The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is hosting six residents for the fourth year of the Independent Pharmacy Ownership Residency program.
Through the year-long residency, the School provides an outlet for Pharm.D. graduates to serve communities while building entrepreneurship skills. Participants gain patient care experience in an independently-owned pharmacy while developing a pharmacy ownership business plan. As a result, residents gain the necessary skills to become an effective business owner. The residency has locations in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. This year, the program is working with two new locations: Med-World Pharmacy in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and Esterbrook Pharmacy in Reading, Pennsylvania.
2019-20 Independent Pharmacy Ownership Residents:
Jacob Gambo, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Gambo has advanced pharmacy practice experience at both Bryn Mawr Hospital and the Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center in Pennsylvania. He will be a resident at Springfield Pharmacy in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Kiersti Jones, Pharm.D., is a graduate of Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy in Auburn, Alabama. She has advanced pharmacy practice experience at USA Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama in addition to primary care and community pharmacy rotations. She has also worked as a pharmacy technician. She will be a resident at Esterbrook Pharmacy in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Nichols, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In 2018, he completed rotations in acute care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and in ambulatory care at Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System. He was also a top 10 finalist for the 2018 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Business Plan Competition. Nichols will be a resident at Lumberton Drug in Lumberton, North Carolina.
Rachel Roper, Pharm.D., is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has conducted research on pneumococcal vaccine administration at a family medicine clinic in Pennsylvania. She also visited Washington, D.C. in 2016 to speak about legislation with members of Congress. Roper will complete her rotation at Drugco Discount Pharmacy in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
Vakula Tummala, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy in Lubbock, Texas. She interned at H-E-B Pharmacy in Ennis, Texas, and has pharmacy technician experience. While at Texas Tech, she worked as a teaching assistant for an anatomy and physiology lab and has also been a high school student teacher. She will be a resident at Med-World Pharmacy in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
My-Nam Vuong, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Homewood, Alabama. He has interned at CVS Pharmacy inside Target in Birmingham, Alabama. He also completed an international pharmacy rotation at Hai Phong Medical University in Hai Phong, Vietnam. He will be a resident at Central Pharmacy in Durham, North Carolina.