Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), in affiliation with MCPHS University-Boston, provides a Postgraduate Year One (PGY-1) pharmacy residency program which offers in-depth, hands-on experiences in all aspects of ambulatory care pharmacy practice.
GLFHC, a Federally Qualified Health Center, is the second largest health center in Massachusetts and provides primary health and acute care services to residents of Lawrence and the surrounding Merrimack Valley area. The city of Lawrence is a densely populated community named the “Immigrant City” for its rich multiethnic and multicultural history. Currently, a large percentage of the population is Hispanic which further shapes the local culture and how health care is delivered.
GLFHC is recognized as a National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) level-3 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) which affords our pharmacy residents a wealth of interdisciplinary interactions. GLFHC became the first organization in the nation to have an accredited Community Health Center sponsored Family Medicine Residency. This means residents will have the opportunity to directly work and train alongside primary care physicians.
Our clinical pharmacy team provides direct patient care as partners in the PCMH model and practice under collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) agreements. The GLFHC Family Pharmacy participates in the 340B program which enables scarce resources to be stretched and spread to the most vulnerable patient populations. As a whole, GLFHC distinguishes itself by providing the highest quality multidisciplinary patient care experience and innovative solutions to improve health outcomes in an underserved urban community.
MCPHS University is one of the few private, free-standing universities in the United States specializing in the education of health professionals, and has prepared more students for professional careers in pharmacy than any other academic institution in the world.
The residency program offers longitudinal experiences which allow residents to become fully immersed in the PCMH model, sharpen core skills, and be involved in the community.
Upon completion of the program, a resident will demonstrate competency in:
- patient care;
- advancing practice and improving patient care;
- leadership and management; and,
- teaching, education, and the dissemination of knowledge.
Required and elective learning experiences will serve as the framework for the residency year:
Orientation
A structured orientation program is scheduled for the first four to six weeks of residency. It is designed to introduce incoming residents to GLFHC as well as responsibilities to MCPHS University as an adjunct faculty member.
Residents are given the opportunity to participate in National Health Center Week. See below for our 2017 slideshow!
Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS)
This longitudinal learning experience will train pharmacy residents to become highly skilled, confident, and compassionate clinical pharmacists providing direct one-on-one patient care services as integral members of the PCMH team. The interdisciplinary team includes doctors, medical residents, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, medical assistants, dieticians, community support staff, administrative assistants, and other ancillary healthcare workers. Residents will form and establish relationships with patients and the healthcare team to monitor patients’ progress throughout the year. By actively managing all aspects of medication therapy, pharmacy residents can proactively identify, prevent, and resolve medication-related problems and assure appropriate use of prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications, especially for those with chronic illnesses. Commonly encountered disease states include diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Residents will also be directly involved with anticoagulation management and the treatment of persons with latent tuberculosis infection.
Patient-Centered Dispensing
Residents will be exposed to a varied patient population seeking medications for different disease states. This longitudinal learning experience is designed to ensure that he or she is proficient in outpatient pharmacy operations and services as well as the provision of direct patient care at a dispensing pharmacy. This experience will hone dispensing skills and clinical judgment so as to provide safe and effective pharmaceutical care to patients. Residents will gain direct insight into policies and procedures of community pharmacy practice as well as the policies and procedures required of a 340B pharmacy with two physical inventories.
Operations Management
This administration learning experience is longitudinal and includes several projects throughout the year. Experiences acquired will allow residents to learn how to manage a 340B community and ambulatory care pharmacy practice within a Federally Qualified Health Center functioning as a Patient Centered Medical Home. Residents will work closely with the Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Operations and Director of Pharmacy to gain experience managing five outpatient pharmacies. The residents will also assist in the cultivation and coordination of clinical pharmacy services within the institution. There will be exposure to pharmacy finances with special attention to GLFHC’s 340B participation through internal pharmacy services. Residents will participate in quarterly Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P & T) Committee meetings, quarterly Safety and Sentinel meetings, and 340B Compliance trainings. There will also be opportunity to update standing orders, such as flu and naloxone, look-alike, sound-alike drug lists, and attend a managers training.
Teaching and Learning
This is also a longitudinal learning experience. Precepting pharmacy students on clinical rotations, delivering continuing education programs to other pharmacists and health care professionals, and formally teaching in an academic setting requires the development of skills that are best acquired during a University co-sponsored residency program. At GLFHC, residents will have the opportunity to precept Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience interns, participate in several educational sessions for medical residents, and attend medical rounds. MCPHS University will host a Residency Teaching Certificate Program (RTCP). The aim of the RTCP is to motivate and prepare residents to be proficient clinical educators. The RTCP will provide residents with a foundation of core educational principles presented in live and online didactic modules. Guided by an academic faculty mentor (AFM), each resident will also gain practical teaching experience in a variety of educational settings (e.g. large/small classroom, clerkship, laboratory, or seminar). Residents will also develop, with the assistance of their faculty mentor, a formative teaching portfolio that will document their progress and enhance the learning experience. Upon successful completion, a Teaching Certificate from MCPHS University will be awarded.
Residency Project
This is a longitudinal learning experience that is designed to expose pharmacy residents to larger scale and/or longer term impact projects. Pharmacy residents will design and execute a pharmacy-related project, which will be worked on throughout the course of the year. The project should be one that will impact clinical pharmacy and/or add to the general knowledge of the profession.
Electives
Homeless Shelter Elective: An opportunity for residents to work collaboratively with the health care team to provide primary and preventative care services to the uninsured and homeless. Residents will provide medication therapy management services and adherence reporting, problem-solve medication-related issues, and offer patient and provider education.
Behavioral Health Elective: An opportunity for residents to work collaboratively with the health care team to provide mental health services. Residents will participate in medication therapy management in addition to patient and provider education as it relates to patients with psychiatric-related illnesses.
There is also opportunity to create a new elective based on each resident’s interests.
Accreditation Status
The program is accredited by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP).
Number of Positions
The program currently has 2 available positions.
Application Deadline
We utilize the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) and the Match. Applications are due in PhORCAS by January 1. Using PhORCAS, please submit:
- Letter of intent
- Curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official school of pharmacy transcript (undergraduate transcripts not required)
Program Start Date
The one year residency program runs approximately from early July through the end of June.
Applicant Eligibility
- Must be a candidate for spring graduation or already have obtained a PharmD degree from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy
- Be a citizen of the USA (naturalized citizens must provide proof of naturalization) or hold a visa allowing for completion of the residency year; we are unable to sponsor visas
Contact Information
| Residency Program Director: | Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, BCACP
Email: amdacunha@glfhc.org
|
| Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator: | Ashley Rogers, PharmD, BCPS
Email: arogers@glfhc.org
|
Hemali Patel, PharmD, MPH earned her Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Health degrees from Northeastern University in Boston. Her current interests include population health, anticoagulation, and hepatitis C management. She hopes to provide quality patient care for the underserved in the Lawrence community and to grow as a clinical pharmacist given the unique opportunities at GLFHC. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, traveling, eating dessert before dinner, and spending time with friends and family.
Vivian Nguyen, PharmD earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of the Pacific located in California, where she was born and raised. Vivian continues to practice here at GLFHC. She is in a hybrid position, both clinical and staff pharmacist, to help out patients in any way she can. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, listening to live music, and traveling.
Mai Yokota, PharmD first received her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Kobe Gakuin University in Japan and, more recently, earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Western University of Health Sciences in California. After residency Mai returned to California. She continues to act as a bridge between pharmacy education in the United States and Japan. Ever since she started doing triathlons, she’s into outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, snowboarding, and surfing.
Cassandra Fisher, PharmD is originally from the Boston area. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of New England College of Pharmacy in Portland, Maine. After graduation, she continued her training as a PGY-1 resident at GLFHC/MCPHS University. She was drawn to the residency program in Lawrence due to the diverse patient population and incredible opportunities to give back to the local community (including a sock drive for the homeless, Mobile Markets, fundraising for the Lawrence Greenway and more). Upon completing her residency training, she accepted a position at GLFHC as a community pharmacist. In her free time, Cassandra enjoys watching Boston sports games, outdoor activities, and spending time with family.
Neiloofar Jafari, PharmD is originally from Upland, California. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Pursuing her goals and aspirations of becoming a clinical pharmacist she completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY-1) at GLFHC/MCPHS University. Upon graduation, Neiloofar joined the GLFHC team as a clinical pharmacist where she continued to follow her passion in providing individualized care to an underserved patient population. Neiloofar believes that her time spent at GLFHC provided her many unique opportunities, which helped her grow on both a personal and professional level. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, exploring new foods, and traveling.
Sandy Lee, PharmD is originally from Tucson, AZ. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Sandy was drawn to GLFHC/MCPHS University because she was passionate about teaching and providing care to the underserved. Sandy believes that her residency training not only fostered her clinical knowledge, but helped her understand how to help patients despite any financial or circumstantial barriers that they may have. After completing her residency, Sandy accepted a position as the first Clinical Pharmacist at Chiricahua Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center located in Sierra Vista, AZ. Sandy’s role consists of developing clinical pharmacy services, assisting with chronic disease state management, providing patient education, and creating clinical policies and procedures. Her areas of interest include diabetes, asthma, and academia. In her free time, Sandy enjoys cooking, trying new restaurants, traveling, crafting, and spending time with friends and family.
Christine Dimaculangan, PharmD is originally from Jersey City, NJ. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Training at GLHFC/MCPHS University and completed her PGY-2 Training in Ambulatory Care at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, MD. She currently holds a position as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University. Her clinical practice site is at the Center for Comprehensive Care (an affiliate of Jersey City Medical Center). She collaborates with a multidisciplinary team, managing chronic diseases (such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) in the setting of HIV and Hepatitis C. Her professional interests include primary care, infectious diseases, serving the underserved, and academia. Christine’s favorite part of the GLFHC/MCPHS University residency was having the opportunity to serve the community with people who are passionate about the work they do every single day. Outside of pharmacy, she enjoys hiking, trying new foods, watching live music, and spending time with her family.
Alana Regan, PharmD, BCPP received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Western New England University in Springfield, MA. Following the completion of her PGY-1 residency at GLFHC/MCPHS University, Alana continued her post-graduate training and completed a PGY-2 psychiatric pharmacy residency at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She now works for McLean Hospital as a clinical pharmacist. Her pharmacy practice interests include mental health, chronic disease state management, teaching, and improving patient access. Alana attributes her wonderful experience at GLFHC/MCPHS University’s residency program to the wide variety of patient care and collaborative pharmacy practice experiences afforded to her, all with a focus on her professional development. In her free time, Alana enjoys bowling and relaxing with family and friends by exercising, cooking, or traveling together.
Jacob Reaser, PharmD, BCACP earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University at Buffalo. Shortly after he graduated from pharmacy school, he joined GLFHC/MCPHS University as the second pharmacy resident. As a pharmacy resident at GLFHC/MCPHS University, Jacob enjoyed working with a wide range of practitioners and establishing long-term relationships with his patients. After completing his residency, Jacob became an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) where he taught and precepted pharmacy students and pharmacy residents. Most recently, Jacob has accepted a new role as a population health pharmacist with Highmark Health. His role as a population health pharmacist will involve him traveling to different medical offices throughout central Pennsylvania and working closely with practitioners by helping them improve Medicare Star measures, HEDIS measures, and other medication-related measures in their practice. In his free time, Jacob likes to go hiking, running, and doing yoga workouts. He loves to go on long-distance runs and has completed several half-marathons in the past!
Alexia Sroka, PharmD, BCPS received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from MCPHS University in Worcester, MA. After graduation she completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY-1) at GLFHC/MCPHS University as the program’s inaugural resident. Immediately after residency, Alexia joined the GLFHC clinical pharmacy team from 2015-2021. In that time, she participated in chronic disease state management, precepting, and served as the Residency Program Coordinator. If you ask, Alexia will say that her GLFHC/MCPHS University residency experience taught her the value of networking because, in 2021, Alexia relocated to Western New York. She is now practicing with the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS) as the Coordinator of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Medicaid Prescriber Education Program (MPEP). In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts and rediscovering the Buffalo-Niagara area.
Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, BCACP received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from MCPHS University in Boston, MA. At GLFHC, she started off working as a community staff pharmacist and over the years has held multiple roles. She is most proud of helping establish the Clinical Pharmacy Services program as well as the GLFHC & MCPHS University PGY-1 program. She played a pivotal role in developing the structure of both programs and integrating the clinical pharmacists, technician, and residents into an interdisciplinary team. As a core member of the ACO’s Pharmacy Management workgroup, Alicia has worked closely with key players to create a process to help clinicians deal with formulary changes to minimize gaps in therapy for patients. In 2016-17, she served as the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association President where she advocated for provider status at the State House, piloted a hypertension program with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and held multiple networking events for pharmacists and student pharmacists. Alicia precepts Orientation, Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS), and elective experiences for the pharmacy residency program. She loves massive amounts of wasabi on her sushi and the spicier the food the better!
Diane Martin, RPh, is Senior Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer. She precepts the Pharmacy Operations Learning Experience. Diane has expanded the health center’s pharmacy services, from one pharmacy site in Lawrence in 2005 to six pharmacy sites in Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill in 2020. She heads GLFHC’s COVID Vaccination Program, which has administered the vaccine to tens of thousands of patients and residents across the Merrimack Valley. Diane has also created GLFHC’s Clinical Pharmacy Services program, and started a Pharmacy Residency in July, 2014. Diane is the recipient of multiple awards, including the HRSA Outstanding Executive Leader Award 2011, the HRSA Life Saving Patient Safety Award Executive Leader 2010, 2011, and Team Leader 2009, and the 2011 Technology Innovator of the Year award given by the Pharmacy Times and Parata Systems. She volunteers with Partners in Development, traveling to Haiti and Guatemala, committed to providing pharmaceutical services and clinician support to areas impacted by natural disasters. A native of the Merrimack Valley, Diane was born and raised in Lawrence and lives with her husband, Brian, in Windham, NH. She enjoys playing softball and golf in her spare time.
Ashley Rogers, PharmD, BCPS earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, MA. She began working at CVS Pharmacy as a pharmacy manager while simultaneously working as an inpatient staff pharmacist at Franciscan Hospital for Children and a consultant pharmacist in a long-term care setting. In 2014, she decided to pursue her interest in direct patient care at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center where she could practice collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to help underserved patient populations. In 2019, she transitioned to the role of clinical pharmacy coordinator, expanding her impact on clinical pharmacy services. Ashley also serves as the clinical pharmacy liaison for GLFHC’s medical residency, providing in-services and geriatric medication optimization sessions to medical residents. Ashley precepts the PGY-1 Teaching and Learning and TOC/CPS experiences as well as APPE pharmacy students. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, spin classes, hunting for Boston’s best bowl of ramen, and spending time with her family.
Cam-Tu Huynh, PharmD received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. After graduation she continued on with CVS Pharmacy as a staff pharmacist. A year into the profession, she became pharmacy manager at the same CVS store she started as a pharmacy intern. Cam-Tu is proud to have grown up in Lawrence, MA and has always wanted to return to serve the community. Thus, in 2018, Cam-Tu joined the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) Pharmacy as a staff pharmacist and then assumed the pharmacy manager position a year later. With a growing interest in patient care and precepting, Cam-Tu recently took on the preceptor role for the GLFHC PGY1 program, specifically in Patient Centered Dispensing. When not at work, Cam-Tu enjoys traveling and thinks exploring new cultures and cuisines is the best part of it.
Michele Matthews, PharmD, BCACP, FASHP received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, MA. After graduation she completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY-1) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. She has been a faculty member at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences since 2002 and is currently Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Pharmacy Practice within the School of Pharmacy-Boston. She is also an advanced practice pharmacist specializing in pain management and addiction medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She serves as an academic mentor for the Residency Teaching Certificate Program that is offered through this program. In her free time, she is either rooting on her favorite sports teams or is relaxing on a beach in Aruba.
Neiloofar Jafari, PharmD is originally from Upland, California. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Claremont, CA. Pursuing her goals and aspirations of becoming a clinical pharmacist she completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY-1) at GLFHC/MCPHS University. Upon graduation, Neiloofar joined the GLFHC team as a clinical pharmacist where she continued to follow her passion in providing individualized care to an underserved patient population. During her time at GLFHC she has collaborated on multi-disciplinary teams to provide patient-centered care in chronic disease states. Neiloofar believes that her time spent at GLFHC provided her many unique opportunities, which helped her grow on both a personal and professional level. She is excited to give back to the field of pharmacy by serving as a preceptor to the PGY-1 residents for the longitudinal Clinical Pharmacy Services rotation. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, exploring new foods, traveling and spending time with her friends and family