PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

CHRISTUS Pine

Overview & Purpose

PGY1 residency programs build upon Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals, and objectives. Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership, and education, and be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy (i.e., BCPS), and pursue advanced education and training opportunities, including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

Contact

Amanda Needham, PharmD, BCPS
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director
903-798-7044
Amanda.needham@christushealth.org

Shelby Domingue, PharmD, BCPS
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Coordinator
903-614-6707
Shelby.domingue@christushealth.org

Program & Benefits

Located in Texarkana, TX, CHRISTUS Health-Pine Street is a non-profit community teaching hospital and a part of the CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System serving the four-state region of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. We are a greater than 400-bed combined regional health system with a full range of diagnostic and surgical specialty services in cardiac, cancer, and stroke care. Our institution showcases various specialty-ICUs, cardiac cath lab, and surgical suites, and it holds accreditation as a Chest Pain Center and Joint Commission Stroke Team.

Pine Street’s residency program exists to develop clinical pharmacists who can provide direct patient care in diverse practice settings, educate patients and health care professionals, function as an effective member of a health care team to ensure a safe medication environment, and develop effective personal and professional management strategies for improvement. Our preceptors have a wealth of knowledge and skills to empower our residents to achieve their highest potential.

  • Duration of Residency: 12 months
  • Number of Positions: 2
  • NMS Code: 234813
  • Estimated Annual Stipend: $54,000
  • Approximately 21 days of paid time off
  • Embroidered lab coat
  • Health benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • 403(b) retirement plan
  • Travel and registration for the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Research Conference

Required rotations include:

  • Orientation+ (6 weeks)
  • Transitions of Care + (4 weeks)
  • Critical Care - (6 weeks)
  • Internal Medicine/Ambulatory Care + (6 weeks)
  • Infectious Disease + (6 weeks)
  • Internal Medicine* + (4 weeks)
  • Medical/Surgical (6 weeks)
  • Management + (4 weeks)
  • Research under the provision of the UAMS Research Certificate Program (52 weeks longitudinal and concentrated) – Research Day provided every third Friday, up to four weeks in December, and up to two weeks in the Spring.
  • Staffing + (52 weeks longitudinal) – Staffing shifts every third Friday and every third weekend
  • Teaching Certificate (52 weeks longitudinal)
  • P&T / Medication Safety + (52 weeks longitudinal) – Quarterly P&T meetings and monthly Medication Safety meetings.

Elective rotations may include:

  • Nutrition
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Advanced Critical Care -
  • Emergency Medicine * +
  • Cardiology +
  • Residency Program Management

*Denotes a non-pharmacist preceptor
+ May require periodic off-site travel, but predominantly at CHRISTUS Health – Pine Street
- Predominantly at CHRISTUS Health St. Michael’s

Other elective learning experiences may be developed based on resident interest and preceptor availability.

Research certificate and teaching certificate programs are completed during the residency year under the provision of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

  • Apply online through the PhORCAS system 
  • Applicants must provide:
    • A letter of intent stating interests and goals
    • Curriculum vitae
    • College/School of Pharmacy transcripts
    • Three letters of recommendation from health care professionals who can attest to your practice abilities
  • Option to choose between an on-site and a virtual interview

  • Low Cost of Living – Texarkana offers relatively affordable housing and living expenses compared to major cities in Texas or Arkansas.
  • Small-Town Feel with Urban Access – It’s not too big, but it has the essentials: shopping, healthcare, schools, and entertainment without big-city congestion.
  • Central Location – Situated on the Texas-Arkansas border, it provides access to multiple states and is a hub for transportation and logistics jobs.
  • No State Income Tax (TX side) – Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, which can be a financial advantage for people living and working on the Texas side.
  • Family-Friendly – It has parks, schools, and a slower pace that some people prefer for raising families.
  • Unique Border City – You can stand in two states at once on State Line Avenue or at the post office that straddles both states.
  • Local History and Culture – Home to the Ace of Clubs House, Perot Theatre, and historic downtown areas.
  • Nature Access – Nearby lakes and forests like Wright Patman Lake and Atlanta State Park offer outdoor activities.
  • Events & Fairs – The Four States Fair & Rodeo and various local festivals can be fun for visitors.

Current Residents & Preceptors

Current Residents 

Ramiro Jose RangelRamiro Jose Rangel, PharmD

  • Program: PGY1
Current Preceptors 

Amanda Needham, PharmD, BCPSAmanda Needham

  • Rotations Precepted: Infectious Disease, Orientation, Nutrition, Residency Program Management, and Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Residency Program Director
  • Pharmacy Clinical Manager

I was born and raised in Southwest Arkansas, and I knew I would return to the area after completing pharmacy school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. I recognized a need for clinical pharmacy services in the region, so during my fourth year, I helped establish the PGY1 residency program at CHRISTUS Health – Pine Street. I was the first resident here, stayed on as the Critical Care Pharmacist, and then served as the Residency Program Coordinator for a few years. I am now the Clinical Pharmacy Manager and Residency Program Director.

I precept the orientation and infectious diseases rotations as well as the antimicrobial stewardship, nutrition, and residency program management electives. I love watching our residents grow in their confidence throughout the year and enjoy mentoring them along the way.

Being the Clinical Pharmacy Manager, I focus on pharmacy-related clinical projects and training throughout the hospital. Outside of pharmacy, I spend my time hauling my three kids to all of their activities and relaxing at our family cabin on the river.

Shelby Domingue, PharmD, BCPSShelby Domingue

  • Rotations Precepted:Teaching Certificate Program, Critical Care, Advanced Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Cardiology
  • Residency Program Coordinator
  • Critical Care Pharmacist

After obtaining my PharmD from the University of Texas at Tyler - Fisch College of Pharmacy, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the Texarkana area, as I am a native of northeast Texas. My passion for mentoring, the profession of pharmacy, and critical care medicine has led me to my dream job in the ICU, where I precept residents and students.

I precept in critical care and the teaching certificate program, as well as the advanced electives in critical care, cardiology, and emergency medicine. My favorite part of preceptorship is having a front-row seat to an instrumental season of growth for an upcoming professional.

When I'm not in the intensive care unit following up on clinical consults and attending interdisciplinary rounds, you can find me at any roping, rope-horse futurity, or rodeo event, cheering on my cowboy or competing myself.

Stacy Wise, PharmD, MBAStacy Wise

  • Rotations Precepted: Management and P&T/Medication Safety
  • Director of Pharmacy

I am the pharmacy director for Christus St. Michael Health System. My pharmacy involvement began as a technician during my undergraduate studies at SFASU (Axe’em!) before attending pharmacy school at the University of Houston (Go, Cougs!). Following graduation, I completed a pharmacy residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston. More recently, I obtained my MBA with an Emphasis in Healthcare from the University of Texas at Tyler.

I precept the Management rotation and assist with topic discussions in Transitions of Care. Most of my career has been in management, and I enjoy interacting with students and residents on changes in the field. My goal is to make the rotations interesting and relevant to real-world scenarios.

Outside of pharmacy, my husband and I enjoy life on our little farm, but when I can, I love to scuba dive in various locations around the world. Other interests are reading, doing puzzles, attending SFA athletic and alumni events with family, and spending time with my bonus grandkids and great-grandkids.

Parissa Mitchell, BS Pharm, BCPSParissa Mitchell

  • Rotations Precepted: Medical/Surgical
  • Clinical Staff Pharmacist

I attended pharmacy school at the University of South Carolina at Columbia, South Carolina. I precept the Medical-Surgical learning experience, as well as helping out with other rotations as needed.

My favorite part of precepting is meeting new interesting people with different points of view. My daily pharmacy routine includes reviewing all my patients' profiles and following up on renal dosing, kinetics reports, warfarin and TPN consults, and IV-to-PO dosing. I also assist with order entry for patients, particularly those on the Medical-Surgical floors. My daily pharmacy routine will include rounds with the interdisciplinary team, which is currently on hold due to our transition mode.

My favorite thing about CHRISTUS on Pine Street is that everybody is so nice, and I feel right at home here. My hobbies outside pharmacy are listening to podcasts, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with family.

Lance Calhoon, BS Pharm, BCPSLance Calhoon

  • Rotations Precepted: Internal Medicine/Ambulatory Care
  • Ambulatory Care and Internal Medicine Specialist

I received my pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University. I worked as a clinical pharmacist at Wadley for many years before taking a position as the sole clinical pharmacist with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Family Practice Medical Residency in Texarkana. I am often told I have the best job by my students.

My day consists of rounding with our internal medicine team in the morning and running the warfarin clinic in the afternoons. I love watching the residents’ communication skills and confidence grow as they work with the interdisciplinary team to care for our complex patients.

Terry Smith, PharmD, MSB

  • Rotations Precepted: Research
  • Clinical Staff Pharmacist

I was born and raised in Texarkana, AR. I completed my PharmD and Master of Science in Biotechnology at the University of Texas at Tyler. I returned to my hometown to complete my PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Wadley Regional Medical Center (now CHRISTUS Health Pine).

After completing my residency, I stayed in Texarkana and accepted a full-time clinical and staff position at CHRISTUS Pine. I get to work daily in an interdisciplinary setting, advancing patient care at all Christus locations in the Texarkana area. Additionally, I co-precept the residency longitudinal research rotation.

Outside of work, I spend most of my time trying to keep up with raising three kids and searching for time to enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping.

Ken Kelly, PharmDKen Kelly

  • Rotations Precepted: Staffing
  • Clinical Staff Pharmacist

I graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in May of 1993. I started working for CHRISTUS Health on March 8, 1993, and have been with the organization ever since. Over the years, I have been fortunate to work in several different areas of the healthcare system, including rehabilitation, operating room, intensive care unit, oncology, sterile compounding, and order processing. The thing that I enjoy about working in the hospital is the variety of opportunities pharmacists have to make an impact.

In my free time, you can find me doing basically anything outdoors, including, but not limited to, hiking, gardening, fishing, disc golf, tennis, hunting, and camping.