Community Champions

Ken Coit believes in “giving back to the community you call home.” So when the former pharmacist was asked about ways he and his wife, Donna, would like to support John Muir Health, he orchestrated a brilliant idea.

The demand for pharmacy residency programs has outpaced supply. According to the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, the match rate for accredited residency programs is only 67 percent, meaning over 1,600 applicants have not been matched to a postgraduate residency program.

So with assistance from the John Muir Health Foundation, and in collaboration with Pharmacy Leadership at John Muir Health, Ken and Donna generously funded the launch of the first-ever Pharmacy Residency Program at John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Medical Center. It is the only program of its kind in Contra Costa County!

Each year, two new Doctors of Pharmacy graduates will participate in a 12-month program to prepare and train for the rigors of hospital-based pharmacy practice. Clinical
rotations include critical care, ambulatory care, emergency medicine and internal medicine, among others. The residents will also provide direct patient care; conduct quality improvement projects; and present Continuing Medical Education forums for physicians, nurses and pharmacists.

“I learned about the importance of giving back from my mother,” says Ken, who works in multifamily real estate on the West Coast. “Now, my philanthropy partner is Donna. She brings the ‘heart’ with years of experience in social services and helping others. Together, we make a great team and are proud to support John Muir Health.”