The combined 2-year residency/Master of Science in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership program is designed to cultivate forward-thinking pharmacy leaders who are prepared to shape the future of health-system pharmacy. Through a comprehensive blend of operational, clinical, strategic, and leadership development experiences, residents gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to excel in a wide range of leadership roles across diverse healthcare settings. Upon completion of the program, residents are equipped to serve as dynamic, dedicated professionals committed to advancing patient health, enhancing healthcare delivery, and strengthening the pharmacy profession. Success is fostered through an integrated approach that combines didactic coursework with hands-on experiential learning, providing meaningful opportunities in both the classroom and in real-world practice environments.
Residents of the PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency program will join our alumni who have entered the workforce in a variety of different roles, including directors of pharmacy, hospital executives, and clinical leaders. The program offers residents a broad set of valuable tools that prepares them for a successful career, regardless of their specific goals. Residents gain hands-on experience within one of the nation's largest integrated health systems, providing exposure to multi-site operations, strategic decision-making, executive leadership, and system-level initiatives that prepare them to lead in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.
Residency Program Design
The first year of the PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency program is the same as our PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program. Residents will receive strong clinical training in a variety of patient care areas, including medicine, critical care, population health, and other electives. The second year builds on this foundational clinical knowledge while expanding experiences in administrative areas including regulatory, medication safety, operations, clinical services, ambulatory and human resources, as well as time with both pharmacy and health-system executives.
The PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency program at Wake Forest Baptist is a member of the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy Masters of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialization in Health-System Pharmacy Administration collaborative. The program includes residents at more than 15 different health systems across the country. This allows Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residents to gain experience in a variety of settings, while also fostering collaboration in didactic education. For more details on the collaborative and curriculum, see this.
Preparing Next Generation of Pharmacy Leaders
The overall goal of the program is to prepare residents for leadership positions in health care. After residents complete our program, they will:
- Lead with vision and purpose, designing, implementing, and optimizing patient care and pharmacy operational services that improve outcomes and advance organizational goals.
- Develop and inspire teams through effective recruitment, mentorship, coaching, performance management, and leadership of both professional and technical staff.
- Navigate change with agility, serving as adaptive leaders who successfully respond to the evolving demands of health-system pharmacy and healthcare.
- Think strategically and act proactively, viewing challenges as opportunities to innovate, improve processes, and enhance the delivery of care.
- Demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical practice in all aspects of leadership and patient care.
- Maintain strong clinical expertise, ensuring leadership decisions remain grounded in patient-centered care and evidence-based practice.
- Manage complex operational and financial responsibilities, including budgeting, resource stewardship, productivity, and performance improvement.
- Shape the future of pharmacy practice by developing the vision, influence, and leadership tools necessary to drive meaningful change within healthcare organizations.
Why Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist?
Our HSPAL residents graduate as confident, innovative leaders prepared to influence pharmacy practice, improve healthcare delivery, and drive meaningful change across complex health systems. Whether pursuing careers in pharmacy operations, clinical leadership, academia, or executive administration, graduates leave with the experience, mentorship, and leadership foundation necessary to succeed.
Program Highlights:
- Robust clinical pharmacy practice experience
- Flexible and diverse elective learning experience opportunities
- Committee leadership opportunities in both PGY1 and PGY2 years
- Longitudinal management experience
- Extensive and supportive resident mentorship
- Teaching certificate and preceptorship opportunities
- Extraordinary leadership learning opportunities
Hear from our current and past residents on their experiences.
Recruitment Informational Sessions
- Dates coming soon.