View Larger Image
College of Pharmacy students pose with their match signs at the Little Rock ceremony May 14. Over the past four years, College of Pharmacy students and alumni have matched to programs in 21 states. Image by Benjamin Waldrum

College of Pharmacy Seniors, Alumni Announce Residency, Fellowship Matches

May 20, 2024 | Seventeen UAMS College of Pharmacy seniors and nine recent alumni announced their residencies and fellowships May 14 in a ceremony held on the UAMS campus in Little Rock.

Upon completion of their Doctor of Pharmacy degree, students are able to join the workforce or continue to develop their skills in a specific area through residencies, fellowships or graduate programs. Residents further develop their professional competence beyond entry-level practice, as well as build leadership skills to improve services and patient care outcomes.

“Soon-to-be residents, we are so proud of you and the work that you’ve done, and we’re so excited to see your careers unfold,” said Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy. “I hope that you take on these challenges with a smile and confidence that you’re learning and improving in the ability to care for your patients and make a difference in their lives. My advice is simple: stay curious, stay compassionate and stay committed to excellence.”

Stowe also thanked the families and friends in attendance for their support.

“Your role in this journey cannot be overstated,” Stowe said. “Your encouragement and support of these students has been indispensable, and I thank you for that.”

Students each took their turn on stage, flashing large red signs where they had written the name of their match. Two students in Northwest Arkansas shared their matches via live video.

The UAMS seniors competed along with 6,009 other applicants nationwide. Twenty-six of 34 UAMS pharmacy students obtained a position.

Most residencies are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and positions are filled through a process called matching. Through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), seniors apply in the fall before graduation to dozens of programs, then interview with several of them. In the spring, seniors each send a ranked list of their choices to the NRMP. The residency programs also submit a list of their preferred candidates, and an NRMP computer uses an algorithm to reconcile the lists.

“We have so much joy and pride for you and what you’ve done, not only for our college until now but what you will do in the workforce,” said Megan Smith, Pharm.D., associate professor in the college’s Department of Pharmacy Practice and chair of the Postgraduate Training and Opportunities Committee. “This is a highly competitive and long application process, and we are so proud of our students and alumni who have obtained these coveted positions.”

Seniors matched to postgraduate year one (PGY-1) residencies and fellowships in seven states: Arkansas, Washington, Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and South Carolina. Two-thirds of the matches were in Arkansas. Eight of nine alumni (89%) matched in Arkansas, and one matched to a program in Oklahoma.

Over the past four years, UAMS College of Pharmacy students and alumni have matched to programs in 21 states, Smith said.

Brooke Lessenberry, Pharm.D., (COP ’22), a PGY-2 pharmacy resident at Arkansas Children’s, was the keynote speaker and shared encouragement and wisdom from her past year.

“Not very long ago at all I was sitting right in your seat, getting ready to pursue my residency journey,” Lessenberry said. “You have put in the work, you’ve set yourself apart and you’ve secured awesome residency positions that without a doubt will totally change the trajectory of your career.”

Lessenberry set a nautical theme on “navigating the waters of residency.” Her advice included building relationships with their mentors and peers, staying anchored to what motivates them, and to embrace opportunities with an open mind and positive attitude.

“Residency is the ultimate opportunity to build your clinical knowledge and skills, but you can only take full advantage if you have the self-awareness to recognize your deficits and where you have potential to grow,” Lessenberry said. “These past two years have been the most rewarding, inspiring and truly joyous season of my life. My hope is that it can be that for you too.”

 

PGY-1 Residencies

Whitney Austin — Little Rock (Baptist Health Medical Center)

Jeffery Davis Jr. — Little Rock (Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System)

Victoria Hoggard — Searcy (Unity Health, White County Medical Center)

Alexis Jacobus — Searcy (Unity Health, White County Medical Center)

Kennede McLeroy-Charles — Dallas (Baylor Health Enterprises)

Maria Neal — Jackson, Mississippi (University of Mississippi Medical Center)

Kendall Perkins — Memphis, Tennessee (Methodist University Hospital)

Benjamin Quattlebaum — Rogers (Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas)

Alexa Ramick — Charleston, South Carolina (Medical University of South Carolina)

Austin Richards — Columbus, Mississippi (Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle)

Amanda Russell — Jonesboro (St. Bernards Medical Center)

Mary Rose Siebenmorgen — Searcy (ARcare)

Katherine Snider — Rogers (Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas)

Victoria Tang — Tacoma, Washington (MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital)

Rachel Ward — St. Louis (Sisters of St. Mary Health St. Louis University Hospital)

Dylan Yowell — Little Rock (Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System)

 

National Community Pharmacists Association Fellowship

Emily Carter — Maumelle (Achor Family Pharmacy)

 

PGY-2 Residencies

Elma Abdullah — Searcy (ARcare)

Emily Campbell — Little Rock (Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System)

Taylor Connor — Little Rock (UAMS College of Pharmacy)

Justin Dino — Tulsa, Oklahoma (Oklahoma State University Medical Center)

Michelle Hernandez — Little Rock (UAMS College of Pharmacy)

Brendan Midkiff — Little Rock (Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System)

Madeline Poush — Little Rock (UAMS Medical Center)

Morgan Tracy — Little Rock (Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System)

Jasiha Welch — Little Rock (UAMS College of Pharmacy)