Welcome to the leading ambulatory care residency program in Canada
One of only three primary-care residencies in Ontario, and the only ambulatory care residency program in Canada fully immersed in a non-hospital primary care environment, the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy Ambulatory Care Residency was established in 2016 and received full accreditation status in 2019.
Program Highlights
The overall goal of this residency program is to produce pharmacy practitioners who are well-equipped to provide exemplary patient care in ambulatory practice settings. Important philosophies that will be emphasized throughout the residency include patient-centredness, evidence-informed practice, and collaboration with other health-care professionals. Pharmacy residents who complete this program will:
- Be more systematic in their approach to providing pharmaceutical care
- Have well-developed critical appraisal skills
- Be highly effective members of multidisciplinary teams
- Possess excellent problem-solving abilities.
The primary site for clinical training is the award-winning Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener Ontario. The team is comprised of over fifty health care professionals including pharmacists, family physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dietitians, social workers and a chiropractor. The Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team is also home to the Kitchener-Waterloo site of the McMaster Family Medicine Residency Program, and the eHealth Centre of Excellence.
In addition to learning under the guidance of provincially and nationally recognized clinicians, there are several unique aspects to this program that will benefit residents, including:
at the University of Waterloo
(e.g. EBM/journal club, resident rounds, etc.)
in primary care with comprehensive medical directives
at the School of Pharmacy
Please note we are not accepting residents for the Sept 2026 start until further notice. If you have any questions, please email Jeff Nagge.
I was mentored by some of the best in the profession. This residency program really is career changing.
Created in collaboration
Waterloo Pharmacy’s Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program, in partnership with the Centre for Family Medicine (CFFM), has received full accreditation from the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board.
Launched in 2017, this program is one of only three primary care residencies in Ontario and the only one in Canada not affiliated with a hospital. Through this unique partnership, residents gain invaluable experience working in community settings alongside a diverse range of healthcare professionals. The program, designed by Professors Jeff Nagge and Barb Coulston with CFFM, addresses a gap in advanced clinical pharmacy education, offering rotations in areas like anticoagulation, diabetes, and geriatric care, along with opportunities for teaching and research.