School of Pharmacy

Ambulatory Care Certificate Program

Our certificate program was established to create a workforce of pharmacy leaders in outpatient pharmacy practice with exceptional skills in creating and expanding ambulatory care services. Pharmacists in Asheville created innovative models for medication management as part of The Asheville Project® in the 1990s and served as some of the first Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners in North Carolina. Because of the longstanding history of excellence in ambulatory care pharmacy practice in Western North Carolina, the Ambulatory Care Certificate Program is uniquely offered for students on the Asheville Campus.

Students in the certificate program can expect to:

• Learn from national thought leaders in ambulatory care pharmacy practice who provide patient-centered care for patients in physician practices
• Immerse themselves in practice in the city that created internationally recognized models for medication management
• Collaborate with ambulatory care pharmacy residents through a mentoring program
• Advocate for practice advancement at the state and national level
• Differentiate themselves by developing the necessary skills to develop new outpatient clinical pharmacy services

Student Selection

Students will be selected through a competitive application process.

Evaluation criteria for acceptance includes:

1. Career interest in outpatient pharmacy practice
2. Commitment to the service of patients and community
3. Desire to advance the profession of pharmacy
4. Effective communication skills

Program Components

Our certificate program provides a unique opportunity for student pharmacists to accelerate their learning about ambulatory care pharmacy practice. Key components of the Ambulatory Care Certificate Program include a seminar series, a mentoring program, and interprofessional education. Additional credit hours beyond those required in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum are required.

More Information & Contact

To learn more about this focused path of study, please contact:

Karen Hughes
Associate Director of Student Affairs
kfhughes@unc.edu