| The purpose of the GCVHCS pharmacy residencies is to build on the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacy specialists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY-2) pharmacy residency training. Residents will be provided the opportunity to accelerate their growth beyond entry-level professional competence in patient-centered care, pharmacy operational services, and to further the development of leadership skills that can be applied to any practice setting. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System hosts three residency programs, two in Biloxi, MS and one at the Joint Ambulatory Care Center (JACC) in Pensacola, FL, with a total of 4 resident positions (2 at each site). GCVHCS is a tertiary care facility and a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services. GCVHCS is privileged to serve over 70,000 Veteran. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, medicine, surgery, acute care/ICU, psychiatry, psychology, oncology, cardiology, dentistry, geriatrics, extended care, palliative/hospice care, physical rehabilitation and blind rehabilitation. During the course of the year, residents will be required to have certain clinical and administrative experiences. These include orientation, primary care (PACT), anticoagulation, internal medicine, home based primary care, practice management, project management, and pharmacy operations. Program one in Biloxi is a PGY-1 pharmacy residency (1 resident). It is a 12-month program consisting of longitudinal experiences in primary care, pharmacy practice, pharmacy administration and research. Additional required learning experiences include adult/internal medicine/acute care, home-based primary care, geriatrics/community living center, acute mental health/outpatient mental health clinic, and psychosocial mental health/substance abuse/chronic mental illness residential rehabilitation programs. Program two in Biloxi is a PGY-1 pharmacy residency (1 resident). It is a 12-month expanded mental health training program which fosters a coordinated blend of research and informed application in an interdisciplinary environment. The resident is part of the Mental Health Interprofessional Fellowship training program along with post-graduate fellows in psychology, social work and nursing. The required mental health learning experiences include substance abuse, outpatient mental health, psychosocial residential rehabilitation treatment programs (chronic mental illness/substance abuse/PTSD), and quit tobacco clinic. Additional learning experiences include adult internal medicine/acute care, home-based primary care, geriatrics/community living center, primary care/ambulatory care, pharmacy administration and research. The residency program at the JACC in Pensacola, FL is a 12-month program consisting of longitudinal experiences in PACT/pharmacotherapy clinic, anti-coagulation clinic, diabetes clinic, quit tobacco clinic and pharmacy administration (2 residents). Other required learning experiences include home-based primary care, outpatient pharmacy and adult medicine/internal medicine/acute care (Biloxi). There are multiple primary care teams utilizing the PACT model of care with pharmacists serving as providers and managing patients for a variety of disease states including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking cessation and other disease states based on the needs of the patient and PACT team. Specialty clinics and pharmacist run disease state management clinics are also utilized for resident learning experiences. Possible electives for the 3 programs include repetition of a required learning experience, opioid stewardship/pain management, antibiotic stewardship/infectious disease, cardiology (Pensacola), mental health (Biloxi), acute inpatient psychiatry (Biloxi), National academic detailing and national VA Med Safe. There is ample opportunity to be involved in patient care, education, management and research. Residents are required to complete a research project, present it at a professional meeting and submit a manuscript suitable for publication by the end of the residency. Residents also have the opportunity to participate in the teaching and learning certificate program offered through the Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy. Benefits include a stipend of approximately $41,500, 13 days of paid accrued annual leave and 13 days of paid accrued sick leave per year. In addition, residents receive 10 paid holidays, paid administrative leave to attend required professional meetings, shared office space with co-resident, health care benefit package with optional dental and vision plans, lab coats and business cards. Biloxi Quick Facts Population: 45,975 estimation as of 2016 Biloxi sits along the shores of Mississippi’s gulf coast. Weather – Climate is mild and typical of the Southeast. Average annual low temperature is 60 F and annul high temperature is 76 F with an average temperature of 68.3 F. Average annual precipitation is 65" of rain. Things To Do in the Biloxi Area Biloxi has been a favorite vacation destination for decades, with sandy beaches and calm waters perfect for jet skiing or deep-sea fishing. Casinos and resorts offer a plethora of excitement and action as well as fine dining options and entertainment. There are historic sites to visit including Beauvoir, the home of confederate president Jefferson Davis and historical museum. Visit the famous Beau Rivage Casino, the Golden Nugget, Harrah’s, Hard Rock and others for explosive live entertainment, gambling, food, and dancing. Or enjoy a relaxing day on Biloxi Beach. Things to do in Biloxi include a visit to the Biloxi Lighthouse and several museums including the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (nationally recognized children’s museum), the Infinity Science Center, and the Biloxi Mardi Gras Museum. Biloxi is also home to the Biloxi Shucker’s minor league baseball team. Biloxi has a multitude of festivals and events during the year including Mardi Gras celebrations with Biloxi-based Mardi Gras Krewes, the annual Shrimp Festival and Gumbo contest, the Crawfish Festival, and the annual Crab Festival. Other events include Cruisin’ the Coast and Scrapin’ the Coast Car Shows. There is also Christmas on the Water Boat Show, Top of the Hops Beer Festival and Grillin’ on the Green. Outdoor activities abound in the Biloxi-Gulfport area including fishing, swimming, kayaking, sunset cruises, Ship Island excursions, boating, paddle-boarding, golf, and water parks. Biloxi is home to the Margaritaville Resort with large play area for kids of all ages. A new aquarium in Gulfport is set to open soon. Nearby cities include New Orleans, LA , Mobile, AL, Pensacola, FL and Jackson, MS. Pensacola Quick Facts Population: 53,779 estimation as of 2016 Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, approximately 13 miles from the border of Alabama. Weather – Climate is mild and tropical typical of a southern Florida environment with a nice breeze from the water that keeps it a little cooler and less stagnant than some areas of central Florida. Average annual low temperature is 59 F and annual high temperature is 76.7 F with an average temperature of 68 F. Spring is from March to May and temperatures range from a low of 52 to a high of 84 on average with a mean temperature between 61-75 F. Summer is from June to September with a range from a low of 73 to a high of 91 F and July being the hottest and wettest month with an average temperature of 83 F and 4.54" rain (annual rainfall is 65"). Fall is October through November with a low of 51 F and a high of 80 F. Winter is from December to February with a low of 43 F and a high of 65 F and January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 53 F. Nearby Cities To the West - Florida: Perdido Key (16 miles) - Alabama: Orange Beach (27 miles), Foley (29 miles), Daphne (54 miles), Mobile (58 miles), Fairhope (60 miles) - Mississippi: Biloxi (117 miles) - Louisiana: New Orleans (173 miles) To the East - Florida: Gulf Breeze, FL (7 miles), Pace (16 miles), Milton (24 miles), Navarre, FL (25 miles), Fort Walton Beach, FL (40 miles), Destin (48 miles), Eglin AFB (52 miles), Crestview (53 miles), Sandestin (58 miles), Niceville (68 miles), Santa Rosa Beach (65 miles), Panama City Beach (98 miles), Tyndall AFB (115 miles), Tallahassee (198 miles), Jacksonville (359 miles) To the North - Alabama: Montgomery (165 miles), Birmingham (216 miles) - Georgia: Atlanta (285 miles) Things To Do in the Pensacola Area Pensacola is home to the Gulf Islands National Seashore and the city offers some of the best fishing and boating in the area. Incredible beach hikes at Ft. Pickens are unforgettable and can be found on the AllTrails app or take the Pensacola Ferry from downtown Pensacola to Ft. Pickens for a hike and then catch a ride on it to the Pensacola Beach strip near Captain Fun’s to grab a drink at Flounder’s before heading back downtown for dinner at one of our top restaurants like Jackson’s, McGuire’s or Fish House. Inland canoeing enthusiasts won’t want to miss the beauty of Blackwater River. Also nearby are Perdido Key State Park and Big Lagoon State Park. Day trips are recommended to visit nearby Orange Beach (Home of the Wharf Amphitheater), Foley, and Daphne, AL to the west and Santa Rosa Island, Destin, and Panama City to the East. Closer to town, the city has a proud military heritage, which can be seen as it is home to the Blue Angels and at attractions like the National Museum of Naval Aviation, the Veterans Memorial Park, and the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Other not to miss attractions are the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum, downtown Pensacola (especially on Gallery Nights), Seville Square, Blue Wahoos Ballpark, Ice Flyers, and UWF Nautilus football. Bayview park in East Pensacola is a great place to have a birthday party or picnic or go for jog. Catch yoga sessions or farmer’s markets here and downtown on weekends. Dogs love Bayview Dog Beach or the leashed dog beach on Pensacola beach. Pensacola beach offers shopping, entertainment, and dining. Take a day to lay on the white sand beach listening to the sound of the waves. Grab something to eat and drink at Flounders, the Grand Marlin, Hemmingways, Casino Beach Bar, the Dock or Crabs We Got ‘Em, before renting a bike to head around the tourist strip, the pier and, if you’re feeling energized, all the way down to Fort Pickens for some real exercise! You can also rent paddleboards, jet skis, kayaks, boats, or go parasailing. A short scenic drive to the east brings you to Navarre beach where you can visit Juana’s – the thatch roof bar & grill that famously survives every hurricane! |
