Sierra Vista, Arizona (KGUN) — Canyon Vista Medical Center and the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy have partnered to launch a pharmacist residency program at Sierra Vista Hospital.

“We called for help and they helped us very quickly,” said Sean Phillips, CEO of Canyon Vista.

The hospital has long worked with Coit College of Pharmacy as a place where students can get rotations and hours while they are in school.

“We have already partnered with them for the past five years, and it made sense for us to try and partner with them on this residency program,” said Lindsey Ortmans, pharmacy director at Canyon Vista. Stated.

Phillips and Ortmans first discussed the idea of ​​running a pharmacy training program last July. It’s been a year since then, and this month the hospital welcomed its first resident.

Oltmans said he’s seen other hospitals take more than two years to get their programs up and running, so it’s impressive that the team was able to get started in one year.

She credits Nanhee Lee, the new Director of Residency Programs, for cultivating the relationships necessary to build the program.

“Having a permanent resident only improves all of us as pharmacists,” says Ortmans. “It keeps us up to date with the latest information.”

“Also, I think there will be more service lines that we pharmacists can respond to in real time.”

Phillips said the goal is to have the program accredited in the spring following field visits. Once certified, Canyon Vista will offer training programs in internal medicine, family medicine, and pharmacy.

Oltmans hopes the pharmacy residency program will continue to grow in size next summer, with two more residents to help graduates continue their education. She said it would also benefit patients in the community.