FirstHealth pharmacy residency program celebrates 15th anniversary
By Staff Report, posted Jun 10, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com
June marks 15 years since the first round of residents graduated from FirstHealth’s postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency program. The program builds upon Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to develop clinical pharmacist practitioners with the knowledge, skills and abilities defined in educational competency areas, goals and objectives.
The program was founded with the goals of recruiting and developing newly-graduated pharmacists to serve FirstHealth’s patients. During the year-long program, residents rotate and train throughout various clinical care teams within the health system and work directly with physicians, nurses and other health care providers.
“Our residents are a tremendous asset to FirstHealth,” said Drew Kessell, PharmD., administrative director of clinical and specialty pharmacy services and residency program director, in a press release. “Over the past 15 years, they have contributed to countless quality improvement/patient safety projects and initiatives. We are preparing to graduate our 46th resident from the program. Over 17 residency graduates stayed with FirstHealth post-residency and many others are serving patients in other health systems across the Southeast. Our program’s success is attributable to the exceptional team of preceptors who directly train the residents. Our preceptors are experts in their practice area. Several members of our preceptor team are former FirstHealth residents themselves.”
After completion of the PGY-1 pharmacy program, residents will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership and education. They will be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e. BCPS) and to pursue advanced education and training opportunities, including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.
“I have enjoyed supporting the PGY-1 pharmacy residents as they begin their clinical careers,” said Christina Thurber, PharmD., residency program coordinator, in a press release. “It has been a privilege watching them develop clinical confidence, leadership skills and a commitment to patient care. I am proud of the residents that graduate from our program knowing that they are successful in whatever career path they choose because of the groundwork that was laid during their time at FirstHealth.”
For more information about FirstHealth’s pharmacy residency programs, call (910) 715-1105.
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