Community Pharmacy Practice Development & Research Fellowship
This 2-year Community Pharmacy Practice Development & Research Fellowship was established within the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh in 2007.
The goal of this fellowship is to provide graduates with a solid foundation in scholarship pertaining to community pharmacy practice development, and emphasis is placed on developing leaders in community pharmacy practice innovation and future faculty members. The fellowship program is designed to build upon the school’s local, regional and national community- based initiatives while actively contributing to the research agenda for community-based scholarship. The fellow will be a key member of the PittPharmacy team and our school’s community-based research, innovation, education and practice initiatives.
Core Learning
The core learning experiences of the fellowship program consist of mentored practice development and research (approximately 80%-90% of the fellow’s effort), with the remaining time devoted to teaching and/or community-based direct patient care. Specific activities are individualized to meet the fellow’s interests and career goals. The program co-directors and a committee consisting of community practice leaders and faculty members with expertise in community pharmacy practice and health services/health outcomes research advise the fellow. The fellow meets weekly with the program director and every 6 months with the full committee.
Practice Partnerships
- Pennsylvania Pharmacist Care Network/CPESN: over 150 pharmacies in Pennsylvania, and partnership with CPESN USA nationwide
- Community Pharmacies: Asti’s South Hills Pharmacy, Curtis Pharmacy, and Giant Eagle Pharmacy
- Public Health: Allegheny County Health Department and PittCoVax Center (University-wide vaccinations)
- Underserved Care: Grace Lamsam Program for the Underserved
- Family Medicine: UPMC St. Margaret Family Health Centers, Renaissance Family Practices
Mentored Research Activities
The ACCP Guidelines for Clinical Research Fellowship Training Programs list several skills that are essential to achieving competency in clinical research. In the Community Pharmacy Practice Development & Research Fellowship, many of these skills are developed through the completion of practice development and research activities under the guidance of the fellowship co-directors and practice preceptors. As part of the research efforts, the fellow is required to gain experience in grantsmanship through authoring and submitting at least 1 grant application for funding consideration. The fellow is also required to gain experience in the scholarship of teaching, providing the opportunity for course material design, and formal evaluation.
Applicants should possess a PharmD degree, preferably have prior residency experience relevant to community practice, and be eligible for pharmacist licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A competitive stipend with benefits and travel support is provided. Please submit a letter of intent, CV, and 3 letters of recommendation by January 15, 2023 to Dr. Melissa McGivney at somma@pitt.edu.
Contact Information
Melissa Somma McGivney, PharmD, FCCP, FAPhA
Professor of Pharmacy & Therapeutics
Associate Dean for Community Partnerships
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Email: somma@pitt.edu
And/or
Kim Coley, PharmD, FCCP
Professor of Pharmacy & Therapeutics
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Email: coley@pitt.edu