Innovation is what we do. We are always on the cutting edge of testing new collaborative models of care to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of care, and build a sustainable model of practice. Our team is involved in national initiatives to push community pharmacy forward and highlight the value that pharmacists bring to the care team.
2. Who is the ideal applicant?
We are seeking candidates with the drive and passion to serve as the primary clinical pharmacist for our collaborating clinics. As such, the ideal candidate will need the skills to grow clinical services, work collaboratively with the providers and other members of the healthcare team, and will serve as an entrepreneur for that clinic in building a sustainable practice. Be ready to hit the ground running because things move quickly in our organizations!
3. What is the program duration and start date?
The program duration is 12 months and the anticipated start date for the fellowship program is Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
4. If I am a new graduate, when do I need to be licensed?
Licensure in North Carolina is expected to be within the first quarter of the fellowship.
5. What is the stipend?
The stipend for this 12-month position is $47,500 with a $2,500 stipend for professional travel or professional development.
6. What are the benefits for the position?
Benefits include 10 days of PTO as well as medical, dental, and vision insurance. Paid holidays include New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day if they fall on a weekday.
7. Are you accredited?
No, our program is unaccredited and does not follow the traditional requirements of an APhA-ASHP residency program. If candidates plan to pursue a PGY-2 residency, our fellowship program will not be the best fit.
8. What is your application process?
All application components must be received to be considered for an interview. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the positions have been filled.
9. What is your interview process?
An initial interview will be conducted by Zoom with the program coordinator and Avant team members. Once consensus is reached, a second Zoom interview will be scheduled with site specific team members. Some sites may require a third Zoom interview with select team members.
10. Where do fellows present their projects?
Fellows may have the opportunity to present at the APhA Annual Meeting and at local conferences. In addition, there may be speaking engagements for electives or opportunities to share your research through publication.
11. Are you affiliated with any university?
No, our program is not affiliated with a university. Fellows will have the opportunity to precept students and participate in educational activities through the Avant Institute, which is an ACPE-accredited Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) provider.
12. How does your program support and develop the fellow?
Our team serves as the back-end support to establish clinical pharmacist roles within collaborating clinics. The fellow will be the primary clinical pharmacist and clinic sites and may establish, sustain, or grow collaborative clinical services, such as annual wellness visits, chronic care management, remote physiologic monitoring, behavioral health integration and more. We believe that there is tremendous value in adding a pharmacist to the care team. We support fellows in their knowledge of collaborative clinical services and how to effectively build models of care, how to evaluate opportunities, but also how to navigate the psychology of collaboration, which is a significant component of sustainability.
13. How do you evaluate the fellow?
Fellows will be evaluated based on their clinical activities, alignment with the company mission and values, and their monthly productivity for collaborative clinical services as well as supporting activities.
14. What does your preceptor profile look like?
We have a diverse team of preceptors who have been engaging with providers for collaborative clinical services since 2014. Our preceptor team is known across the country for collaborative services and developing innovative models of care. Amina Abubakar is the pharmacy owner and President of the Avant Institute. She has spoken worldwide, advocating for the expanded role of pharmacists in clinical services, pharmacogenetics, and more. She recently received the 2020 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award for her service to the profession and also received the NCAP Bowl of Hygeia Award for her service to the community. Olivia Bentley, the Executive Director of AMG, was named the 2017 PDS Pharmacist of the Year. Saswat Kabisatpathy serves as the Chief Strategic Officer for both Avant Pharmacy and Wellness and the Avant Institute. In 2015, he was named by Pharmacy Times and Next Generation Pharmacists as a finalist for the Future Pharmacist of the Year award. Jessica Sinclair serves as the Director of Education and Research Outcomes and also serves as the Avant Institute Fellowship Program Director. As a former resident of Avant Pharmacy and Wellness and the UNC PGY1 Community-based Pharmacy Residency program, she is experienced in implementing, sustaining, and providing continuous value through collaborative clinical services. Our site coordinators include Brianna Johnson, Desiree Gaines, and Keith Yon. Not only have these site coordinators built successful models for collaborative clinical services in numerous clinics, they have also trained numerous pharmacists, students, and support staff in navigating collaborative relationships.
15. How will the fellows interact with each other?
While fellows will be located at different sites and will be working with different site coordinators, all fellows will meet regularly as a group to discuss population health initiatives. We will host regular fellowship seminars to discuss industry trends, services, and optimizing implementation for programs. These seminars will be led by Dr. Jessica Sinclair, Dr. Amina Abubakar, Dr. Saswat Kabisatpathy or one of our other fellowship program leads.
