PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
Thank you for your interest in the post-graduate year 1 pharmacy residency at James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA. The ASHP-Accredited JEVZ program aims to prepare residents to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare landscape by equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to care for our rural veteran population.
About
Residency Mission
The JEVZ VAMC Pharmacy Residency Program aims to prepare residents to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare landscape by equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to care for our rural veteran population.
Education: Training in evidence-based patient-centered care will serve to develop professional competence needed for board certification and/or postgraduate year two residency programs. This education will lend to expansion of pharmacy services, staff engagement, and mutual learning.
Improved Quality of Care: Opportunity to engage directly in the care of veterans will enhance the healthcare experience for all involved.
Community Enhancement: Residents will help meet the healthcare access needs of our rural veteran population. This program will also offer opportunities for prospective residents interested in the region.
About the Facility
JEVZ is a 51-bed hospital with acute care (11), long-term care (40), urgent care and outpatient services including primary care, mental health, infusion clinic, surgery, and specialty services. We have 5 community-based outpatient clinics in Indiana, Johnstown, State College, Huntingdon, & Dubois. JEVZ Pharmacy provides services at all locations through direct patient care, prescription services, counseling, formulary management, and interdisciplinary teams.
About the Area
- County: Blair County
- Population: 43,963 in city, 121,829 in metro area
- Time zone: Eastern Time Zone
- Things to do near Altoona:
- Altoona Curve Baseball (AA Affiliate of Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Lakemont Amusement Park
- Several Nearby Ski Lodges
- Lights on the Lake Christmas Light Show
- Horseshoe Curve
- PumpkinFest
- Bedford Fall Foliage
- Fly Fishing
- Golf
- Outdoor Rec Basketball Leagues
- Mini Golf
- Great unique Western, PA food
- Beautiful 4 seasons
•~1 hour from Penn State University
•~2 hours from Pittsburgh
•~2 hours from Hershey Park and Chocolate Factory
Primary Areas of Practice
- Direct Patient Care
- Practice Management
- Dispensing
- Education
- Project
- Miscellaneous
Benefits and Qualifications
Benefits
- Competitive stipend
- Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), Employee Assistance Program
- Assigned desk, laptop and phone extension
- Remote access
- Free parking
- 13 days each of paid annual leave and sick leave
- 11 paid federal holidays
Qualifications
- U.S. Citizenship is required
- Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE accredited school of pharmacy
- Eligible for licensure in any U.S. state or territory - must obtain within 120 days from start of residency
Current Residents
Lauren Fleming
Cedarville University
Preceptors
Julia Wasser, PharmD, BCGP
Residency Program Director
Inpatient Pharmacy Program Manager
Learning Experiences: CLC/Geriatrics
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
Residency Program: Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center
From: Duncansville, PA
Fun Fact: I love traveling, camping, and anything outdoors. I rarely know where my cellphone is. I believe most problems can be solved with ice cream.
Melissa Reams, PharmD, BCPS
Lead Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in PACT, Residency Program Coordinator
Learning Experiences : PACT Longitudinal
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
Residency Program: Penn State Hershey
From: New Castle, PA
Fun Fact: Proud Mom of two adorable children. Always have pictures to share and love to brag about them!
Meghan Bolinger, PA-C, PharmD, BCACP, BCCP
Cardiology Pharmacist
Resident Program Advisor
Learning Experiences: Cardiology
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
From: Johnstown, PA
Fun Fact: I love long distance running and traveling with my family
Jennifer Bonanni, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM
PACT Pharmacist, Residency Program Advisor
Learning Experiences: PACT longitudinal and block learning experiences
Pharmacy School: Wilkes University
Residency Program: Lebanon VA Medical Center (PGY1); William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center (PGY2)
From: Harveys Lake, PA
Fun Fact: I love to try new foods, go hiking, and read in my spare time
Mason Koehle, PharmD
Associate Chief, Pharmacy Service
Learning Experiences: Outpatient Pharmacy, Leadership
Pharmacy School: LECOM
From: Ebensburg, PA
Fun Fact: I love watching cooking shows, but am a mediocre cook myself
Chelsey Chambers, PharmD
Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Learning Experiences: Acute Care
Pharmacy School: LECOM
From: La Jose, PA
Fun Fact: I enjoy baking sweets, gardening, and spending time at our farm
Karch Helsel, PharmD
Pain Management Pharmacist
Learning Experiences: Pain Management
Pharmacy School: University of Pittsburgh
Residency Program: Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
From: Johnstown, PA
Fun Fact: I love to play basketball and collect Lego in my spare time
Sylvia Yeager, PharmD
PACT Pharmacist
Learning Experiences: Longitudinal PACT, Residency Project
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
Residency Program: James E Van Zandt VAMC
From: Altoona, PA
Fun Fact: I love to read and play piano in my free time!
Lisa Luciani, PharmD, BCPS
PMOP Coordinator & Pain Pharmacist
Learning Experiences: PMOP
Pharmacy School: Temple University
Residency Program: Albany Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PGY1) & Pain Management and Palliative Care - Central Arkansas Veterans HealthCare System (PGY2)
From: Honesdale, PA
Fun Fact: First generation US Citizen. Parents are from Croatia!
Rob Malcotti, PharmD
Home Based Primary Care Pharmacist
Learning Experiences: Home Based Primary Care
Pharmacy School: University of Pittsburgh
From: Nanty Glo, PA
Fun Fact: I enjoy trail running, fishing, and camping!
Joan Muriceak, PharmD, CACP, CDCES
Anticoagulation Pharmacist, Program Manager of Anticoagulation Clinic
Learning Experiences: Anticoagulation
Pharmacy School: Pitt (Bachelors in Pharmacy), Duquesne (PharmD)
Residency Program: Riverside Methodist Hospital
From: Hollidaysburg, PA
Fun Fact: I love reading and spending time outdoors biking, swimming or gardening
Tracy Schrift, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
Learning Experiences: Oncology and Formulary Management
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
From: Lilly, PA
Fun Fact: I love baking!
Laura Sjoquist, PharmD
Behavioral and Mental Health Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner
Learning Experiences: Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, and Advanced Mental Health
Pharmacy School: Cedarville University
Fellowship Program: 2-year Fellowship at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Fun Fact: I completed in the pentathlon and heptathlon in undergrad and graduate school. I love gardening, baking, and exploring the outdoors with my family.
CJ Wiewiora, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
Learning Experiences: Inpatient/Outpatient Staffing
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
From: Northern Cambria, PA
Fun Fact: I strongly dislike being asked to come up with fun facts
Learning Experiences
Required Rotational Learning Experiences
- Orientation
- Acute Care
- Formulary/Oncology
- Mental Health
- Anticoagulation
Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
- Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)
- Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)
- Outpatient/Inpatient Staffing
- Pharmacy Leadership
- Resident Project
Elective Learning Experiences
- Advanced Metal Health
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Cardiology
- CLC/Geriatrics
- Oncology Virtual
- Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and PDMP (PMOP) Virtual
- PACT 2
- Pharmacogenomics (PGX)
- PMOP Virtual
- Substance Use Disorder
- VA Pharmacy Residency Program Teaching Certificate
- Your Choice!
Alumni
Class of 2024-2025
Audra Brown
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Luke Williams
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Class of 2023-2024
Katelyn Kennedy, PharmD
Cedarville University School of Pharmacy
Sung Mo, PharmD
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy
Class of 2022-2023
Sylvia Yeager, PharmD
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Abigail Martin, PharmD
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy
Apply
Apply on PhORCAS by January 5th, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Required:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Transcript
- Letter of intent
- Three references via PhORCAS
Contact Information
Julia Wasser, PharmD, BCGP
Resident Program Director
Phone:
Email: Julia.Wasser@va.gov
