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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.

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 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

Kelsey LaMartina, PharmD
PGY1 Residency Program Director
Address: 820 South Damen (119)
Chicago, IL 60612

Email: Kelsey.LaMartina@va.gov  

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

Email: Jessica.Carlson2@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 2025-2026 PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Class. From left to right: Johnsean Ramos Torres, Natalie Cairo, Haylie Dickson, Alicia Dinh, Ariane Aidedji, Adam Sulh.

2025-2026 PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Class
Resident Name College of Pharmacy Attended Email Address Ariane Aidedji Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy Ariane.Aidedji@va.gov Natalie Cairo Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy Natalie.Cairo@va.gov Haylie Dickson Purdue University College of Pharmacy Haylie.Dickson@va.gov Alicia Dinh Purdue University College of Pharmacy Alicia.Dinh@va.gov Johnsean Ramos Torres University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy Johnsean.Ramostorres@va.gov Adam Sulh University of Illinois at Chicago Adam.Sulh@va.gov

The photo below is of our 2025-2026 PGY2 Infectious Disease Pharmacy Resident, Sandra Jojo.

2025-2026 PGY2 Infectious Disease Pharmacy Resident
Resident Name College of Pharmacy Attended PGY1 Program Completed Email Address Sandra Jojo St. John's University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Cincinnati VA Sandra.Jojo@va.gov

The photo below is of our 2025-2026 PGY2 Psychiatry Pharmacy Residency Class. From left to right: Lexie Marcon and Andrea Castro.

2025-2026 PGY2 Psychiatry Pharmacy Residency Class
Resident Name College of Pharmacy Attended PGY1 Program Completed Email Address Lexie Marcon University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy Jesse Brown VA Alexis.Marcon@va.gov Andrea Castro Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Jesse Brown VA Andrea.Castro3@va.gov