Pharmacy Residency Program

CareAllies overview

CareAllies has over 20 years of experience in providing business advisory and management services – including the people, processes and technology – that physician organizations need to succeed in value-based care. With a collaborative approach, CareAllies helps providers and delivery systems optimize their care pathways, address gaps in care, enhance their actionable data insights and technology, and drive patient retention and growth.

Program goals and benefits

Goals:

• Expose residents to a wide variety of experiences within managed care arena
• Focus on developing the knowledge and skills needed to become a proficient managed care clinical pharmacist
• Develop expertise in population health and quality improvement including: 
  • Pharmacotherapy reviews
  • Medication adherence
  • Academia

Benefits:

• Annual stipend
• Health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, including 401K
• Paid time off and conference travel reimbursement
• Close to the heart of the world-famous Texas Medical Center
• Numerous networking opportunities

Opportunities, rotations and responsibilities

Opportunities

• Participate in medication reviews for Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions
• Educate primary care offices on best practices to improve medication adherence
• Take a deep dive into health care leadership and management topics
• Participate in quality initiatives to improve health outcomes
• Receive mentorship from our pharmacists and other health care professionals
• Develop a research project for presentation at the annual Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Conference

Rotations at a glance*

• Health Care Leadership and Management
• Formulary Management
• Polypharmacy Risk Reduction
• Health Plan Pharmacy Operations
• Quality Improvement
• Academia
• Clinical Strategy and Formulary Management
• CareAllies Academic Detailing
• Medication Therapy Management
• Health Outcomes Research
• Coverage Determinations
• Electives catered to resident goals (as available)

*Additional rotations are available, and listed rotations are subject to change.

Responsibilities

• Research project
• Medication use evaluation
• Internal and external pharmacy - specific presentations
• PharmD student preceptorship

Residency Program Director

Esteban Gallardo, PharmD

CareAllies Chief of Pharmacy
CareAllies Managed Care PGY1 Residency Program Director

Dr. Esteban Gallardo is a 2011 graduate of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. 
He first joined Cigna in 2013, then transitioned to CareAllies in 2017 as a Clinical Pharmacist, before being promoted to lead the CareAllies Pharmacy Team in 2021. With 11 years of managed care experience, Dr. Gallardo’s expertise includes value-based care and spearheading pharmacist involvement in growth strategies within the organization. Dr. Gallardo is passionate about supporting pharmacist training and has served as a preceptor within the residency program for 8 years. He was awarded the Ambulatory Care Preceptor of the Year Award from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in 2020. Dr. Gallardo earned his Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Houston.

Houston, Texas 77092

pharmacyresidency@careallies.com

Program Preceptors

Esteban Gallardo, PharmD
Health Outcomes Research Project

Julianna Fernandez, PharmD, BCGP, and Amelia Sofjan, PharmD, BCPS
Academia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy

Esteban Gallardo, PharmD
Health Care Leadership and Management

Michael Gin, PharmD
Quality Improvement

Grace Mbagwu, PharmD, MS
Medication Therapy Management

Ashley Fosshat, PharmD
Formulary Management

Nicole Caffiero, PharmD, BCACP
Clinical Development Program Strategy

Lauren Stabler, PharmD, and Ali Rajpari, PharmD
CareAllies Academic Detailing

Stephanie Hernandez, PharmD
Pharmacotherapy Medication Reviews

Current Managed Care PGY1 Residents

Susan Yoo, PharmD

Previous General PGY1 Residents

Positions attained by previous residents:

• CareAllies Clinical Pharmacist
• Community Pharmacist
• Health Plan Clinical Pharmacist: 
  • Formulary Management
  • Medicare B/D
  • Medicaid
• Health Plan Clinical Pharmacy Manager
• Health Plan Clinical Program Advisor
• Health Plan Clinical Program Senior Advisor

To find links to previous residents' research, visit our Resources page.

Requirements

• Graduate from an accredited school of pharmacy
• Be eligible for Texas licensure 
• Submit application packet, including: 
  • Complete application
  • Letter of intent
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Pharmacy school transcript 
• Apply through the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) 
• Attend an on-site interview, if selected
• Go through the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Match process

Important Reminders

• Applications are due in January. Please refer to PhORCAS for more information.
• Applicants must become licensed in Texas.

• Home to the world’s largest medical complex - The Texas Medical Center
• More than 130 hospitals, health clinics and top research facilities
• Seven of 13 largest private employers are health care organizations
• More than 190 life sciences and biotech companies
• Cultural diversity and exciting entertainment, dining and attractions