Program Description
T.J. Regional Health Pharmacy Residency Program Purpose
To prepare pharmacists, who upon completion of the program will confidently practice as clinical pharmacists responsible for medication related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, be eligible for board certification, and be eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.
About the Program
T.J. Regional Health offers a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency program, affiliated with the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, that will build clinical and leadership skills essential for pharmacists to efficiently and effectively operate in today’s healthcare environment. The 12-month program, beginning mid-June, offers two positions. The successful candidates will gain a wide array of experience, skills, and responsibilities as part of the program goals.
As a Pharmacy Resident you will have the opportunity to help grow our clinical programs, develop potential new service lines, manage projects, participate in multidisciplinary rounding in critical care and family practice, and participate in organizational committees. Residents will be scheduled for 10 hour shifts, 5 days per week most weeks. The Resident should be prepared to dedicate additional time for topic discussion preparation, projects, and service-learning requirements. Residents will complete both training time and staffing time, including covering weekend shifts on a rotating basis along with at least 1 major and 1 minor holiday during their Hospital Practice Longitudinal learning experience. An on campus office day will be allotted approximately 1 day each week for longitudinal experiences and projects. Residents will be required to keep a record of all projects, papers, lectures, evaluations, etc. that are completed throughout their year at T.J. Regional Health.
About T.J. Regional Health
T.J. Regional Health, the parent system of T.J. Samson Community Hospital and T.J. Health Columbia is fully accredited by the Joint Commission. In addition to two hospitals, the organization owns and operates the T.J. Health Pavilion, which provides outpatient care and physician offices as well as a Family Medicine Center and Residency Program, Home Care Services, Rural Health Clinics, the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home, and a Med Spa in South Central Kentucky.
T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow has been in operation for more than 93 years and provides the latest in medical technology with the highest standards of care. The flagship hospital is a 196-bed acute care facility, including 10 critical care beds and 16 skilled-care beds, and has earned Acute Stroke Ready Certification and Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation. T.J. Health Columbia Hospital is a Joint Commission Accredited 49-bed facility that offers 10 swing beds, an emergency department, inpatient care, laboratory, radiology, and rehabilitation services in the rural community of Columbia, Kentucky. The T.J. Health Pavilion in Glasgow is a 226,000 square foot facility which acts as a hub for outpatient services. Our Oncology Department has earned a Commission on Cancer accreditation and is a proud member of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network.
T.J. Regional Health provides state-of-the-art healthcare services of the highest quality that is respectful, compassionate, and convenient. Our commitment to providing exceptional care with a personal touch not only extends to our patients but to their family members and loved ones. Many healthcare facilities around the country say that they work in a family environment, but here at T.J., our patients truly are our neighbors, our family members and our friends. No matter the position within the organization, there is a strong expectation that every patient we encounter will be treated like family.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to promote and provide for the health and wellness of the communities we serve and the healthcare professionals who serve them.
We live and operate by the T.J. Pledge:
- I will show COMPASSION
- I will COOPERATE with others
- I will COLLABORATE with others
- I will COMMUNICATE
- I will Adapt to CHANGE
- I will be a CHAMPION
As part of the T.J. Regional Health team, our Pharmacy Residents will be expected to adhere to the T.J. Pledge, to contribute to our culture of positivity, and to treat every co-worker, team member, patient, and provider with the utmost respect.
About South Central Kentucky
As a participant in the Pharmacy Residency Program, you will enjoy many advantages and benefits of living in south central Kentucky where the cost of living is 15% below the U.S. national average. With a population of just over 42,000, Barren County is a hospitable county steeped in agriculture tradition, friendly people, and amenities that rival bigger cities; it is a perfect place to start or extend a career. Our family-friendly community thrives in agriculture and includes a plethora of outdoor activities including lakes, golf courses, and nearby Mammoth Cave National Park, as well as various civic and professional organizations, a wide assortment of churches, growing industrial development, and top educational institutions.
Glasgow, Kentucky is conveniently located between Louisville and Nashville – a rural family-friendly community that is just a short drive from major metropolitan centers where you will find concerts, events, festivals, and international airports.
Learning Experiences
During orientation the Resident will complete a self assessment to identify their strengths and areas where they need more exposure. Then, in conjunction with the Residency Advisory Committee, a customized learning experience will be developed based on the Residents career goals, interests, and program needs.
Required learning experiences (6 weeks)
- Orientation
- Internal Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Cardiology
- Critical Care
Required Longitudinal Experiences
- Teaching Certificate
- Affiliated with the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
- Residency Project/Research
- Hospital Practice/Staffing
- Practice Management
- Long Term Care
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Pediatrics/Neonatology
Elective Experiences
- Oncology
- Advanced Critical Care
- Medication Safety
- Pharmacy Informatics
- 340b Management & Compliance
Preceptors
Leslie Anne Allen, PharmD -Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Megan Brown, PharmD, BCPS, BS - Clinical Pharmacy Manager, Residency Program Director
Michael Higdon, PharmD, MBA - Director of Pharmacy
Troy Butler, PharmD, BCPS - Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Brooke Christie, PharmD - Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Brandy Headrick, PharmD - Pharmacy Operations Manager
Angie Hedgespeth, PharmD - Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Kristi Pierce, PharmD, BS - Pharmacy Informatics & Revenue Cycle
Nicole Pursley, PharmD - Oncology PIC
Candice Simpson, PharmD, BCPS, BS - Stewardship Clinical Pharmacist
Katie Singletary, PharmD, 340B ACE, MCSE - Retail Pharmacy Manager
Application Process
T.J. Regional Health participates in the ASHP Resident Matching Program. For a match overview, schedule of dates, and rules, please refer to the National Matching Services website. The successful candidates will be fully employed by T.J. Regional Health. Applicants are required to submit their curriculum vitae, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent via the ASHP Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). Candidates must be US citizens/permanent US residents, PharmD graduate of an accredited college of pharmacy by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and be eligible for Kentucky pharmacist licensure. Residents must sit for both the MPJE and NAPLEX by July 14, 2023 and must have their Kentucky Pharmacist license by September 15, 2023.
Application Deadline: January 2, 2023
Stipend and Benefits
Annual stipend: $48,500
Residents are eligible for the generous T.J. Regional Health full benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- Prescription Insurance & In-house Pharmacy
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee assistance program
- Bereavement leave
- Paid time off
- 403(b) retirement plan
- Laptop computer provided
- Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- BLS, ACLS and PALS certification
- Travel expenses for ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Great Lakes Pharmacy Residency Conference
- Optional: Antimicrobial Stewardship or 340b Certificate program
Contact Us
PGY1 Residency Program Director and Program Contact
Megan Brown, PharmD, BCPS, BS
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Director of Pharmacy Residency Program
Email: LBrown@tjsamson.org
Candice Simpson, PharmD, BCPS, BS
Stewardship Clinical Pharmacist
Email: candice.simpson@tjsamson.org
T.J. Regional Health
1301 N. Race Street
Glasgow, Kentucky 42141
tjregionalhealth.org
Glasgow, Barren County and South Central Kentucky
As a T.J. Regional Health provider, you will enjoy many advantages and benefits of living in south-central Kentucky where the cost of living is 15% below the U.S. national average, and the median home cost is 47% less than the U.S. average. With a population of just over 42,000, Barren County is a hospitable county steeped in agriculture tradition, friendly people, and amenities that rival bigger cities; it is a perfect place to start or extend a career. Glasgow is conveniently located between Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee, just a short drive from major metropolitan centers for concerts, events, festivals, and international airports.
Closer to home, our family-friendly community thrives in agriculture and includes various civic and professional organizations, a wide assortment of churches, growing industrial development, and top educational institutions, with something for the entire family to enjoy throughout South Central Kentucky:
Arts and Entertainment
- Plaza Theater
- Barn Lot Theater
- Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC)
- Capital Arts Center
- Bowling Green Hot Rods (Minor League Affiliate)
- National Corvette Museum
- Glasgow Highland Games
- Kentucky Bourbon Trail
- Distilleries, breweries, vineyards, and wineries
Recreation
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Barren River Lake State Resort Park
- Nolin Lake State Park
- Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
- Over 10 nearby golf courses
Education
- Barren County Schools and Glasgow Independent Schools systems remain highly rated public schools throughout the state, offering a wide variety of opportunities for success in academics, the arts, extra-curricular activities, technical skills, AP preparation, college preparation with dual-credit programs, and athletics.
- Voted as one of the nation's most beautiful campuses, Western Kentucky University, with an enrollment of nearly 20,000 students, offers over 200 academic programs and a storied athletic history. WKU is located in Bowling Green, KY, and also offers a regional campus with over 50 academic programs in Glasgow, KY.
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College offers more than 30 different academic programs at six locations including Bowling Green, Glasgow, KY, and nearby Franklin, KY.
Meet Our Team
Name and Job Title
Megan Brown, PharmD, BCPS, BS
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Residency Program Director
Education and credentials
Undergraduate degree: Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN
BS Chemistry
Graduate degree: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
Post-graduate training: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at United States Public Health Service and Cherokee Nation WW Hastings Hospital, Tahlequah, OK
Credentials: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
I grew up on our family farm near Gamaliel, KY. My husband, Charlton, and I have two fun and feisty children.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
Pharmacy runs in my family. Some of my earliest memories are sitting on the pharmacy counter compounding “medications” and drawing pictures at my aunts practice site. As I grew up, I began to see pharmacy as one of many helping professions. The combination of those experiences and a love of chemistry and math made it an easy choice.
What attracted you to T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
Joining the Pharmacy at TJ allowed me to come home to raise our family after living out west for many years. I love the teamwork amongst the multidisciplinary clinical staff and support provided by our leaders. We have a wonderful family like environment that makes it easy to discuss challenging cases and develop solutions to care for our patients.
Interests or hobbies
Clinical Interests: Ambulatory Care, Pain Management, Infectious Diseases, Leadership
Personal Interests: Traveling, hiking, cooking and baking. On weeknights, you’ll find me on the baseball field or at a dance class cheering on our kids.
Name and Job Title
Leslie Anne Allen, Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Education and credentials
PharmD from University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
I am from the Plano/Alvaton area (right outside of Bowling Green), and have lived there all of my life except for pharmacy school. I have one son, two nephews, and one niece.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
I am one of those weird people that love knowing how things work. I always wanted to take stuff apart and put it back together. This made me think that being an orthopedic surgeon was a great idea. I can’t sew and while I am wiry, that does not cut it for popping shoulders or hips into place. With this in mind, I started thinking about the drug aspect of medicine. It has been a great fit.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
I loved the idea of being able to have my hand in both clinical and staffing. I don’t sit still well and like to be busy.
Interests or hobbies
I love to read and cook.
Name and Job Title
Candice Simpson, PharmD, BCPS, BS – Stewardship Clinical Pharmacist
Education and credentials
Undergraduate degree: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Graduate degree: Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Oakwood, VA
Post-graduate training: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol TN
Credentials: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, MAD-ID Certification
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
I grew up here in Glasgow, KY. My husband, Ryan, and I have two dogs (Meredith and Josie), five nieces, and one nephew.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
Pharmacy is the only career path I ever wanted to pursue. My mom worked in healthcare and I saw the positive impact she made in others’ lives. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare and after witnessing the difference a pharmacist made in my grandparents’ healthcare when I was younger, I knew that was the path for me.
What attracted you to T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy Department had plans for growth that my skills and experiences could help achieve. There was camaraderie of the team and knowledgeable team members. Just an overall excellent department.
Interests or hobbies
Clinical Interests: Antimicrobial and Opioid Stewardship, Pharmacy Practice Management, Critical Care
Personal Interests: Traveling, volunteering, gardening, being outdoors, spending time with family, and anything to do with animals
Name and Job Title
Angie Hedgespeth, PharmD
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Education and credentials
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy 1997
Doctor of Pharmacy 1998
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
Hometown – Albany, Kentucky. Graduated from Clinton County High School 1991
Currently Reside in Greensburg, Kentucky on 60 acre Farm. Empty Nesting with my Husband, Dan,
Mom of four adult children, Andrew, Ivy, Maggie and Gavin
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
Initially I wanted to help people but once I started working in a pharmacy I enjoyed the problem solving and math aspect of it.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
Small regional facility. It had a small town feel but with lots of services to offer for the region.
The Pharmacy Department itself has a close knit family atmosphere and everyone works together well. We are more like a family than coworkers
Interests or hobbies
Spending time with husband and kids, cooking, gardening and making jewelry
Name and Job Title
Brooke Christie, PharmD
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Education and credentials
Doctor of Pharmacy
Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency – Med Center Health Bowling Green, KY
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
I am originally from Campbellsville, KY. I went to Campbellsville University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. I then went on to Sullivan University for pharmacy school and completed PGY1 training at Med Center Health in Bowling Green, KY. I currently live in Bowling Green with my husband who is in medical school.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
I decided to pursue a career as a pharmacist to help people and I believe it gives you a unique opportunity to have a different point of view on situations.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
The family and team atmosphere.
Interests or hobbies
All things health and fitness, trying new recipes, Kentucky Horse Racing and watching/attending sporting events.
Name and Job Title:
Troy Butler, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Education and credentials:
Bachelor of Science: Lindsey Wilson College
Doctor of Pharmacy: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center
Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist
Background, where you are from, family, etc.?
I grew up in Albany, KY, just an hour southeast of Barren County. I met my wife while we were still in high school, and we both attended Lindsey Wilson College for our undergraduate degrees. My wife is a pediatric occupational therapist who also works at T.J. Samson. We have a 2-year-old daughter, Harbor Ann, and we are expecting another child soon.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
In high school, I was able to gain experience as a pharmacy technician through a technician training program. I was fascinated by the complexities of medication therapy, how medications are used to help improve patients’ disease states, and the science behind it all. I continued to pursue science and health-care related studies throughout college, and found that pharmacy was a good fit for my interests.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
T.J. is close to my hometown and gave me the ability to practice clinical pharmacy in my region. I am thankful to be able to use my clinical training so close to home!
Interests or hobbies:
Traveling, binge-watching Netflix, making charcuterie boards, and spending quality time with my family.
Name and Job Title
Kristi L Pierce, PharmD
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Education and credentials
- Graduated summa cum laude from Glasgow High School in 2002
- Graduated summa cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2007 as Ogden Scholar of the College and Phi Eta Sigma membership
- Graduated summa cum laude from University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 2009 with Merck Award, Rho Chi membership, Gordon L Curry Award, and Delta Epsilon Iota membership
- Completed PGY-1 residency at Tennessee Valley Veterans Affairs Health System in Nashville, TN in 2010
- Completed Anticoagulation Therapy Management Certificate Program from University of Southern Indiana in 2010
- Completed ASHP Pharmacy Informatics Certificate in 2021
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
Born and raised in Glasgow, KY
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
Worked in local retail pharmacy in high school and undergrad and watched my mentor take care of patients. I was given the opportunity to manage their computer systems and learn the technology side of pharmacy during pharmacy school and now work as the informatics pharmacist for T.J. Samson Community Hospital.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
Completed student rotations at T.J. and returned after residency when a position was created for me to work as a hybrid ambulatory care and acute care pharmacist, seeing patients in clinic and rounding daily.
Interests or hobbies
Photography, sports, time with family.
Name and Job Title
Brandy Headrick, PharmD.
Inpatient Pharmacy Manager/PIC
Education and credentials
Doctor of Pharmacy – Sullivan University College of Pharmacy, Class of 2013
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
I grew up in a small town in Metcalfe County, about 20 minutes from Glasgow. I now live in Glasgow with my husband Jordan, and our two boys, Isaac and Palmer.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
When I was in high school, I got my first job at the end of basketball season my senior year working in a small independent pharmacy. I worked there for the remainder of my senior year through my undergrad time at Western Kentucky University. I had initially planned to pursue Physical Therapy but my love for pharmacy grew and I decided that that was the path for me.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
Throughout my time in Louisville while in pharmacy school, despite loving the city life, I always knew that I would end up back close to home. My family was here and I was drawn to having my future children growing up close to grandparents, cousins, etc. I was given a great opportunity to start my professional career here at T.J. Regional Health when I graduated pharmacy school in 2013 and have been here since then. The family atmosphere at T.J. and those that I work with are huge for me and are what continue to push me daily.
Interests or hobbies
I am usually quite busy with two small children when I am not at work. Outside of spending time with my family, travelling is my passion.
Name and Job Title
Nicole Pursley, PharmD
Pharmacist in Charge TJ Samson Oncology Pharmacy
Education and credentials
Valedictorian Barren County High School 2000
Summa Cum Laude WKU- Bachelor of General Studies 2005
Magna Cum Laude University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy 2009 (PharmD)
Anticoagulation Therapy Management Certificate Program from University of Southern Indiana in 2010
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
Glasgow, Kentucky
Married to Jared Pursley
2 daughters, Bella Kate(11) and Emma Claire(8)
3 dogs- Lucky, Lily, Lucy
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
I had always been interested in helping others. I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger, but quickly realized I couldn’t handle not being able to save all the animals. Of course this held true for being a doctor as well. In high school, I job shadowed a pharmacist and felt like that would be something I could handle and would still allow me to be in the healthcare field providing care for patients. After graduating high school, I decided I was ready to get a quick degree and start a family. I was going to be teacher. After 3.5 years of classes towards my Elementary Education degree at WKU, I still thought about a pharmacy career. In January of 2004 I started working as a pharmacy technician at T.J. Samson and taking my pre-pharmacy classes. At that time, University of Kentucky was the only pharmacy school in the state. There were no schools close by in Tennessee. I decided I would apply to UK. If I got in, I would be a pharmacist. If I didn’t, I would go back to teaching. Fortunately, I was accepted, received my degree there, and returned to TJ where I have been my entire career.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
After deciding I wanted to be a pharmacist, I knew I needed some experience in the field. I started as a pharmacy technician at TJ Samson in January 2004. I loved my work family and knew once I graduated, I wanted to come back here to practice. I have seen many changes in the pharmacy over the last 18.5 years. We have expanded our services both inside the hospital pharmacy and with adding our 2 retail locations, Columbia hospital pharmacy and our Oncology Pharmacy where I currently practice.
Interests or hobbies
Most of my time is split between work and raising 2 daughters with my husband. My oldest loves softball so I spend a lot of time trying to teach her what I remember about pitching, while catching for her and taking her to games and practices.
My little one loves the outdoors and animals. She is always asking for “just one more puppy”. When they decide they are too grown up for mom and dad, I’ll go back to crafting, baking and more traveling.
Name and Job Title
Katie Singletary
Outpatient Pharmacy Manager
Education and credentials
Palm Beach Atlantic University, PharmD, 340B ACE, MCSE
Background, where you are from, family, etc.
Originally from Florida, I started my pharmacy career at a corporate office of a chain pharmacy in their Information Technology department. I worked there throughout undergrad and graduate school and sat for my CISCO and MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certifications. During pharmacy school my focus was on the clinical and/or IT side of pharmacy but my rotation in a pain management and compounding pharmacy in Alaska uncovered a passion for rural-direct patient care, functional medicine, and compounding. The 340B program was pivotal for this rural low income areas and since then I have grown a passion for how this program helps provide quality medical care in rural America. I joined the TJ Samson Community Hospital Pharmacy Team in 2018.
What made you want to pursue a career as a Pharmacist?
Health, anatomy and physiology have always peaked my interest, so I knew early on my career would be in medical field. Pharmacy was in very high demand at the time and I enjoyed the process of learning about medications and chemical compounds and how they worked in the body so I focused my career path in Pharmacy.
What attracted you T.J. Regional Health’s Pharmacy team?
The TJ environment is so collaborative and welcoming and it seemed like people really loved working here. Plus, the location is so central and has so many places to explore nearby.
Interests or hobbies
I love adventure, traveling, kitesurfing and paddling. Since moving to Kentucky I’ve have started small side hustles in functional fitness and functional medicine.
