Press Release

ASHP Foundation Announces Grants Awarded to Expand Pharmacy Residency Programs

The ASHP Foundation has awarded three $25,000 grants through the Pharmacy Residency Expansion Grant Program to establish new residency positions, supported by Merck.

The Pharmacy Residency Expansion Grant Program supports ASHP's efforts to help prepare the pharmacist workforce by expanding the number and diversity of residency positions. Since the program's inception in 2011, the ASHP Foundation has awarded over $3.7 million to create 111 new residency positions.

"Pharmacy residency training is vital to advancing pharmacists' skills and competence as healthcare leaders and clinicians, as it prepares them for work in various healthcare settings," said ASHP Foundation CEO Kelly McCormick-Sullivan. “The Pharmacy Residency Expansion Grant Program aligns with ASHP's goal of preparing that pharmacy workforce for the future by expanding the number of ASHP-accredited residencies that provide specialized expertise and train them to provide direct patient care."

The recipients of the 2024 Pharmacy Residency Expansion Grant are:

Allegheny General Hospital
Postgraduate Year Two Emergency Medicine Residency
Director of Pharmacy: Arpit Mehta, PharmD, MPH, MHA, CPEL
Residency Program Director: Alison Merkel, PharmD, BCEMP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Erie County Medical Center
Postgraduate Year One Pharmacy Residency Program
Director of Pharmacy: Ashley Holloran, PharmD
Residency Program Director: Michael Ott, PharmD
Buffalo, New York

SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Fenton
Postgraduate Year One Pharmacy Residency Program
Director of Pharmacy: Timothy Holman, PharmD, MHI
Residency Program Director: Chris Carter, PharmD
Fenton, Missouri

Merck Supports Pharmacy Residency Expansion Grant for the 12th Year in a Row

Through donors' contributions, the ASHP Foundation has provided funding to create new pharmacy residency positions for over 10 years. One of the most generous supporters of residency expansion has been Merck. Merck has contributed to this critical program since 2014 by providing over $1.8 million in funding. The ASHP Foundation is pleased to announce that Merck has renewed its support for the Pharmacy Expansion Grant for 2025. Their support reflects their commitment to corporate responsibility, increasing access to healthcare services, and enhancing the quality of life. The ASHP Foundation thanks Merck for their continued partnership and dedication to building leaders in pharmacy and improving patient outcomes.

For more information about the grant, visit ashpfoundation.org/residencyexpansion.