Horizon’s Pharmacy Residency Program expanding to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital

(FREDERICTON) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) is pleased to announce the expansion of its Pharmacy Residency Program to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH).

By extending the reach of this program to Fredericton, the DECRH will become the third campus under Horizon’s fully accredited pharmacy residency program, joining The Moncton Hospital and Saint John Regional Hospital.

The one-year, full-time post-graduate residency program at the DECRH will provide participants with a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience and exposure to pharmacy best practices in a hospital setting while also aligning with Horizon’s critical action priority of improving the recruitment and retention of health care workers.

Residents will develop skills in clinical pharmacy, leadership, time management, research, and teamwork while also participating in a range of rotations in both inpatient areas and have an opportunity to do an elective in ambulatory care.

Pharmacy residents are provided with a variety of learning opportunities which include direct patient interaction, as well as case presentations, seminars, in-services, educational rounds, and journal clubs to develop their pharmacy practice.

“Through this program, Horizon is reinforcing its commitment to cultivating a new generation of skilled pharmacists equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients,” said Douglas Doucette, Horizon’s Regional Director of Pharmacy Services.

“Residency graduates are an important source of highly qualified pharmacists in hospitals and health care-related settings. Pharmacy leaders at the DECRH have been working towards this goal for some time, and we are confident that our team will build on the established foundation of having a pharmacy residency program in our organization for 29 years and counting.”

Horizon’s residency program is offered in affiliation with Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy and is accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB).

The expansion of the pharmacy residency program to a third site reflects Horizon’s commitment to advancing education and training in the field of pharmacy, ensuring a high standard of pharmacy care for our patients.

The majority of residents who graduate from the program have gone on to accept positions within Horizon.

Over the last six years of the residency program, 70% of graduates chose to remain with Horizon in a variety of roles, including caring for patients on collaborative teams, delivering preceptorships for pharmacy residents and learners, and participating in clinical research and quality improvement initiatives.

As part of the program, participants will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced pharmacy professionals, engage in clinical rotations, and collaborate on patient care initiatives.

The immersive nature of the program is designed to provide residents with a well-rounded education that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Interviews with residency applicants are expected to take place in the fall, with successful candidates being selected through a national matching process and two residents assigned to each of the three sites.

This program underscores the organization’s dedication to nurturing talent, promoting excellence in patient care, and fostering innovation in pharmacy services, while supporting our goal of enhancing the recruitment and retention of pharmacy professionals at Horizon.

Horizon has a plan to improve health care in New Brunswick. Our plan is focused on retention and recruitment efforts and improving the overall patient experience by addressing patient flow and access to services. Further details about Horizon’s four priority areas are available at HorizonNB.ca. This initiative also supports the Government of New Brunswick’s provincial health plan, Stabilizing Health Care: An Urgent Call to Action

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