CHSU Pharmacy Student Matches to Residency in Adventist Health Ukiah Valley

California Health Sciences University College of Pharmacy (CHSU COP) is proud to announce that Yelena Martinez, fourth-year pharmacy student, matched to a residency. This year’s Match Day was held on March 15, 2023, and pharmacy students across the nation learned if and where they were accepted into a residency in this first round. Although not required, matching to a pharmacy residency program provides additional training in a specialty after pharmacy students graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. This additional education makes a residency graduate eligible for board certification in a pharmacy practice specialty.

Martinez chose to pursue a residency to advance her clinical skills knowledge with a goal to become a highly experienced clinical pharmacist practicing in the ambulatory care specialty. A clinical pharmacist provides direct patient care that evaluates and optimizes medication therapy for patients.

Martinez was one of two residents who matched with the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program for 2023-2024. As the only hospital within a 60-mile radius, Adventist Ukiah is a community teaching hospital that provides clinical training to serve the patient populations that she is interested in serving.

“I am passionate about serving the underserved community, and the patient population was one of the reasons that drew me into this program,” said Martinez. “I hope to utilize the knowledge and skills I gain from residency to practice in a rural and underserved area where healthcare access is limited and improve their quality of care.”

Born in the Philippines, Martinez has lived in the Central Valley for the past eleven years and has developed a strong connection in the local community. She looks forward to the opportunity to practice in an ambulatory care setting or in a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Central Valley. She hopes to help patients improve their medication adherence by managing medication therapy and providing education and counseling to patients about medication related care.

This year, 4,890 pharmacy students nationwide were matched to 2,162 pharmacy residency programs. There was a 12% growth in 5,832 residency positions available during Phase 1 of 2023 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Residency Matching Program (ASHP Match) over the past five years.