care, and patient counseling. Residents also have the valuable opportunity to earn their Teaching Certificate, further enhancing their teaching skills. Moreover, residents have the option to design and teach an elective pharmacy course at the College of Pharmacy, enabling them to develop their own curriculum and share their expertise with fellow students.

Preceptors:

• Michael Hegener, PharmD, BCACP
• Katie Johnson, PharmD, MS, BCACP

To apply for the Kroger Health/University of Cincinnati Residency Program, please submit your application through PhORCAS™, ensuring that all standard elements are included. While applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, we encourage you to submit your application before January 2, 2024, as preference will be given to early submissions.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy.
• Eligibility for licensure as a pharmacist in the states of Ohio and Kentucky.

Selected candidates will be invited for onsite interviews, which will be conducted in January or February. As part of the selection process, we will evaluate applicants based on their academic record, practice experience, career goals, involvement in professional activities, and their potential to make a meaningful impact on the pharmacy profession. 

The Kroger Health/University of Cincinnati PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program participates in the ASHP Residency Matching Program, ensuring a fair and standardized selection process.

By joining the Kroger Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program, you'll enjoy a range of benefits designed to support your growth and success. These include a competitive annual residency stipend, comprehensive health insurance coverage, dedicated vacation time, and opportunities for professional and educational leave. We understand the importance of continuous learning and networking, which is why we provide financial assistance for residents to attend key professional meetings and conferences.

As a resident in our program, you'll receive a prestigious one-year appointment as an Adjunct Instructor at the esteemed James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. This appointment not only acknowledges your expertise but also opens doors to engage with students and contribute to their education. It's a unique opportunity to foster teaching skills, share your knowledge, and make a lasting impact on the next generation of pharmacists.

Completing the Kroger Health/University of Cincinnati Community-Based Residency Program opens up a world of exciting career possibilities. As a program graduate, you can explore diverse paths within the pharmacy profession, such as:

• Community Pharmacist: Apply your clinical expertise and patient-centered care skills as a community pharmacist, serving and improving the health of individuals in a community setting.
• Community Pharmacy Manager: Take on a leadership role as a community pharmacy manager, overseeing operations, implementing innovative practices, and ensuring high-quality patient care within a pharmacy setting.
• Academia/Professor: Share your knowledge and passion for pharmacy by pursuing a career in academia. As a professor, you can inspire and educate future pharmacists, contributing to the growth and advancement of the profession.
• Ambulatory Care: Thrive in the field of ambulatory care, delivering comprehensive pharmaceutical care to patients in outpatient settings. Collaborate with healthcare teams to optimize medication therapy and improve patient outcomes.

On the other hand, as you progress in your career, you might consider pursuing roles such as:

• District Pharmacy Leader: As a district pharmacy leader, you'll oversee multiple pharmacy locations, ensuring consistent high-quality care, implementing operational efficiencies, and driving exceptional patient outcomes across a broader region.
• Corporate Pharmacy Management: Step into corporate pharmacy management, where you can contribute to strategic initiatives, develop policies and procedures, and shape the direction of pharmacy services within a larger healthcare organization.
• Pharmacy Safety Leader: Specialize in pharmacy safety and risk management, utilizing your expertise to create and implement safety protocols, minimize medication errors, and promote patient well-being.
• Health Outcomes Researcher: Make a significant impact on patient care and healthcare policies by pursuing a career in health outcomes research. Conduct studies, analyze data, and generate evidence to support best practices and enhance patient outcomes.

These are just a few examples of the diverse career paths that await you upon completing the Kroger Health/University of Cincinnati Community-Based Residency Program. With the knowledge, skills, and experience gained during your residency, you'll be well-equipped to pursue a fulfilling and impactful career in the ever-evolving field of pharmacy.

Our program has a strong track record of success, as evidenced by the achievements of our past residency graduates. They have gone on to excel in various professional roles, including fellowships, pharmacy management positions, division coordinators, managers of clinical program development, assistant professorships at colleges of pharmacy, and clinical specialists in diverse settings such as community, hospital, and mail-order settings.

Notably, our residents have been recognized for their exceptional work, with twenty-one of them receiving the prestigious APhA Foundation Incentive Grant. Among these recipients, four have been honored with the esteemed Daniel A. Herbert Incentive Grant, an annual award that acknowledges the outstanding efforts of a community pharmacy resident or recent pharmacy graduate who is actively involved in expanding compensated pharmacy services. To provide you with a glimpse of the impactful projects undertaken by our residents, here is a summary of their projects from the past five years.