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Jesse Brown VAMC PGY1 and PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Programs

Welcome to Jesse Brown VA Medical Center’s Post Graduate Year 1 and 2 Pharmacy Residency Programs. Note: This website is under construction and there is more detailed information to come. Please reach out to our program directors and residents for more information.

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (JBVAMC) PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program was accredited by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists in 1995. We have graduated over one hundred fifty residents. JBVAMC PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is a one-year training program that begins the first of July and continues through to the end of June the following year. The mission/purpose of the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program is to build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) Pharmacy Residency training. The resident will be provided a challenging environment in    order to develop as a skilled practitioner dedicated to the patient and committed to the provision of quality pharmaceutical care. Through example, the resident will serve as a leader in education and promote excellence in the profession of pharmacy. During this year, the program combines both practical experiences, as well as didactic instruction through presentations and projects. This will enable the resident to become a confident and competent practitioner. The resident will work as an integral part of the Pharmacy Service, participating in patient care, departmental and hospital committees, and aid in the development of department policies. The resident will also play an active role in the education and training of pharmacy students and will have the opportunity to participate in the Residency Teaching Certificate Program supported by the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy.

PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency Program

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency Program was ASHP accredited in 2009 and provides residents with a broad range of experience in pharmacy management and leadership practice under the coordination of a proven pharmacy management team. The Residency Director is the Chief of Pharmacy. The primary mission of the residency is to develop leadership and management skills and provide a cadre of qualified future leaders and managers as part of succession planning. An integral part of the training will be accomplished by a mentoring/mentee relationship between the resident and the Chief of Pharmacy. The training will be hands on experiential learning. Emphasis will be on the adult learning model and development of self-assessment by the resident with guidance and constructive, frequent feedback from the Chief of Pharmacy.

PGY2 Infection Diseases Pharmacy Residency Program

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency Program was ASHP accredited in 2014 and provides the resident with a well-rounded experience in Infectious Diseases with an emphasis on HIV care. The core rotations strengthen infectious disease fundamentals while accommodating for individual experiences and specific areas of interest. The program is designed to develop the resident’s clinical expertise in infectious diseases. In addition, the resident will gain experience through teaching, research, and involvement in our Antimicrobial Stewardship program. The goal of this residency program is to develop pharmacy practitioners with the skills necessary to work as part of a multi-disciplinary infectious disease team.

PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program was ASHP accredited in 2016 and provides a setting where residents can learn to work within an interdisciplinary team to assist with patient care. Residents will be exposed to veterans with a wide variety of disease states including (but not limited to) PTSD, substance abuse, depressive disorders, psychotic disorders, and bipolar disorders. The program is designed to develop a resident’s knowledge of diagnosis, treatment, and management through patient interviews, medication groups, and working with the teams in the various practice settings. The goal of this program is to prepare the resident to independently practice as a clinical psychiatric pharmacist in either an academic or non-academic psychiatric setting.

Contact Information

PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Jennifer Lee, Pharm.D.
PGY1 Residency Program Director
Address: 820 South Damen (119)
Chicago, IL 60612

email: Jennifer.Lee91@va.gov

 

Jessica Carlson, PharmD
PGY1 Residency Program Coordinator
Address: 820 South Damen (119)
Chicago, IL 60612

email: Jessica.Carlson2@va.gov

PGY2 Health-system Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency Program

Isabel Karceski, Pharm.D.
Chief of Pharmacy
PGY2 Residency Program Director
Address: 820 South Damen (119)
Chicago, IL 60612

Office:312-569-7103
email: Isabel.Karceski@va.gov

PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency Program

Andrea Beshalske, Pharm.D., BCIDP
PGY2 Residency Program Director
Address: 820 South Damen (119)
Chicago, IL 60612

email: Andrea.Beshalske@va.gov

PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program

Laine Ferrill, Pharm.D., MBA, BCPP
PGY2 Residency Program Director
Address: 820 South Damen (119)
Chicago, IL 60612

email: Laine.Ferrill@va.gov

Current Residents Contact Information

The photo below is of our 2023-2024 PGY1 and PGY2 Residency Class. From left to right: Drs. Donald Lu, Maddie DiVittorio, Miriam Haddad, Panjie Chen, Christine Pham, Angelica DiPrizio, Cierra Brewer, and Toni Martin.

pharmacy residents
Resident Name College of Pharmacy Attended Email Address Angelica DiPrizio Rosalind Franklin angelica.diprizio@va.gov Christine Pham University of Illinois at Chicago christine.pham2@va.gov Donald Lu University of Buffalo donald.lu@va.gov Maddie DiVittorio University of Illinois at Chicago madeline.divittorio@va.gov Miriam Haddad Midwestern University miriam.haddad@va.gov Panjie Chen University of Buffalo panjie.chen@va.gov
Resident Name College of Pharmacy Attended PGY1 Program Completed Email Address Cierra Brewer University of Wisconsin Orlando VAMC cierra.brewer@va.gov
Resident Name College of Pharmacy Attended PGY1 Program Completed Email Address Antoinette (Toni) Martin Purdue University Jesse Brown VAMC antoinette.martin@va.gov