Postgraduate year one (PGy1) community-based pharmacy residency program

ASHP & APhA Accredited | Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, El Paso, TX 

Celebrating more than 15 years of Pharmacy Residency Training in El Paso

Home / Overview | Learning Experiences & Schedule | Residents & Alumni Outcomes | Preceptors & Partners | How to Apply | About El Paso & UTEP SOP

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Bilingual. Community-Anchored. Transformational.

Train as a pharmacist-leader on the U.S.–Mexico border through an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency at UTEP School of Pharmacy and Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe. Gain advanced clinical skills, leadership experience, and cultural competence to improve health equity in diverse communities.

Our PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency develops innovative, bilingual pharmacists equipped to deliver patient-centered care in ambulatory and community health settings. Residents practice within a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves a primarily Spanish-speaking population, integrating clinical excellence with service and social impact.

Quick Facts (Horizontal Icon Strip):

• Duration — 12 months
• Start — July
• Stipend — $40,000 + Benefits
• Accreditation — ASHP & APhA
• Primary Site — La Fe FQHC, El Paso
• Focus — Ambulatory Care | Community Pharmacy | Teaching & Leadership

Learning Experiences & Schedule

Clinical Depth Rooted in Community Care

Residents rotate through diverse learning experiences that combine direct patient care, leadership, and public-health service. Training occurs within La Fe’s clinic network alongside UTEP faculty preceptors and interprofessional teams.

Core Learning Experiences:

• Disease State Management & Education: Anticoagulation, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking cessation, preventive care.
• Family Medicine: Collaborative management of acute and chronic conditions in primary care.
• Transitions of Care: Medication reconciliation and continuity across settings.
• HIV Prevention & CARE Clinic: Interprofessional HIV management and preventive care.
• Administrative Practice: P&T committee leadership, 340B budgeting, protocol development.
• Teaching & Scholarship: Didactic instruction, student precepting, research project, poster presentation.
• Electives: Inpatient Family Medicine and others based on interest.

Certifications & Training:

Teaching Certificate • Systematic Curriculum Design & Implementation (ASHP/APhA) • Spanish Tutoring & Cultural Literacy

Schedule Highlight:

A three-week rotating model balances patient care, teaching, administration, and scholarship—averaging 45 hours per week with protected development time.

The residency week is based on a 45-hour week. Duty hours are integrated into the week to accommodate teaching, professionalism engagement, and other learning experience activities.

residents & alumni outcomes

Meet the Next Generation of Community Pharmacists

Our residents embody a commitment to service and leadership. Each brings unique passions for patient care, education, and community engagement. Graduates move on to clinical practice, PGY2 training, or academic appointments across the nation.

Example Resident Highlight:

Valeria Zubiate Saldivar, PharmD (2025–2026) — UTEP alumna focused on chronic-disease management and academia; her project advances diabetes equity through continuous glucose monitoring and community education.

Education/Training:

PharmD – The University of Texas at El Paso
Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences - The University of Texas at El Paso

Practice Interests: Chronic Care Disease Management, Community Pharmacy, and Academia

Residency Project: Implement a 6-week pharmacy-resident-led initiative in collaboration with clinical pharmacists at Clinica Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe to address diabetes disparities in low-income and uninsured patients living in the El Paso, TX  and Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico border. The initiative aims to serve patients with uncontrolled diabetes to evaluate the impact of education combined with technology integration using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), community engagement, and ongoing follow-up on diabetes management.

Contact: vzubiatesaldivar@utep.edu

“When I completed one of my APPE rotations here, I knew this was where I wanted to be. I witnessed firsthand the meaningful impact that Federally Qualified Health Centers have on underserved populations and knew I wanted to contribute to that mission. I also feel I can truly help address healthcare disparities and truly make a difference. Especially as an El Paso native, staying home and serving the community that raised me was important to me. I also liked the dynamic schedule, no two days are ever the same and each week is different. In addition to that, I wanted the opportunity to continue working with the preceptors at this residency because they provided a  supportive learning environment that encouraged growth. Lastly, I have a great interest in academia, and I saw I would be able to participate in many teaching opportunities that would allow me to learn and refine my teaching skills.”

Alumni Summary:

Graduates now serve as clinical pharmacists, directors, and faculty across Texas and the Southwest—continuing the mission of advancing health equity through pharmacy practice.

*Recipient of APhA Foundation Residency Incentive Grant during Residency Year

Preceptors & partners

residents & alumni outcomes

Residents learn from UTEP faculty and La Fe clinicians who model evidence-based practice and cultural humility. Together, they foster a supportive environment that promotes growth, innovation, and collaboration.\

Key Faculty & Preceptors:

• Rafael Sánchez, PharmD, AAHIVP, BCACP, CDCES – Residency Director & Clinical Assistant Professor
• Harleen Singh, PharmD, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, BCACP, FOSHP – Program Coordinator & Clinical Professor
• Additional Preceptors: Alaa Abdelhakiem, Babette Pedregon, Sandra Saenz, Susana Lopez, Carina Salazar

Partner Spotlight – La Fe:

Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving El Paso’s low-income Mexican-American population. Residents deliver care across its clinics and contribute to services in diabetes, hypertension, HIV care, and health education.

The Pharmacy Residency Program provides experience in working with different disease states and collaborating with physicians and primary care practitioners to provide clinical services to the community.  Residents will use current therapeutic guidelines and drug information resources to provide optimal care. There is a unique opportunity to develop Spanish-language skills to better communicate with patients. Because La Fe embraces a holistic approach to health care, residents will enjoy being able to connect with a community beyond clinical pharmacy services.

Clinic Sites:

how to apply

Ready to Join Our Mission?

Applications are accepted through PhORCAS. Interviews are by invitation and conducted virtually or on-site. We welcome applicants committed to community health, bilingual practice, and patient advocacy.

Application Checklist:

• PharmD from ACPE-accredited college
• Eligibility for Texas licensure
• Letter of Intent emphasizing community/ambulatory care interest
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts

Timeline:

Application Deadline: January 10   |   Match Phase I via NMS   |   Start Date: Early July

Contact Card:

Rafael Sánchez, PharmD, AAHIVP, BCACP, CDCES
Residency Program Director  |  UTEP School of Pharmacy  |  rsanchez48@utep.edu

about el paso & utep sop

Live and Learn on the U.S.–Mexico Border

El Paso offers a vibrant blend of cultures, languages, and landscapes—an ideal setting for training in community health. With a low cost of living and a welcoming spirit, residents enjoy balance while serving one of the nation’s most diverse regions.