Community-Based Pharmacy Practice and Research
VCU School of Pharmacy has been at the forefront of community-based pharmacy practice advancement, innovation and transformation. In 1995, the school was one of the first schools of pharmacy to place faculty in community-based pharmacies to develop patient care services and was one of the first to sponsor a multi-site community-based pharmacy residency program.
Our faculty excel in service, teaching and research and are nationally and internationally recognized as experts in community-based pharmacy practice and associated innovative patient care services. Many VCU student pharmacists choose community-based pharmacy practice as their career entry. The community-based pharmacy practice faculty members serve as role models for the future of community-based pharmacy practice.
In 2024, VCU School of Pharmacy was named an inaugural Academia-Community Transformation Pharmacy Collaborative Community Pharmacy Center of Excellence by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
What we do
We engage students through Pharm.D. and graduate-level courses, offer residencies and fellowships focused on community pharmacy practice, provide services to our community and develop the innovative patient-care strategies that providers put into practice across the country and around the world. From education to research to patient care, we are developing the next generation of community-based pharmacists who are prepared to better serve the needs of all patients.
Several programs, centers and initiatives within our school contribute to our holistic approach to strengthening the practice of community-based pharmacy nationwide, including our:
- PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Practice Residency
- PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency
- VCU Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program
- Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation
- Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan initiative through VCU’s Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed)
- Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Program and
- community outreach initiatives
Clinical Service
Community pharmacy practice faculty are innovators and leaders in developing patient care services in the community pharmacy setting. The faculty practice in a variety of chain pharmacy settings. The Program has partnerships with Bremo Pharmacy, Buford Road Pharmacy, Crossover Healthcare Ministry, Daily Planet Health Services, Kroger Health and VCU Health.
Teaching
The community-based pharmacy practice faculty members teach the next-generation community-based pharmacists skills, such as compounding, communicating with patients and delivering pharmacy-based immunization, in a variety of courses.
The community pharmacy practice faculty members precept Doctor of Pharmacy students, PGY1 community-based pharmacy practice residents and PGY2 ambulatory care residents.
Service
Community-based pharmacy practice faculty members are extensively involved with school, university, professional organizations and community service.
Scholarship
Scholarly activities for community-based pharmacy practice focus in two primary areas: practice-based research and teaching. The community pharmacy practice faculty members have developed a Community Pharmacy Practice-Based Research Network for development and enhancement of scholarship activities.
Faculty
Our faculty include: John Bucheit, Lauren Caldas, Dave Dixon, Krista Donohoe, Barbara Exum, Sharon Gatewood, Kelly Goode, David Holdford, Lauren Pamulapati, Apryl Peddi, Emily Peron, Elvin Price, Teresa Salgado, Evan Sisson and Sarah Wheeler