The Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)-Boston collaboratively present a distinguished Postgraduate Year One (PGY-1) Pharmacy Residency Program. This program is meticulously designed to offer immersive, practical experiences across the spectrum of ambulatory care pharmacy practice within the Lawrence Family Health Center network.
Lawrence Family Health Center: A Cornerstone of Community Health
As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Lawrence Family Health Center stands as the second-largest health center in Massachusetts. It delivers vital primary health and acute care services to the residents of Lawrence and the broader Merrimack Valley. The city of Lawrence, celebrated as the “Immigrant City,” boasts a rich tapestry of multiethnic and multicultural heritage. A significant Hispanic population profoundly influences the local culture and the delivery of healthcare services at Lawrence Family Health Center.
Lawrence Family Health Center is proud to be recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a level-3 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). This esteemed recognition provides our pharmacy residents with unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Notably, Lawrence Family Health Center pioneered the nation’s first accredited Community Health Center-sponsored Family Medicine Residency, ensuring pharmacy residents engage directly with primary care physicians in a collaborative training environment.
Our dedicated clinical pharmacy team at Lawrence Family Health Center are integral partners within the PCMH model, providing direct patient care under collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) agreements. The GLFHC Family Pharmacy’s participation in the 340B program is crucial, enabling the extension of limited resources to our most vulnerable patient populations. Lawrence Family Health Center distinguishes itself through a commitment to delivering exceptional, multidisciplinary patient care and pioneering innovative solutions to elevate health outcomes within an underserved urban community.
Affiliated with MCPHS, a leading institution specializing in health professional education, Lawrence Family Health Center residents benefit from association with a university renowned for shaping pharmacy careers globally.
Comprehensive PGY-1 Residency Experience at Lawrence Family Health Center
The PGY-1 residency program at Lawrence Family Health Center is structured to provide a well-rounded experience, encompassing both required and elective rotations. This framework allows residents to deeply integrate into the PCMH model, hone essential clinical skills, and actively engage with the community served by Lawrence Family Health Center. Key components of the residency year include:
- Orientation to Lawrence Family Health Center and its services
- Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) rotations focusing on direct patient care
- Transitions of Care experiences to optimize patient outcomes
- Joint Teaching and Learning modules with MCPHS and Lawrence Family Health Center
- MCPHS Teaching and Learning, including the ‘Residency Teaching Certificate Program’
- Patient-Centered Dispensing practices within the Lawrence Family Health Center pharmacy
- Operations Management to understand healthcare administration
- Research project to advance pharmacy practice
- Specialty Clinics focusing on areas like LTBI, HepC, and HIV within the Lawrence Family Health Center patient population
- Elective rotations tailored to resident interests, such as:
- Homeless Shelter outreach
- Behavioral Health integration
- Geriatric pharmacy practice
- Population Health & Data Analytics
Residents also have the unique opportunity to develop new elective rotations based on their specific areas of interest, further customizing their learning experience at Lawrence Family Health Center.
Upon completion of the PGY-1 program at Lawrence Family Health Center, residents will be competent in:
- Providing exemplary Patient Care
- Advancing pharmacy practice and improving patient care outcomes
- Demonstrating Leadership and Management skills
- Teaching, educating, and disseminating pharmaceutical knowledge
Accreditation and Program Details
The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Lawrence Family Health Center holds accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), signifying its commitment to high standards in residency education.
Currently, the program offers 2 positions annually, commencing in early July and concluding at the end of June each year.
Application Information for Lawrence Family Health Center Residency
To apply to the Lawrence Family Health Center PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program, candidates are required to use the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) and participate in the Match program. The application deadline is January 7th. Required application materials submitted through PhORCAS include:
- A Letter of Intent outlining your interest in the Lawrence Family Health Center program
- Curriculum Vitae detailing your academic and professional experiences
- Three Letters of Recommendation from qualified individuals
- Official School of Pharmacy Transcript
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be either a candidate for spring graduation or a graduate with a PharmD degree from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy. Applicants must be U.S. citizens (naturalized citizens must provide proof) or hold a visa permitting completion of the residency year. Please note that Lawrence Family Health Center is unable to sponsor visas.
Contact Information
For further inquiries about the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Lawrence Family Health Center, please contact:
Residency Program Director:
Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, BCACP Email: amdacunha@glfhc.org
Residency Program Managers and Primary Contacts:
Ashley Rogers, PharmD, BCPS Email: arogers@glfhc.org
Neiloofar Amarshi, PharmD, APh, CDCES Email: neiloofar.amarshi@glfhc.org
For more information about current and past residents and preceptors, please visit our website: https://glfhc.org/pharmres/
