Pharmacy Residency Programs
Thank you for your interest in the UNC Medical Center Pharmacy Residency Training Programs. Our program was founded in 1967 by Fred Eckel. It started as a small class of two residents and has continued to develop and grow. Today, we offer a postgraduate year-1 (PGY1), several specialty practice postgraduate year-2 (PGY2), a combined two-year pharmacotherapy program and a combined two-year Health System Pharmacy Administration/MS residency programs. We are proud to call more than 400 pharmacists alumni of the training programs at UNC Hospitals.
When exploring the opportunities available to residents at UNC, we call your attention to several key features and highlights of our programs:
Education and teaching are core missions of the department. Residents are taught by more than 80 active preceptors who embrace the work of clinical education. Through excellence in patient care, they provide a fertile ground for residents to learn. Residents also serve as educators, teaching in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy's Pharmaceutical Care Lab, teaching specialty-specific pharmacy courses, and mentoring students on rotations at UNC Medical Center. The vast majority of our alumni continue to be involved with educational endeavors long after their graduation from the program.
Collaboration is key to the diversity and success of the training program at UNC. Through our longstanding integration into hospital practice, the department's relationship with our nursing, physician, and other health care colleagues is robust and progressive. Additionally, we share a campus with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, allowing us to pursue productive academic partnerships to improve quality of care.
Innovation and technology are key to staying competitive in the current health-care environment. UNC Medical Center boasts some of the most progressive technologies and facilities for pharmacy practice, including state-of-the-art clean rooms, advanced use of pharmacy automation, and fully computerized pharmacy systems. Residents are provided with tablet computers to maximize their abilities to function inside our advanced environment.
Leadership is a quality that is key to the continued success of our pharmacy profession. Residents are encouraged to pursue achievements in leadership and may participate in the attainment of a leadership certificate during training.
Mentorship is important to any developing resident. Our trainees come from all over the country and from around the world. We strive to create an environment where all residents get the particular support they need to reach their individual goals at their own pace. Residents have many layers of support, mentorship and leadership built into their training program. View the organizational chart detailing some of these support systems.
Last but certainly not least is family. When you join our program, you become part of the UNC family for life. We foster a supportive, collegial environment for our residents and encourage our trainees to build bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime.
We are so proud of the residents who have passed through the halls of UNC Hospitals and its clinics. They are a wonderful representation of all that we have to offer to trainees. Please explore the information found throughout this site and let us know if we can answer any questions. Thank you for your interest in our programs!
Sincerely,
Clinical Manager, Education/Research/Practice Training
UNC Medical Center
Stephen F. Eckel, PharmD, MHA, BCPS, FAPhA, FASHP, FCCP
Associate Director of Pharmacy
Director, Pharmacy Residency Programs
Associate Dean of Global Engagement, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
