Horizon Health Network Pharmacy Residency Program Program Description Curriculum Our Residents Residency Survival Tips Frequently Asked Questions The Horizon Health Network Pharmacy Residency Program is a one year, 52-week, full-time program designed to provide pharmacy residents with broad exposure to hospital pharmacy practice through a series of rotations. Residents will develop skills in clinical pharmacy, leadership, time management, research, and teamwork. Residents will participate in a range of rotations in both inpatient areas and have an opportunity to do an elective in ambulatory care. Our residents are provided a variety of learning opportunities which include direct patient interaction, case presentations, seminars, in services, educational rounds, and journal clubs to develop their pharmacy practice. Horizon is pleased to offer a comprehensive program surrounding residents’ well-being. We offer a positive learning environment through implementation of a wellness program which includes a gym membership, wellness days off, mentorship, and various supports. Horizon’s residency program is offered in affiliation with Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy and is accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB). Click here to learn more about Horizon Health Network Click here to learn more about the Horizon Pharmacy Department In addition to Canadian citizens, we will also consider landed immigrants who are currently practicing pharmacists in Canada and possess a strong motivation to attain a high level of competency in the practice of pharmacy. Our Preceptors Horizon residents will learn from knowledgeable, dedicated, and qualified preceptors. Preceptors are a key component of our program. They work hard with residents to provide regular feedback, and model excellent practice. Horizon pharmacy residency preceptors have many years of hospital pharmacy experience and have diverse educational backgrounds which include programs such as post-baccalaureate PharmD, Master’s degrees, various certifications, and CPRB residencies from across Canada. Many preceptors within Horizon have won awards for their research and clinical practice. Purpose The purpose of pharmacy residencies is to develop pharmacists’ patient care skills to the ‘proficient’ level. This represents progression beyond the ‘competent’ level that is expected upon completion of the first professional degree. Residency program competencies include: Provide evidence-based patient care as a member of interprofessional teams Manage and improve medication use systems Exercise leadership Exhibit ability to manage one’s own practice of pharmacy Provide medication and practice-related education Demonstrate project management skills Where are we located? Saint John Campus: Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH) offers two pharmacy residency positions each year. SJRH is a 445-bed hospital, making it the largest tertiary care hospital in New Brunswick. The facility is home to the New Brunswick Heart Centre and a referral centre for major trauma cases. The Saint John Pharmacy Department offers full TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and chemotherapy admixture service, along with a partial centralized intravenous additive service. Saint John is located on the Bay of Fundy and is Canada’s first incorporated city. As a city of approximately 70,000 people, Saint John is filled with historic architecture, arts and cultural experiences, and surrounded by beautiful nature experiences. Moncton Campus: Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital (TMH) offers two pharmacy residency positions each year. TMH is a 381-bed hospital, and as a Level 2 trauma centre, it is the referral destination for acute and trauma cases from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and northern Nova Scotia. The Moncton Pharmacy Department is a regional service that covers TMH and Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital. Moncton is located in the heart of the Maritimes and is just a short drive away from many of Atlantic Canada’s most desirable locations. The city of Moncton has a population of approximately 75,000 people and is the only city in Canada that declares itself officially bilingual. Moncton is home to more than 70 kilometres of walking trails, and more than 30 restaurants within a 5-minute walk of downtown. Rotations: If scheduling permits, residents are expected to complete one rotation from each area of practice. Remaining rotations may be selected without restriction, however, may depend on availability of rotations at each site. If needed and approved by the residency coordinator, residents may request to complete a rotation at another Horizon site or an external institution. Rotation Required or Elective: Duration Orientation Required 1-2 weeks Drug Information Required 3 weeks Medication Management Required 3-4 weeks Practice Management and Leadership Required 2 weeks Project Required 6-8 weeks Introduction to Pharmacy Practice Required 2 weeks Teaching Required 4 weeks General Medicine Internal Medicine (SJRH) Select one as Mandatory Patient Care. Can also select as elective rotations* 4 weeks Family Practice Geriatrics Critical Care Medical/surgical ICU Select one as Mandatory Patient Care. Can also select as electives rotations* 4 weeks Cardiology ICU Neurology ICU Emergency Medicine Acute Care Cardiology Select one as Mandatory Patient Care. Can also select as electives rotations* 4 weeks Infectious Diseases Neurology Oncology Surgery Orthopedics Mental Health Palliative Care Pediatrics Small Hospital Ambulatory Care Anticoagulation Elective rotations but may be chosen as a longitudinal rotation. 4 weeks Collaborative Care (SJRH) Nephrology (SJRH) Diabetes clinic (TMH) Oncology Clinic *Mandatory patient care = 16 weeks, electives = 8 weeks Research Projects All residents will complete a longitudinal research project throughout the program. A total of 6 to 8 weeks will be scheduled over the year for residents to spend on their projects, however, residents likely will need to work on their research projects outside of that allocated time. Residents will be supervised by a pharmacist; it will be the residents that will lead the development and execution of their research project. Project topics vary each year and could focus on any area of pharmacy practice. Horizon is pleased to offer research support to residents. This includes assistance with residents’ research projects, eight core sessions throughout the year, statistical and methodological research services, dedicated research time, and assistance from Horizon Pharmacy’s Research and Education Coordinator. All research ideas are evaluated and approved through Pharmacy Research Committee prior to the beginning of the residency year. Mentorship Program The Horizon Pharmacy Resident Mentorship Program provides each resident with a mentor at the beginning of their residency year to provide guidance, support, and advice throughout the year. Mentors are Horizon pharmacists who are not a preceptor for the resident they are mentoring and ideally have completed an accredited residency program. Mentors and residents should meet at least every 8 weeks to discuss topics such as: orientation to a new city, career goals, progress during rotations, and general well-being during the program. What other educational activities do residents participate in? Horizon pharmacy residents will be granted a minimum of 5 education days during their residency year and they are encouraged to attend at least one major conference. Residents will also complete a minimum of three case presentations, one journal club, and one in-service. The Horizon Pharmacy Residency program includes 4 major presentations which consist of: one final research project presentation and three other presentations that are determined by the residency coordinator. These presentations could include: Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) New Brunswick session, Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy lecture, a presentation to a non-pharmacy audience, etc.). Residents also attend Pharmacy Grand Rounds, Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, Journal Clubs, etc. Residents in Moncton will participate in the interdisciplinary academic half-day on Friday afternoons with the postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) family medicine residents. Assessment/Evaluations Throughout the year, Horizon pharmacy residents are assessed on an ongoing basis. This process allows residents and preceptors to monitor the progress of the residents in achieving curriculum and personal goals. Pharmacy residents will be required to complete midpoint and final self-assessments for each rotation that will be discussed with their preceptors. Saint John Residents Lauren Adam Hello! My name is Lauren and I am honoured to be one of Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital pharmacy residents for the 2021-22 year. I grew up in New Maryland, New Brunswick and completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in 2017. I then moved to Edmonton to study Pharmacy at the University of Alberta (U of A) and graduated in 2021. I have been a competitive swimmer since I was young and was a member of both the UNB and U of A varsity swim teams during my studies. In addition to swimming, my other interests include drawing and cooking. Over the years, I’ve worked in community pharmacies, spent a summer as a pharmacy intern at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, and completed multiple experiential rotations in Alberta. I am pleased to be part of Horizon Health Network again and excited for the year ahead. I am appreciative of this opportunity to further my pharmacy education and learn how to better serve the patients in my care. Jacqueline Richard Hi everyone! I’m Jacqueline and I am excited to be furthering my education as a pharmacy resident at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH) for the 2021-22 year. I am originally from Saint John, New Brunswick and am happy to be back after four years in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Prior to starting my pharmacy degree at Dalhousie University, I graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology-Chemistry. During my time at Dalhousie, I had the opportunity to work as a pharmacy student intern at the SJRH for three summers, where I conducted pharmacy practice research as a member of various project teams. I was also exposed to a diversity of clinical areas, and developed a particular interest in oncology and infectious disease. I am looking forward to growing my clinical skills as part of different interdisciplinary teams, as well as furthering my research interests over the next year. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, cooking, and enjoying the beautiful trails and beaches here in New Brunswick! Moncton Residents Gemma-Dawn MacDonald Hello all! My name is Gemma-Dawn and I am thrilled to be joining the Horizon Health Network team as a pharmacy resident for the 2021-22 year. I was born and raised in rural Prince Edward Island and then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to complete my post-secondary education. I first obtained a bachelor’s degree concentrated in Biology from Saint Mary’s University while playing on the varsity women’s hockey team. I then completed my BSc Pharm at Dalhousie University. I am passionate about advancing patient care through multidisciplinary collaboration and look forward to the challenges I will be faced with throughout my residency. I am very excited about the clinical opportunities ahead with The Moncton Hospital and the ability to grow as a pharmacist. In my spare time, I enjoy keeping active and spending time with family and friends! Katherine Simon Hello! My name is Katherine and I’m excited to begin my residency at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital (TMH) for the 2021-22 year. I was born and raised in Saint John and am happy to finally be back in New Brunswick! I have lived in Nova Scotia for the last eight years, finishing a Bachelor of Sciences in Chemistry at St. Francis Xavier University and Pharmacy degree at Dalhousie University. I have worked at the Dartmouth General Hospital for the last four years and have experience in both community pharmacy and research. I’m looking forward to building on my current knowledge, learning from my preceptors and gaining hands-on clinical experience. I’m passionate about patient-centred care and am excited to work with a multidisciplinary care team. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing volleyball and hiking, and am excited to start my pharmacy career at TMH! General survival/success tips: Reserve time each week for yourself: It is important for pharmacy residents to have a sense of balance. Horizon encourages pharmacy residents to make time for themselves through physical activities, hobbies, or exploring the fantastic cities where our program is based. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone: Pharmacy Residency is challenging, and residents will be pushed to work hard and develop their skills in patient care. Refine time management skills: Residents will need to balance work associated with their rotations with work from their research project, and other presentations. Residents will be expected to manage their time in a way that accomplishes their tasks efficiently. Use your mentor as a resource: Horizon assigns residents with a mentor who can act as a support system when our residents have questions about hospital pharmacy, their new city, or needs guidance in navigating the program. Understand that a residency is a time for learning and growing your skills in hospital pharmacy: Before pharmacy residents are able to perform at the proficient level, there will be times of development where residents will have lots of questions and perhaps self-doubt. Our residents are selected because they are the best candidates for the positions and it is normal to ebb and flow between confidence and frustration during the initial learning stages. (Tucker’s Stages of Group Development). Self-reflection is important: Residencies require ongoing self-assessments. Learn to identify areas where you may need to further develop skills and areas that you feel are your strengths. Create goals: Write goals for each rotation down. Inform your preceptor of your goals to keep yourself accountable and to let your preceptor know what you hope to get out of their rotation. How many residents do you accept? Horizon Health Network has four resident positions available. Two positions are in Saint John at the Saint John Regional Hospital and two positions are in Moncton at The Moncton Hospital. Is the program accredited? Yes. In 2017 our program received a full 6-year CPRB accreditation award. How do I apply for Horizon’s residency program? You can apply to the Horizon Pharmacy Residency Program through CSHP. Click here to learn more. Will I be contacted if I am granted an interview? We appreciate all applications, however, only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted. What kind of support is available to Horizon Health Network residents? Horizon has a wellness program in place for pharmacy residents. This program includes benefits such as two wellness days off and a gym membership. Horizon has a Pharmacy Resident Well-being Policy that outlines Horizon’s commitment to providing a positive learning environment and supporting resident wellness. There is a structured orientation and on-boarding process in place surrounding resident well-being. Residents will also have access to local supports, as well as supports through Dalhousie University. At the beginning of the residency year, each resident will be assigned a mentor who can answer residents’ questions and help navigate the transition into the residency program and into a new city. How many days off do I get as a resident? All Horizon residents will get 10 vacation days plus all recognized statutory holidays. In addition, each resident receives 2 wellness days per year. Will I be able to attend a conference during my residency? We encourage our residents to attend one conference with a minimum of 5 conference days built into the curriculum. What employment opportunities are available with Horizon after I complete my residency? Horizon Pharmacy Department strives to retain residents following their residency program as much as possible. Since 2010, we have retained over 50% of our residents within Horizon. What opportunities are available after a pharmacy residency? Most of our residents continue to practice in hospital. Some residents complete other advanced degrees or a postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residency. Graduate residents become preceptors and are often involved in practice-based research. They may also be involved with teaching opportunities within academia. Can I work as a pharmacist while completing my residency? Residents are not required to work as a pharmacist while completing their residency. However, there may be opportunity to work dispensing shifts depending on site needs and resident interest. More questions? Contact our program coordinators. Contact Us Moncton Coordinator: Stacey MacAulay (Stacey.Macaulay@HorizonNB.ca) Saint John Coordinator: Corry Clarke (Corry.Clarke@HorizonNB.ca)