Position Title: Kadlec Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident Location: Kadlec Regional Medical Center – Richland, WA Program Type: 12-month, Non-ASHP Accredited Postgraduate Training Program
Program Overview
The Kadlec Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency is a 12-month, focused training program designed for pharmacists who are passionate about outpatient pharmacy care, chronic disease management, direct patient interaction, and team-based patient-centered care. This residency provides experience in ambulatory care practice without the administrative constraints of accreditation, allowing for flexibility, innovation, and individualized learning based on resident interests and career goals.
Residents work within the Kadlec health system’s expanding ambulatory care services, including primary care clinics, specialty outpatient clinics, and our very own Kadlec Pharmacotherapy Clinic. The program strives to build and develop residents who can practice with clinical autonomy, develop a collaborative approach, have strong population health foundations, and develop skills in motivational interviewing, and leadership - to prepare graduates for careers as highly effective ambulatory care pharmacists.
Learning Experiences
Rotations may include (but are not limited to):
Primary Care / Chronic Disease Management
Anticoagulation
Endocrinology / Diabetes Management
Cardiology / Heart Failure
Transitions of Care
Population Health and Quality Improvement
Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
Pharmacy Administration in Ambulatory Care
Electives (resident-driven): program development, specialty clinics, wellness, pharmacy, leadership, research, and more.
Clinical Responsibilities
Residents will:
Provide direct patient care through collaborative drug therapy agreements (CDTA).
Conduct chronic disease state management with a focus on medication therapy management.
All patient encounters will be documented within the EMR – Epic.
Washington state law allows pharmacists to start, stop and modify drug therapy, order labs, and make referrals via the CDTA.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings – Provider Operating Councils.
Lead and implement quality-improvement initiatives and population health projects as needed.
Precept students (based on interest and preceptor readiness.
Scholarly Requirements
Completion of a longitudinal research or quality-improvement project.
Presentation at regional residency conferences or Kadlec internal forums.
Development of patient education materials, policies, or workflow improvements.
Program Strengths
With only one resident, we can focus on helping you achieve your best results during residency.
Flexible schedule and rotation customization.
Exposure to broadly diverse ambulatory care settings.
Strong one-on-one teaching from AmCare pharmacists, physicians, and care teams.
Ideal for candidates pursuing careers in ambulatory care, clinical leadership, or developing new outpatient services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Program Structure & Accreditation
Is this residency ASHP-accredited?
No. This is a non-ASHP accredited 12-month postgraduate training program. While it is structured similarly to a PGY1 ambulatory care–focused residency, its non-accredited status allows for greater flexibility, customization, and innovation, especially in developing new outpatient pharmacy services.
What are the differences between this program and a traditional PGY1?
This program focuses exclusively on ambulatory care rather than balancing acute care, administration, and inpatient responsibilities. Residents spend most of their time in direct patient care, managing chronic diseases, conducting visits, and working within primary-care teams. The flexibility of a non-accredited program allows us to shape learning experiences around the resident’s goals and the needs of the department.
Does completion of this program qualify me for PGY2 applications?
We cannot guarantee any specific program will accept your application. If you are interested in a particular PGY2 program, you should contact them before applying to this program to learn more about their criteria. We will support graduates by documenting competencies, experiences, and evaluations to strengthen PGY2 applications. However, each PGY2 program determines eligibility slightly differently.
How is the curriculum structured throughout the year?
The curriculum includes a mix of core ambulatory care rotations, electives, longitudinal clinics, and a year-long project. Most weeks include dedicated patient-care time, interdisciplinary discussions, drug information questions, project time, and preceptor or check-ins. Experiences can be adapted to the residents’ interests as the year progresses.
Clinical Experience
What ambulatory care clinics will I rotate through?
Residents rotate through a variety of Kadlec outpatient settings, which may include:
KMC Pharmacotherapy Clinic – this will be the hub for most of the rotations
Electives can be added based on resident interest and preceptor availability.
Will I manage my own patient panel?
Yes. As competency is demonstrated, residents gradually assume responsibility for their own schedule of chronic disease visits, including follow-ups, medication adjustments, and care coordination under established collaborative drug therapy agreements.
Do residents work under collaborativedrug therapyagreements (CDTA)?
Yes. Kadlec ambulatory care pharmacists utilize CDTAs to adjust medications, order labs, and manage chronic disease states. Residents practice under supervision initially, then progress to greater autonomy over time.
What chronic disease states will I gain competency in?
Residents gain experience in common chronic disease states including, but not limited to:
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Dyslipidemia
Heart failure
Asthma/COPD
Anticoagulation
Tobacco cessation
Medication adherence and polypharmacy management
Additional disease states may be available depending on clinical needs.
How much patient contact should I expect?
A large portion of the residency involves direct patient care. Residents conduct in-person and telehealth visits, initiate and adjust medications, order labs, and provide education. Most clinical days include multiple scheduled visits.
Education & Mentorship
Who will serve as my primary preceptors?
All major preceptors are board-certified, residency trained ambulatory care pharmacists. While other preceptors and mentors may consist of primary-care clinicians, and clinical leaders serve as schedules allow. Each rotation has a designated preceptor, and residents also receive longitudinal mentorship from the program coordinator or residency director.
Will I be able to precept students?
Yes—when appropriate. As residents demonstrate clinical competence and teaching readiness, they may assist in precepting pharmacy students from affiliated schools during rotations or longitudinal experiences.
How individualized is the learning plan?
Highly. Residents collaborate with program leadership to create an Individualized Development Plan based on career goals, strengths, and areas for growth. Rotations, electives, and projects can be tailored to support the resident’s aspirations in alignment with departmental and business needs.
Research & Projects
What types of research or quality-improvement projects do residents complete?
Residents complete a longitudinal quality-improvement or research project that addresses real clinical or operational needs. Projects may involve population health outcomes, workflow efficiencies, chronic disease metrics, or development of new pharmacy services.
Are there opportunities to publish or present research?
Yes. Residents may present at Kadlec internal committees, Providence system meetings, regional residency conferences, or submit abstracts to national organizations. Manuscript preparation is encouraged when appropriate.
Scheduling & Workload
What does a typical weekly schedule look like?
A typical week includes:
Direct patient-care clinics (majority of the week)
Preceptor check-ins
Project and administrative time
Interdisciplinary team meetings
Staffing may include time working in-basket and refills
Schedules can vary by rotation and clinical needs.
Is weekend or holiday coverage required?
No routine weekend or holiday staffing is required. Occasional special events or project activities may require flexible hours, but these are rare.
Is this residency fully onsite, hybrid, or telehealth-integrated?
The residency is primarily onsite.
Compensation & Benefits
What is the stipend/salary?
The residency offers a competitive salary comparable to regional PGY1 programs. Exact salary information can be provided upon request or during the interview and offer process.
Are benefits such as medical/dental/vision included?
Yes. Residents are considered full-time employees and receive comprehensive benefits through Kadlec/Providence, including health, dental, vision, and retirement options.
Do residents receive paid time off (PTO)?
Yes. Residents receive PTO for sick leave, personal days, and holidays in accordance with Kadlec caregiver policies.
Are travel expenses covered for conferences?
Conference support may be available depending on the budget. Residents may receive reimbursement for registration, travel, or lodging for professional conferences or regional presentation events.
Career Development
What jobs would graduates typically pursue?
Graduates typically move into roles such as:
Ambulatory Care Pharmacist in Primary Care or Specialty Clinics
Population Health Pharmacist
Faculty positions with clinical practice sites
PGY2 Ambulatory Care residencies (case-by-case eligibility)
Will I be prepared to practice independently as an ambulatory care pharmacist?
Yes. The residency is designed to provide residents with clinical competency, confidence, and practical experience needed for independent ambulatory care practice upon graduation.
Does the program offer support for board certification?
Yes. Residents receive mentoring and exposure to competencies aligned with BCACP domains. Study resources and guidance can be offered, though formal test reimbursement will vary depending on availability of funds.
Logistics & Application
How do I apply for the program?
Applicants may submit materials through the Kadlec online career portal or contact the program directly.
The manager is Justin Bell PharmD, BCACP and can be contacted at brian.bell@kadlec.org.?
Required materials include a CV, college of pharmacy transcripts, letter of intent, and three references.
What are you looking for in an ideal candidate?
Ideal candidates demonstrate:
Strong interest in ambulatory care
Excellent communication and patient-care skills
Initiative, hardworking and self-directed
Ability to integrate into teams – both pharmacy and interprofessional teams
Professionalism, empathy, and adaptability
Do candidates need to be licensed in Washington before starting?
Yes. Residents must obtain Washington State pharmacist licensure as soon as possible after graduation, ideally by the residency start date.
Is a formal interview required outside of PPS?
Yes, there will be 1-2 formal interviews that occur after PPS. This includes at least one interview with a panel of ambulatory care pharmacists. These interviews can be performed virtually or in-person.
Program Culture
What makes Kadlec’s AmCare program unique?
The program offers:
Close mentorship and small-team atmosphere
A health system committed to expanding AmCare Pharmacy services
Flexible, resident-centered curriculum
Strong focus on service development and innovation
Billing for services as recognized providers
What is the residency’s philosophy on wellness and work-life balance?
We support balance; we also believe in striving for excellence. Residents will be invited to stretch beyond familiar routines, tackle challenging tasks, and set ambitious goals. We believe resident wellness is essential for professional success. The schedule prioritizes consistent hours, supportive preceptors, and a culture that encourages residents to be prepared to aim high, take initiative, and embrace the rigor needed to become confident ambulatory care clinicians.
How large is theAmCarepharmacy team?
Kadlec’s ambulatory care pharmacy services include 4 pharmacists and 3 pharmacy technicians.
How does Kadlec support new service development and innovation?
Residents are encouraged to help identify care gaps, pilot workflows, and design new services that improve patient outcomes. The program values creativity and supports resident-driven initiatives in population health, chronic disease management, and clinic operations.
How long are the rotations, and are any of them longitudinal?
Most rotations are?longitudinal in nature – allowing enough time for residents to develop competency, build patient continuity, and integrate into the clinic team. However, several rotations are 6–12 weeks in duration.
Qualifications
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from an ACPE-accredited institution.
Eligibility for pharmacist licensure in Washington State.
Strong interest in ambulatory care clinical practice.
Excellent communication skills, initiative, and desire for independent practice.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit the following through PPS or via email:
Letter of intent
Curriculum vitae (CV)
College of Pharmacy Transcripts
Three references
Interviews will be conducted during ASHP Midyear (PPS) with additional virtual interviews completed later.
Applicants may submit materials through the Kadlec online career portal or contact the program directly.
The manager is Justin Bell PharmD, BCACP and can be contacted at brian.bell@kadlec.org.
Required materials include a CV, college of pharmacy transcripts, letter of intent, and three references.
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