The Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board confirms 4-year award to the University of Waterloo and Centre for Family Medicine - Family Health Team
As the role of the pharmacist within Ontario continues to expand and pharmacists are being called upon to develop their clinical skills even further, there is a need for more advanced clinical training programs.
The University of Waterloo and Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team residency program graduates primary care pharmacists who provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care for our growing communities. The program has been awarded full accreditation by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board.
The University of Waterloo and Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team residency program is the only ambulatory care pharmacy residency program in Canada that is not housed within a hospital institution. Located within the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener, Ontario, the program closely serves the needs of the local patients.
Barb Coulston
“Creating a unique approach to a pharmacy residency program has been very exciting these last six years,” says Barb Coulston, adjunct clinical associate professor at the University Waterloo School of Pharmacy and the University of Waterloo Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team residency co-ordinator.
It is so rewarding to see these residents develop into strong, skilled, creative clinicians who lead the way in providing exemplary care within an ambulatory or primary care environment.
The program has a unique design focusing on horizontal block education, the ability to learn through many different avenues, including diverse clinical rotations, certificates in Fundamentals in University Teaching, managing oral anticoagulation therapy, teaching at Waterloo Pharmacy and the opportunity to perform a research project with some of the leading pharmacy practice-based researchers at the School.
There are only 30 accredited pharmacy residency programs across Canada, according to Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board, which makes each residency position highly competitive. The University of Waterloo Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team program receives on average 30 applications per year and grants one residency spot. There have been six graduated residents in the last six years.
“We define success of the residency program by the success of our students. All our residents have completed the program exceeding expectations,” says Coulston.
Graduated residents have all gone on to interesting careers in a variety of primary care settings. Many have accepted teaching opportunities, presented their research projects at national conferences and have had their work published.
"This residency program wouldn’t be possible without contributions from several individuals and stakeholders,” says Dr. Jeff Nagge, clinical associate professor at Waterloo Pharmacy and the University of Waterloo Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team residency director.
“I would like to thank our clinical preceptors, the support staff who help us prepare for interviews and residency information sessions and the administrative leadership at the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team and Waterloo Pharmacy. The coordinated efforts of this group have helped create a clinical training program that graduates pharmacists who make a difference in primary care.”
The program is looking forward to expanding the program to include two resident positions in the future to foster more pharmacy leaders.
Dr. Jeff Nagge