Pharmacy Residencies
DeKalb Medical's Department of Pharmaceutical Services has approximately 90 employees (50 full-time equivalents). We operate three satellites (OR, ICU and a medical satellite) and offer clinical pharmacy services in four areas: Pharmacokinetics, Oncology, Nutrition Support and Anticoagulation Management (Coumadin Clinic). We have nine clinical specialists who have either completed ASHP-accredited residencies or obtained board certification in their specialty. The clinical specialists are the preceptors for our Pharmacy Practice (PGY1) and Oncology (PGY2) residency programs.
Our Pharmacy Practice Residents have the following required rotations: Pharmacokinetics, Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Neonatology, Drug Information, Pharmacy Practice Management, Nutrition Support, Infectious Disease and Oncology. Also, our residents have many opportunities to precept pharmacy students from Mercer University and the University of Georgia. There are also elective periods that we will tailor to each resident's interests and career goals. These may include advanced rotations in a previously completed learning experience, academia, cardiology, nephrology, trauma, anticoagulation management, surgery and emergency medicine as well as several other options. Our past residents have gone on to take academic positions (in pharmacy and medical schools), research positions, and clinical practice positions. We are proud of our former residents and the contributions they are currently making to pharmacy practice.
Our Oncology Residents rotate through all major oncology and hematology disease states including bone marrow transplant. They will also help precept pharmacy students from Mercer University and the University of Georgia.
Our preceptors are:
Thomas Barrs – Thomas is a member of the Nutrition Support Service. He has a Pharm.D. from Mercer University. He is also a board-certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist. In addition to nutrition support, his interests include radiologic/contrast medication administration and safety.
Jana Byrd – Jana is a member of the Pharmacokinetics Service. She has a B.S. and a Pharm.D. from the University of Georgia. She completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at DeKalb Medical. Her practice interests include critical care and infectious diseases.
Wendy LaPorte – Wendy is a member of the Pharmacokinetics Service. Her specific interests include investigational drugs and neonatology. She received her Pharm.D. from the University of Georgia and completed a Pharmacy Practice at DeKalb Medical.
Rodna Larson – Rodna is a member of the Pharmacokinetics Service. Her specific interests include Drug Information, Information Technology and Neonatology. She has received a Pharm.D. from Mercer University and completed at Pharmacy Practice Residency at DeKalb Medical. She also serves as the Residency Program Coordinator.
Scott McAuley – Scott is the Pharmacy Practice Residency Program Director and the Director of Pharmaceutical Services. He has a B.S. in Pharmacy from Auburn University, completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and has a M.S. in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Mississippi. He has been in his current position since April 2005 and served as the Associate Director for five years prior.
Donna McAuley – Donna is a member of the Pharmacokinetics Service. She has a B.S. in Biology from Carson-Newman College and a Pharm.D. from Mercer University. She then completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the VA Medical Center in Atlanta and a Pharmacokinetics Specialty Residency at the University of California, San Francisco. She is a previous winner of "Preceptor of the Year" and "Young Pharmacist of the Year" awards.
Carol Story – Carol is the Oncology Residency Program Director and leads the Oncology Clinical Service. She has a B.S. and Pharm.D. from the University of Georgia. She is also a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist.
Hetal Taylor | Hetal is a member of the Oncology and Pharmacokinetics Services. She has a Pharm.D. from Auburn University and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Bay Pines VA Hospital in Bay Pines, Florida.
LeAnne Varner – LeAnne is the Manager of the Anticoagulation Management Service (Coumadin Clinic). She received her Pharm.D. from Mercer University and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at DeKalb Medical. Her interests include delivering anticoagulation management in an outpatient setting.