Published on July 06, 2023
Coomes, Smith Graduate Pharmacy Program
The Owensboro Health PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program recently graduated two pharmacists, Katelyn Coomes and Amanda Smith.
The program exists to train pharmacists, who, upon completion of the program, will be able to confidently practice as a clinical pharmacist in a decentralized pharmacy care model, enter a postgraduate year-2 (PGY-2) specialty residency, or seek a position as adjunct faculty.
Katelyn said she knew she wanted a career in healthcare, and her grandfather, who is also a pharmacist, was an inspiration and mentor to help her achieve her career goals.
Originally from Whitesville, Katelyn went to the University of Kentucky for undergrad and Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences after that.
She said “creating professional and personal relationships with the pharmacy team and other healthcare professionals” was the best part of her residency, and she’s staying at OHRH as a clinical pharmacist post-residency.
“I really enjoy the pharmacology aspect of pharmacy, and I love the opportunity to apply that knowledge in a way that drastically impacts patients,” Amanda said. “Medications make up a large portion of healthcare treatment. I’m lucky to be in a position that allows me to pass on my knowledge directly to patients and interact with an interdisciplinary healthcare team.”
Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Amanda attended Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy in Clinton, South Carolina.
“I enjoyed working with our pharmacists and preceptors for the residency program,” she said. “They adapted the experience to meet my personal needs and interests and encouraged me to pursue my long-term career goals.”
Amanda is pursuing additional training to specialize in psychiatric pharmacy. In July, she will begin a PGY-2 pharmacy residency program at Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment in Anoka, Minnesota.
Learn more about the Owensboro Health Pharmacy Residency Program.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.