PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Rachael Clark, PharmD

• PGY1 pharmacy resident 2024-2025
• Hometown: Cumming, Ga.
• Pharmacy education: University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
• Clinical interests: infectious diseases, internal medicine
• Current research project: Evaluating the Therapeutic Managements of Patients with Invasive Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumannii Infections

Why did you choose UAB Medicine?
The PGY1 program at UAB initially caught my attention due to the wide range of learning experiences it offers. I wanted a program that would allow me to explore diverse practice areas and clinical interests such as hematology / oncology, transplant, and specialty clinics. As the largest and most specialized hospital in the state, UAB promised an enriching year of learning and opportunities to collaborate with various health care teams. Additionally, I wanted a PGY1 program that would provide strong support, especially since I was coming from out of state. During my in-person interview, I immediately felt at home. Everyone made me feel welcomed and comfortable, reaffirming that UAB would be a supportive environment for my residency.

Maleah Evans, PharmD

• PGY1 pharmacy resident 2024-2025
• Hometown: Trussville, Ala.
• Pharmacy Education: Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
• Clinical interests: critical care, internal medicine
• Current research project: Comparison of Time in Therapeutic Range in Obese and Morbidly Obese Patients Receiving Continuous Heparin Infusions Based on Actual or Adjusted Body Weight

Why did you choose UAB Medicine?
I had the opportunity to work at UAB Hospital-Highlands for three years as a pharmacy student through the Acute Care Pharmacy Internship Program, where I was exposed to many aspects of pharmacy practice and research at UAB Medicine. As I completed student rotations and began looking at PGY1 residency programs, I knew that I wanted the chance to learn within an academic medical center that offered many different learning opportunities and experiences. At UAB, I can tailor my rotation experiences to my professional interests and challenge myself in new areas of pharmacy practice that I have not yet encountered.

UAB Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, and offers a wide variety of ICU rotations. Being interested in critical care, I knew that UAB would provide me with the resources and training to progress toward my professional goals. Through my experiences at UAB and during the interview process, I knew that I would be surrounded by pharmacists who would encourage me, challenge me, and support me as a resident. I am so thankful to begin my training at UAB.

Anna Farquhar, PharmD

• PGY1 pharmacy resident 2024-2025
• Hometown: Hoover, Ala.
• Pharmacy education: Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy
• Clinical interests: ambulatory care, internal medicine, cardiology
• Current research project: Patient Tolerability of CDK 4/6 inhibitors in the Setting of Metastatic HR+ HER2- Breast Cancer

Why did you choose UAB Medicine?
As a student, I got the opportunity to work in the retail pharmacy at The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital. It was during this time that I quickly realized the unique aspects of UAB that make it such a special place to train and work. The investment the Pharmacy Department had in my future career, the unique areas of pharmacy involvement, and the passion for continuous improvement stood out to me. I know that the wide variety of elective rotations offered during the residency program will provide me with unique and valuable learning experiences. Additionally, UAB offers longitudinal ambulatory care experiences that align with my current interests.

Kendra Langham, PharmD

• PGY1 pharmacy resident 2024-2025
• Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
• Pharmacy education: Mercer University College of Pharmacy
• Clinical interests: internal medicine, infectious diseases, critical care
• Current research project: GENTerational dogma? Evaluation of Patient Outcomes When Treating Gram-positive Prosthetic Valve Infective Endocarditis

Why did you choose UAB Medicine?
Growing up in Birmingham, I witnessed firsthand the impact of UAB Hospital in Alabama. UAB’s remarkable influence on education, research, and health care drew me in. During my interview, I quickly realized how much UAB cares about its residents, emphasizing professional growth and development. I was inspired by the passion and dedication within the Pharmacy Department to advance patient care.

Additionally, the program’s flexibility offered through a diverse range of rotations and tailored to my individual interests was especially appealing. I knew that a large academic medical center would give me the opportunity to care for a diverse patient population alongside exceptional pharmacists and multidisciplinary teams, ultimately striving to be the best version of myself for all patients. Moreover, I was confident that UAB would challenge me while also providing unconditional support. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a new practitioner at UAB Hospital.

Braden Read, PharmD

• PGY1 pharmacy resident 2024-2025
• Hometown: Dothan, Ala.
• Pharmacy education: Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
• Clinical interests: internal medicine, critical care, infectious diseases, cardiology
• Current research project: Evaluation of Proton Pump Inhibitor Prescribing at Discharge in a Hospitalized Population

Why did you choose UAB Medicine?
I completed an acute care internship program and an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotation at UAB. As a result of these experiences, I have seen firsthand the impact of a pharmacist being included as a vital member of the health care team. The pharmacy preceptors at UAB are dedicated to teaching and learning, as well as personal well-being, which allows residents to grow in their confidence and ensures that we will be confident, competent practitioners upon completion of residency.

UAB offers a plethora of learning experiences in many specialty areas, to personalize the residency program. There are opportunities to work with and provide teaching opportunities to health care team members, especially students and residents who are still in the initial learning stages of their careers. These opportunities are some of my strongest interests and future career goals and a major reason why I chose to pursue residency at UAB.

2023-2024 PGY1 Pharmacy Residents

Tilyn Digiacomo, PharmD, MSHIA
Pharmacy Education: Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Christa Kooser, PharmD
Pharmacy Education: University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy

J.D. Olivet, PharmD
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Alana Shunnarah, PharmD
Pharmacy Education: Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy

Stephanie Waldrep, PharmD
Pharmacy Education: Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Our goal is to develop a highly skilled practitioner who will be successful in any setting they choose to practice after graduation.

The applicant must possess a PharmD degree from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy and be eligible for licensure in Alabama. All applications must be submitted through PhORCAS (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application System) by January 2. The required components of the application include a letter of intent, three references, curriculum vitae, and a pharmacy school transcript. For the letter of intent, the applicant should state his or her future career goals and explain how the UAB Pharmacy Residency Program can help with the achievement of these goals. For references, it is encouraged that at least two of these be from clinical rotation preceptors. The reference forms in PhORCAS must be completed by all three references. An interview is required.