Owensboro Health PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Our Purpose

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.

The Pharmacy Residency Program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, paving the way for further growth of the program.

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About Owensboro Health

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital is a 477-bed healthcare facility that serves the medical needs of 12 counties in western Kentucky and two counties in southern Indiana. The PGY-1 program began in July 2014 and currently has two resident positions available. The Pharmacy Department at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital employs over 25 pharmacists. Pharmacists participate in the delivery of optimal pharmaceutical care by providing clinical and dispensing services throughout the hospital with both centralized and decentralized staff. Outpatient pharmacists optimize transitions of care for patients. Satellite pharmacies exist for surgery and outpatient oncology. Three pharmacy specialists practice in their respective areas of oncology, critical care, and emergency medicine. The department also has a large focus on antimicrobial stewardship with infectious disease clinical pharmacy services and participation in the hospital antimicrobial stewardship committee.

Qualifications

  • Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy
  • Licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of Kentucky

Application Process

*Application Deadline: Monday, January 7, 2019 @ 11:59 CST.*

Submit All Of The Following Via PhorCAS

  • Letter of Intent
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Official transcripts of all professional pharmacy education
  • Three (3) references completed in PhorCAS by healthcare professionals who can attest to the applicant's practice abilities and aptitudes

*Please note, an onsite interview is required for Phase I Match.

Learning Experiences

Required - 4-week rotations unless otherwise noted

  • Orientation (5 weeks)
  • Internal Medicine I (6 weeks)
  • Critical Care I
  • Infectious Diseases I
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Pharmacy Management
  • Ambulatory Care / Transitions of Care

Elective - 4-week rotations unless otherwise noted

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cardiology
  • Critical Care II
  • Geriatrics
  • Infectious Diseases II
  • Internal Medicine II
  • Medication Safety
  • Pediatrics
  • Surgery
  • Others based on availability and interest

Longitudinal - 12-month rotations unless otherwise noted

  • Drug Information
  • Pharmacy Practice (Staffing)
  • Research
  • Teaching Certificate

Program Preceptors

Preceptors

Kristan Higgs, PharmD, BCPS

  • Preceptor: Orientation, Emergency Medicine, Teaching Certificate
  • PGY-1 Residency Program Director/Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
  • PharmD: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
  • PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency: Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
  • PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Residency: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

Shannon Allcron, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS

  • Preceptor: Critical Care I, Critical Care II
  • Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
  • PharmD: Butler University College of Pharmacy
  • PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency: Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN
  • PGY-2 Critical Care Residency: Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, SC
Carolynn Horn, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
  • Preceptor: Ambulatory Care
  • Clinical Pharmacist, Outpatient Pharmacy
  • PharmD: University of Cincinnati, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy
  • PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency: Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (focus on ambulatory care), Mishawaka, IN
Joseph Mathena, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
  • Preceptor: Internal Medicine I, Geriatrics
  • Clinical/Staff Pharmacist
  • PharmD: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Heath Blandford, PharmD, BCGP
  • Preceptor: Internal Medicine I, Internal Medicine II
  • Clinical/Staff Pharmacist
  • PharmD: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

Jason Collins, PharmD

  • Preceptor: Pharmacy Practice (Staffing)
  • Pharmacy Operations Manager
  • PharmD: Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Sandy Tiu-Berger, PharmD

  • Preceptor: Surgery
  • Satellite Pharmacy Supervisor
  • PharmD: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Lance Smith, PharmD
  • Preceptor: Infectious Diseases I, Infectious Diseases II
  • Clinical/Staff Pharmacist, concentration in infectious diseases
  • PharmD: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

Margery Wells, PharmD

  • Preceptor: Cardiology, Drug Information
  • Clinical/Staff Pharmacist
  • PharmD: Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
  • PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency: Baptist Health Madisonville, Madisonville, KY

Current Residents

Andrew Harpenau, PharmD

PGY1 Pharmacy Resident

Undergraduate Education: Purdue University

Doctor of Pharmacy: Purdue University College of Pharmacy

Hometown: Leopold, IN

“My name is Andrew Harpenau. I am originally from a small farming community near Tell City, Indiana. I chose to complete a pharmacy residency to become both confident and well-rounded in various areas of clinical pharmacy. Completing a residency at Owensboro Health allows me to work closely with a population base that is similar to one in which I grew up with. My clinical areas of interest include pediatrics, cardiology, and critical care. After a PGY1, I plan to find a position in the clinical pharmacy setting where I can precept future pharmacy students and utilize my skills gained from residency. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors by participating in any type of sporting event, hunting, and camping."

Aeriel Thorpe, PharmD

PGY1 Pharmacy Resident

Undergraduate Education: University of Kentucky

Doctor of Pharmacy: Univerity of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

Hometown: Owensboro, KY

“My name is Aeriel Thorpe, and I am so excited to be a pharmacy resident at my hometown hospital. I’m looking forward to serving the community that helped raise me. I chose to pursue a residency to further my critical thinking skills and to become a well-rounded clinical pharmacist. I enjoy watching movies, crafting, shopping, and spending time with my husband and cat Luna.”

Past Residents

Garrett Messmer, PharmD (2017 - 2018)

Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ohio State University

PharmD: East Tennessee State University, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy

Hometown: Westerville, OH

Position After Residency: Clinical Pharmacist, Ohio State University – James Cancer Hospital

Rebecca Worden, PharmD (2017 - 2018)

Undergraduate Education: Ohio Northern University

PharmD: Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy

Hometown: Middleton, WI

PGY2: Oncology, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Jenna Pokrass, PharmD, BCPS (2016 - 2017)

Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Chemistry, Southern Illinois University

PharmD: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Hometown: Bowling Green, KY

PGY2: Psychiatric, Milwaukee VA Medical Center

Position After Residency: Clinical/Staff Pharmacist, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital

Collin Owczarzak, PharmD (2016 - 2017)

Undergraduate Education: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

PharmD: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Hometown: Cheektowaga, NY

Position After Residency: Clinical/Staff Pharmacist, Strong Memorial Hospital

John Puryear, PharmD (2015-2016)

Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Dallas Baptist University

PharmD: Union University School of Pharmacy

Hometown: Carthage, TX

PGY2: Oncology, KentuckyOne Health – University of Louisville Hospital

Position After Residency: Clinical Oncology Pharmacist, Baylor University Medical Center

Jennifer Baric, PharmD, BCPS (2014-2015)

Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Physiology, Lyman Briggs College (Michigan State University)

PharmD: Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University

Hometown: Canton, MI

PGY2: Internal Medicine, NorthShore University Health System

Position After Residency: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Internal Medicine, Indiana University Health – Arnett

Celeste Hollensead, PharmD (2014-2015)

Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology; University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

PharmD: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Position after Residency: Clinical Pharmacist, Frazier Rehab Institute

Teaching & Research

  • Residents will participate in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Program through the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. This program is designed to introduce residents to academic literature, contemporary pharmacy education, teaching styles, and philosophies.
  • Residents participate in PharmD candidate experiential training.
  • Residents are required to complete a research project that is suitable for publication and is presented at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference.
  • Residents are required to complete a medication use evaluation to present as a poster presentation at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.

Contact Us

For more information contact Kristan Higgs by e-mail or call 270-417-5956.