Emily Russell
Post Graduate Year 2 Ambulatory Care Residency
Name: Emily Russell
Hometown: Clarksville, TN
Undergrad and PharmD:Belmont University
Year and Concentration:Post Graduate Year 2 Ambulatory Care Residency
What brought you to Gatton? I was looking for a PGY2 residency that would broaden my ambulatory care experience and help me determine if I wanted to pursue academia in my future career. Also, I had heard that Gatton has a very welcoming culture with a focus on helping their residents learn and grow. This definitely turned out to be true!
What was a defining moment for you here at Gatton? Several months ago, in transitions of care clinic, we were seeing a patient with a serious and rare breathing condition. She could barely speak due to her wheezing. She also was struggling with an untreated and uncontrolled psychological disorder. The medical resident, a behavioral health specialist, and I worked together as a team to determine a plan of action with her. The next time we saw the patient, her breathing had greatly improved, and she agreed to be referred to a mental health specialist. That is just one of many examples of how I have learned the importance of interprofessional, team-based care this year. We all bring something vital to the table to help our patients.
Why is residency experience important for future pharmacists?
Pharmacy is developing as a profession, and we are offering more and better services to our patients. Many any of these services require more training and experience after pharmacy school in order to succeed and provide quality care. Residency provides this training and experience in a rigorous, expedited, and supported manner. Residents are exposed to roles that they otherwise would likely not encounter, while under the tutelage of preceptors who are invested in their learning. During residency, I matured as a pharmacist, improved my time management skills, discovered ways to find information quickly and accurately, and gained experience in patient care, research, and precepting. While residency is challenging, it also is incredibly rewarding and opens many doors in terms of career opportunities.
The takeaway: I’m thankful that God placed me at Gatton for this season of my life. I have met lifelong friends and mentors, and I have truly grown as a pharmacist and a person. I’m excited for the next step in my career, but I will miss my Gatton family dearly!
Learn more about Gatton's postgraduate training programs.