The University of North Carolina Medical Center pharmacy resident leadership certificate program

The development and implementation of a certificate program for pharmacy residents are described.

University of North Carolina (UNC) Medical Center met the call for increased efforts in the area of pharmacy residency leadership training through the design, implementation, and evaluation of a leadership certificate program. The purpose of the UNC certificate program is to develop leaders who will serve others, improve their communities, and advance the profession. The program is designed to (1) foster self-awareness, social awareness, and altruism, (2) provide transferable and individualized leadership experiences, (3) enrich other residency components through integration of leadership development opportunities, and (4) create role models for departmental leadership. A team of preceptors and residents implemented the certificate program by integrating program components into the existing pharmacy residency infrastructure. The certificate program includes required and flexible components to allow residents to set and achieve their determined leadership development goals. Overall, residents are satisfied with the program and perceive it as worthwhile. During the first 3 years since implementation of the certification initiative, program facilitators improved the feasibility of, participant engagement in, and sustainability of the program. Future directions include an effectiveness evaluation and a "scale-up" to other institutions.

The need for a pharmacy residency leadership certificate was met by designing, implementing, and evaluating such a program at UNC. Through its first 3 years, the program was feasible, sustainable, and valued by program participants.