Ambulatory Care Residency Program

Program Description

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.


A female pharmacist holding a prescription box consulting with a patient

Program Highlights

The overall goal for 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 that complete this program will: 1) be more systematic in their approach to providing pharmaceutical care, 2) have well developed critical appraisal skills, 3) be highly effective members of multidisciplinary teams, and 4) possess excellent problem-solving abilities.

The primary site for clinical training is the award-winning Centre for Family Medicine (CFFM) 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, dieticians, social workers, and chiropractors.  The CFFM is also home to the KW 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:

  • teaching opportunities at the School of Pharmacy
  • research with nationally recognized pharmacy-practice researchers at the University of Waterloo
  • learning opportunities in conjunction with the McMaster Family Medicine Residency Program (e.g. EBM/journal club, resident rounds, etc.)
  • well-established specialty clinics in primary care with comprehensive medical directives
  • an opportunity to complete a certificate course in anticoagulation management (see the anticoagulation course website for more info)
  • an opportunity to complete a teaching certificate (see the CTE website to learn more)

Residency Experiences

Joey Champigny standing next to a scientific poster

Required Rotations

The following required rotations will take place at the various sites of the CFFM FHT, Grand River Hospital (GRH), and the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo.

  • Three integrated blocks (8 weeks each, 24 weeks total)
    • General ambulatory practice plus various combinations of the following specialties: anticoagulation, diabetes, medication management, cardiovascular risk reduction, teaching, memory clinic, and GeriMedRisk clinic
  • General medicine (6 weeks)
  • Drug information (approximately 2 weeks)
  • Administration (approximately 2 weeks)
  • Research Project (approximately 6 weeks)

Elective rotations will be completed within two six-week integrated blocks. Various elective clinics that are available to residents include, but are not limited to:

-     Outpatient oncology
-     Community Ward
-     Outpatient nephrology
-     Community pharmacy
-     Downtown Community Health Centre
-     Heart function clinic

Minimum required credentials: B.Sc.Phm or entry level PharmD, licensed or eligible for licensure as a pharmacist with the Ontario College of Pharmacists. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Organization

Type: Family Health Team (Centre for Family Medicine FHT)
Number of beds: The Family Health Team serves a population of approximately 35,000 ambulatory patients.
Site(s):

1. Integrated Health Building Site (10 Victoria St. S, Kitchener, ON, N2G 1C5)

2. Joseph Street Site (25 Joseph St., Kitchener, ON, N2G 4X6)

3. Village of University Gates (4111-250 Laurelwood Drive, Waterloo, ON, N2J 0E2)

4. Wellesley Site (3742 Nafziger Road, Wellesley, ON, N0B 2T0 and 3710 Nafziger Road, Unit A)

5. The Boardwalk (435 The Boardwalk, Suite 404, Waterloo, ON, N2T 0C2)

Application

The Ambulatory Care Residency Program employs the same matching system as the Pharmacy Residency Application and Matching Service residency matching program.

Information for international applicants

The Ambulatory Care Residency Program requires all residents to be licensed, or eligible for licensure with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP).

The list of requirements can be found on the OCP website. If you satisfy these requirements, we would be pleased to review your application.