Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is celebrating its very first class of pharmacy residents, who will officially complete their education later this month.
“Completion of a pharmacy practice residency has become a requirement for a pharmacist to work in a clinical hospital setting. So, we worked to develop our program here to advance our clinical pharmacy practice, train new clinical pharmacists and expand the impact of pharmacy on patient care,” explains Lloyd Sarbacker, clinical pharmacy supervisor.
Taylor Kaye Servais (above right) arrived at Bon Secours after receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina and attending Presbyterian College’s School of Pharmacy. She says this opportunity has been one she won’t soon forget.
“It was really special, because it wasn’t just a cookie cutter program. They really took everything I wanted to see and wanted to learn more about and they molded the program towards me as an individual,” she shares.
Symone McWilliams (above left) was also excited to be a part of something new.
“I feel like we helped mold and grow the program, because it’s new for everyone,” she says. “I also think it was a good opportunity, because it allowed us to see the background work that goes into it. You don’t always get to see that because a lot of programs are already years in the making.”
Symone attended the University of South Carolina and Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy before joining Bon Secours’ inaugural pharmacy residency program. She believes the industry is widely misunderstood.
“I think with pharmacy, in general, people have one stereotype of it and that’s the retail pharmacist. However, we do a lot as far as patient care.”
The pharmacist’s role continues to develop beyond dispensing medication into other areas that include ensuring patient safety throughout the drug use process, promoting rational drug therapy and cost-effective medication therapy as well as ensuring drug therapy outcome goals are being achieved.
Pharmacists at Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown work throughout the hospital and are often embedded in the health care teams in critical care areas as well as the emergency department. That’s why a residency program is more important now than ever.
“Residents help provide education to health care members and complete research projects to benefit the health system,” explains Lloyd. “Hospitals with pharmacy residency programs are also able to attract more motivated and skilled pharmacists, as typically the best pharmacists are interested in precepting pharmacy residents.”
Taylor Kaye and Symone will officially graduate from the Bon Secours pharmacy residency program on Tuesday, June 30. They say Bon Secours is a special place that any resident would be blessed to be a part of.
“I really just love the culture here,” shares Taylor Kaye. “In pharmacy school, we go to a lot of different hospitals. This is the first place I’ve ever been where the culture is so loving and welcoming, not cut throat or who can one up the next person. It’s all about how can we help each other and how can we help the patient. So, I’ve loved it here for that.”
Learn more about the health care services offered at Bon Secours.
