Kelsey D. Frederick, PharmD
Assistant Professor, UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
What specific factors or experiences motivated you to select the Program as your preferred pathway?
I was drawn to the UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program because of its strong reputation for providing vast opportunities in community pharmacy, outpatient care, management, leadership, and teaching. My goal entering residency was to work in a setting that allowed direct patient care while utilizing my skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact. The program’s patient-centered focus and innovative clinical services, such as medication therapy management (MTM), disease state coaching, immunization clinics, biometric screenings, and point-of-care testing, aligned perfectly with my career goals.
I was also excited about the ability to tailor the year to additional areas of interest. As someone passionate about preventative health, fitness, and nutrition, the opportunity to collaborate with Kroger Health’s registered dietitians was especially appealing. The program offered everything I was looking for and more!
Can you share the most impactful or transformative experience you had during your residency year?
It’s difficult to narrow it down to just one experience because the entire residency year was transformative and truly life changing. One of the most impactful aspects was working one-on-one with patients to help manage their chronic conditions through MTM services, disease state coaching, and wellness programs like the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Educating patients on healthy lifestyle choices and seeing the direct impact of those interventions deepened my commitment to pharmacy’s role in improving patient health outcomes and quality of life.
I also valued the unique opportunity to gain leadership and management experience at every level of Kroger Health from corporate-level meetings and high-level decision-making to district-level coaching and store-level patient care. Weekly Community Pharmacy Rounds meetings with co-residents and preceptors across the state also strengthened my leadership skills and provided a sense of community and collaboration. These experiences gave me a well-rounded understanding of community pharmacy management, leadership, and innovation.
Another transformative component was the exposure to teaching and research. Through Kroger Health training initiatives and the longitudinal UTHSC Teaching and Learning Program, I gained experience delivering continuing education (CE) programming to pharmacists, facilitating lectures and active learning for students, and precepting. These teaching experiences ignited my passion for academia and CE and changed the entire trajectory of my career.
In what ways has participation in the residency program contributed to your personal and professional development, and how has it helped you move toward your long-term career aspirations?
I can honestly say I owe my whole career to that residency year. The UTHSC Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program introduced me to academia, ignited my passion for education and research, and set me on a path that I may never have discovered otherwise. It inspired me to pursue additional academic fellowship training, which ultimately prepared me for my current faculty role. The residency program exceeded my expectations in every way, laying the foundation for both my personal and professional growth. The program invested in me through phenomenal mentorship, networking, leadership training, and meaningful hands-on experiences. It helped me develop confidence, communication skills, and clinical expertise while also igniting my passion for pharmacy education and research. The program’s structure allowed me to tailor experiences to my goals, including gaining additional teaching and scholarship opportunities to prepare for a future in academia. Today, I still get to collaborate with many of the same incredible mentors, co-residents, and leaders I met during my residency year, and I even have the privilege of giving back to the program that gave so much to me by interacting with and precepting current residents.
What important insights or advice would you offer to prospective residents considering the Residency Program to help them make an informed decision?
The UTHSC Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program is an incredible experience that can help fulfill individualized career goals and interests. My advice is to take full advantage of the program’s experiences and invest yourself fully. You truly get out of it what you put into it. Don’t underestimate the value of building relationships with your mentors and peers; their guidance will shape your future. Be open to learning, take initiative, and allow yourself to grow through the challenges and opportunities presented. Some of my most rewarding residency experiences came from stepping outside of my comfort zone to embrace new roles and learning opportunities. Residency requires hard work, but it will reward you beyond measure, both personally and professionally.
Ultimately, this residency offers far more than a dispensing experience. It provides the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact on patients, the community, and the profession, and to transform your career. I highly recommend the program to anyone passionate about advancing community pharmacy and making a meaningful impact.