Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Residency Program are proud to announce a highly successful resident match during the annual “Match Day” earlier this month.

The two candidates are Hemali Patel from Woburn, and Christine Le from Philadelphia. They begin their residencies in July.

“The residency program offers experiences which allow the residents to become fully immersed in the patient-centered medical home model,” said Alicia Mam DaCunha, Clinical Pharmacy Director at GLFHC. “Upon completion of the program, the resident will demonstrate competency in patient care, leadership and management, teaching, and research.”

GLFHC has six pharmacies in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill – open to the public – which are also part of the 340B program that enables the health center to spread scarce resources. Residents are given the opportunity to participate in a multitude of community service events in Lawrence and the surrounding communities during their one-year residency program.

“Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is thrilled to welcome Christine and Hemali, our two newest Clinical Pharmacy residents, to the Pharmacy team,” said John M. Silva, President and CEO of GLFHC. “Our clinical pharmacy program is among the best in the nation and our patients continue to benefit from the expertise and medication counseling they receive here at GLFHC. GLFHC continues to be a shining example of strong academic medicine residency programs owned and operated by a Community Health Center, continuing to further its mission by training healthcare professionals to respond to the needs of a culturally diverse population.”

Since the program’s start in 2014, pharmacy residents have received training in medication therapy management in chronic disease states such as diabetes, asthma, and anticoagulation management. They have collaborated with the medical residency and team and assisted with the Accountable Care Organization formulary management

GLFHC’s Pharmacy Residency program welcomes the following new resident pharmacists to the health center:

Hemali Patel, PharmD, RPh, MPH Candidate 2021

Hometown: Woburn, MA

Pharmacy School: Northeastern University

Languages: Gujarati, Spanish (conversational)

Community Activities: GLFHC and Evergreen Adult Day Health Center COVID vaccination clinics

Interests:  Yoga, dance, reading, hiking, travel (pre-COVID), and public health

Christine Le, PharmD Candidate 2021

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Pharmacy School: University of the Sciences – Philadelphia College of Pharmacy

Languages: Vietnamese

Community Activities: Free student-run clinic for Camden, N.J. population

Interests: Listening to music, reading, hanging out with friends, going to concerts, exploring new places to eat, and geriatric care