Pharmacy Residency Program

Thank you for your interest in the Pharmacy Practice Residency Program at the VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System.  Our PGY-1 program currently offers (2) positions through the ASHP National Matching Service (program code 172413). All applications must be completed online via the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service at: PhORCAS

 

Standard Requirements for an application in PhORCAS include:

1) Completion of required PhORCAS application

2) Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3) Letter of Intent

4) Three (3) Letters of Reference

5) Official PharmD program transcripts

 

Additional Requirements: U. S. Citizenship

Information for Application Process

ASHP Residency Directory Name: VA - Topeka, KS - Eastern Kansas Health Care System - Colmery-O’Neil Campus

ASHP Residency Directory Number: 62001

Residency type: PGY1

PhORCAS Number:  19543

National Matching Service (NMS) Number: 172413

 

Application Deadline: January 2

An onsite interview is required for consideration. Interview offers are typically made early to middle of January and interviews are typically scheduled for late January through the end of February.

If you have any questions, please contact katherine.foster1@va.gov 

The following is a list of required rotations/activities:

• Acute Medicine 
• Ambulatory Care
• Anticoagulation
• Pharmacy Operations
• Psychiatry (Inpatient)
• Geriatrics/Long-term Care
• Home Based Primary Care

 

The following is a list of elective rotations:

• Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Pain Management, Medication Safety, Regulatory and Informatics 
• Psychiatry (Outpatient)
• Rural Health / Population Health Management
• Pharmacongenomics
• Other experiences include but are not limited to the following: cardiology, oncology, medication safety, women's health or any previous rotation as an advance rotation.

 

The following is a list of required longitudinal rotations/activities:

• Administration & Leadership
• Teaching Certificate
• MUE, project, journal club, article and manuscript.
• Staffing (1 weekend per month, 1-four hour evening shift during the week, 2 holidays, 1 minor (e.g. Martin Luther King Day/President's Day, 1 major (e.g. Thanksgiving)
• Teaching Certificate Program (UMKC)

 

Teaching (Longitudinal) — Residents will complete the VA teaching certificate program. Residents will also have the opportunity to teach in the KU Clinical Assessment Course and didactic lecture at KU if desired.

Geriatrics / Long-Term Care — Residents gain an understanding of therapeutics in geriatric patients residing in the Community Living Center (a nursing home setting) and for patients as part of the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program.  Responsibilities include medication management, drug information, coordination of care, contributing to interdisciplinary team meetings, and medication therapy reviews.

Home Based Primary Care – Residents will gain clinical experience in taking care of Veterans in in their home. Home based primary care is for Veterans who have complex health care needs for whom routine clinic-based care is not effective and are often homebound. The resident will work collaboratively with a team of health care personnel to meet the needs of our homebound veterans.

Psychiatry — Residents will gain clinical experience and develop expertise in the pharmacotherapy management of patients with behavioral health disorders.  The resident will work collaboratively with a team of health care personnel to provide care to hospitalized patients and develop an active role in interdisciplinary rounds.   

Administration and Leadership — Residents learn and devise strategies to promote cost-effective medication therapy utilization and clinical services management at VA EKHCS.  Residents are responsible for completion of non-formulary consults, medication use evaluation, and clinical protocol development/revision.  Residents will work with the management team to gain perspectives in budget planning, resource allocation, leadership, and professional/clinical service development.  Activities include, but are not limited to: P&T meetings, medication-use-evaluations, drug monograph development, protocol development, longitudinal discussions on leadership development, etc.

Pharmacy Operations — Residents develop skill in medication preparation, dispensing, order verification, patient counseling, and supervision of technicians during this longitudinal experience.

MUE, project, journal club, article and manuscript — Residents will complete one medication usage evaluation and one project. One of these will be presented at a pharmacy conference, residency conference and a publishable manuscript. The residents will also complete one journal club presentation, one monograph and one article in the pharmacy newsletter.

Topeka

 

Katie Foster, PharmD, MS, FCCM, FASHP, KCHP, DPLA, CLSSBB (Residency Program Director)

Katie Foster is the Associate Chief of Pharmacy Operation Services at the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka, Kansas and is the PGY1 Residency Program Director. Dr. Foster received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Creighton. After graduation, Dr. Foster pursued residency program at the University of Kansas Medical Center specializing in hospital pharmacy and received a Masters of Hospital Pharmacy. Dr. Foster worked at Stormont Vail Health Care for 23 years as their Pharmacy Clinical Manager, Trauma Pharmacist and PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Director. Dr Foster works with multi-disciplinary teams to help improve patient care and is an informational resource for healthcare professionals as well as patients. She may be contacted via email at Katherine.foster1@va.gov.

 

Shannon Baltrusaitis, PharmD

Shannon Baltrusaitis works as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in Primary Care as an advanced practice provider with a scope-of-practice. Dr. Baltrusaitis earned her PharmD from the University of Kansas in 2017 and completed a PGY-1 Residency at the VA Eastern Kansas HCS in 2018. Dr. Baltrusaitis co-precepts the Drug Information and Teaching rotation. She may be contacted via email at   shannon.baltrusaitis@va.gov.

 

Michael Buck, PharmD

Michael Buck works as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in Primary Care as an advanced practice provider with a scope-of-practice. Dr. Buck earned his PharmD from the University of Nebraska in 2016 and completed a PGY-1 Residency at the VA Eastern Kansas HCS in 2017. Dr. Buck precepts as part of the ambulatory care rotation and coordinates residency social events. He may be contacted via email at michael.buck1@va.gov

 

Kerri Christian, PharmD, BCACP, CGP

Kerri Christian is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in ambulatory care, practicing in primary care and cardiology clinic. Dr. Christian earned her PharmD with distinction from the University of Nebraska in 1998. Prior to joining the pharmacy team at VA EKHCS in 2013, She served as Consultant Pharmacist, Lead Consultant Pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator for Pharmerica, a national long-term care pharmacy. Dr. Christian has been a member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists since 2001, a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (FASCP) since 2006 and completed her second term on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists in 2017.  She earned her Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist Credential in 2003 and BCACP in 2013. Dr. Christian has enjoyed sharing her passion for geriatrics with pharmacy students since 2001 and with PGY1 pharmacy residents since 2014. Dr. Christian may be contacted via e-mail at kerri.christian@va.gov.

 

Kathryn Dement, PharmD, BCPP

Kathryn Dement is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in psychiatry. Dr. Dement graduated from University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2010.  She went on to complete a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2011 and joined the staff at VA EKHCS in July of 2011 as an inpatient behavioral health clinical pharmacist.  She earned her BCPS in 2011 and her BCPP certification in 2015.  Since 2018, Dr. DeMent has served as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner with an advanced scope of practice for psychiatry working with the PTSD treatment program and outpatient mental health clinic. Dr. Dement may be contacted via email at kathryn.dement@va.gov.

 

Emma Evans, PharmD

Dr. Evans is a Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner on the Topeka Campus. Dr. Evans earned her PharmD from the University of Wyoming in 2021. She went on to complete a PGY-1 residency at VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dr. Evans currently precepts residents in pharmacy operations. She may be contacted via e-mail at Emma.Evans@va.gov.

 

Micah Halton, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES

Micah Halton is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in ambulatory care.   Dr. Halton earned his PharmD from the University of Kansas in 2009 and completed his pharmacy practice residency at the Providence VA Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island.  He joined VA Eastern Kansas Medical Center in 2010.  Dr. Halton currently precepts residents for the ambulatory care rotation.  He also precepts pharmacy students from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in ambulatory care. Dr. Halton earned his BC-ADM and CDCES in 2012. Dr.  Halton may be contacted via e-mail at Micah.Halton2@va.gov.

 

Margit Hansing, PharmD, BCACP

Margit Hansing is as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in Anticoagulation, Cardiology and serves as the Anticoagulation Program Manager at VA Eastern Kansas HCS. Dr. Hansing earned her PharmD from South Dakota State University in 2017 and completed a PGY-1 Residency at VA Black Hills HCS in 2018. Dr. Hansing joined the VA Eastern Kansas Medical Center in 2018. She precepts the anticoagulation clinic rotation. Dr. Hansing earned her BCACP in 2020. She may be contacted at Margit.Hansing@va.gov.

 

Melissa Hinrichsen, PharmD, BCGP

Melissa Hinrichsen is a clinical pharmacist, practicing on the Topeka Campus.  Dr. Hinrichsen earned her PharmD from the University of Kansas in 2019. She completed her residency at VA Eastern Kansas HCS in 2020 and has remained on staff since. Dr. Hinrichsen currently precepts pharmacy practice residents as a part of the pharmacy operations experience and coordinate residency social events. She may be contacted via e-mail at melissa.hinrichsen@va.gov.

 

Erik Leon, PharmD

Dr. Leon graduated from KU in 2011 and has been working at EKHCS VA since 2005 and oversees the pharmacy residents during their operation and longitudinal staffing rotations. erik.leon@va.gov

 

Robin Meistrell, PharmD, MS

Robin Meistrell has been the Behavioral Health Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner at VAEKHCS since 2018. Dr. Meistrell precepts pharmacy students and residents in acute psychiatry. Dr. Meistrell graduated from Belmont University College of Pharmacy in 2013 and obtained her Master of Science in 2022 from University of Maryland, Baltimore. Can be reached at robin.meistrell@va.gov

 

Brynn Riveland, PharmD

Brynn Riveland earned her PharmD from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in 2021. She completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency with the VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System in 2022. Dr. Riveland is a Rural PACT Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner. She precepts the PGY-1 Rural PACT rotation and can be contacted at Brynn.Riveland@va.gov

 

Sara Weeder-Korus, PharmD, BCPS

Sara Weeder-Korus is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner practicing in Chronic Disease Management and Hematology/Oncology. Sara earned her PharmD from Creighton University in 2008 and completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at the Grand Island, Nebraska VA Medical Center in 2009. She joined VA Eastern Kansas in 2009 and earned BCPS certification in 2013. She has previously served as a clinical pharmacist and preceptor in acute medicine before transitioning back to Ambulatory Care in 2014. She currently precepts residents in chronic disease management. She may be contacted via email at sara.weeder-korus2@va.gov.

 

Leavenworth

 

Melissa Chapman, PharmD

Melissa Bigham graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Pharmacy in 2014. Subsequently, she completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency with VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System. Dr. Chapman is a Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner. She is one of our PGY1 HBPCPGY1 Preceptors at VAEKHCS  Leavenworth, working with residents of the Community Living Center and as a member of the geriatric primary care (Geri-PACT) team. She supplements her clinical role with involvement in the Dementia Steering Committee and the Community Living Center’s Quality Committee. Dr. Bigham was also a contributing author for a chapter on Human Microbiome and Aging in Nutrition and Functional Foods for Healthy Aging.  Melissa co-precepts for the Drug Information & Teaching rotation and may be contacted at Melissa.Bigham@va.gov

 

Nicole Snyder, PharmD

Nicole Snyder currently assists with precepting pharmacy practice residents as a part of the acute care experience. Dr. Snyder graduated from University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in 2020. She completed her residency at VA Eastern Kansas HCS in 2021 and is now one of our PACT Clinical Pharmacy Practitioners. Dr. Snyder may be contacted via e-mail at Nicole.snyder2@va.gov

 

Gregory Burger, PharmD, CPPS, FASHP, EMT

Gregory Burger currently serves as the Pharmacy Program Quality Manager at the Leavenworth Campus. Previously he was the Accreditation/Performance Improvement Manager with the Quality Dept. at the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus (Topeka, KS). Prior, he worked as a Medication Safety Coordinator (Stormont Vail Health, Topeka) and Clinical Pharmacist focusing on medication safety (Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence) for 30+ years of healthcare experience. He is a charter member of the Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacists (president, 2014-2015); Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (2018); past Chair of the ASHP Inpatient Care Practitioners Executive Committee (2020-2021); a consultant to the FDA’s Drug Safety and Mitigation Committee (2016-2022); and one of the few pharmacists in Kansas to become a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS)(2013-present).
During his career, Dr. Burger has provided leadership on multiple patient safety projects, including the development of a smart pump “library” for hospital infusion pumps and refinement of the computerized physician order entry system. He has lectured extensively at regional, state, and national healthcare conferences. He is currently an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at KU, where he developed and has taught an elective course on medication safety for the past 10 years. Dr. Burger received the KCHP Legacy Award at the 2021 KCHP Annual Meeting.

In addition to his leadership and service roles in multiple professional organizations, Dr. Burger also volunteers closer to home as a first responder in the Consolidated Fire/EMS district for rural Douglas County, KS. He is Kansas registered Emergency Medical Technician and holds certificates in Firefighter I/II and HazMat Operations. In his free time, he enjoys trail running and holds the distinction of completing 50+ marathon in the past 25 years – including several 100-mile races.  Gregory’s unusual spelling can be explained here: https://www.ismp.org/tools/tallmanletters.pdf

 

Tracy Jo (TJ) McCombs, PharmD, PhD

TJ McCombs serves as the Chief of Pharmacy at VAEKHCS. She has previously worked as a clinical pharmacy specialist and assistant clinical coordinator for St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. Dr. McCombs precepts residents for the pharmacy leadership and administration rotation. She may be contacted via email at tracy.mccombs2@va.gov.

 

Emily Potter, PharmD, BCPS

Emily Potter is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship. Dr. Potter graduated from the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy earning her PharmD in 2010. Subsequently, she completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Via-Christi Health Care in Wichita, KS. In 2011 she took a clinical pharmacist position at Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Internal Medicine/Critical Care with a focus on Infectious Disease where she earned BCPS certification in 2012. In 2015, she took a position as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship at the VAEKHCS. She is actively involved in local, VISN, and National Antimicrobial Stewardship Committees.  Dr. Potter is actively involved in research and serves as a KCVA Institutional Review Board member and Chairs Eastern Kansas’ Research and Development Committee. Dr. Potter has recent publications in Enterococcal Bloodstream Infections and Antimicrobial Stewardship. Dr. Potter precepts the Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship elective and coordinates the residency research rotation. She can be contacted via email at emily.potter1@va.gov.

 

Debbie Reynolds, PharmD

Debbie Flores Reynolds serves as the Pharmacy Operations Manager for the VA Eastern Kansas—Leavenworth campus. She is a 2003 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. She joined VAEKHS in 2018 after a career in retail pharmacy. Dr. Reynolds’s precepts residents for the pharmacy operations rotation. She may be contacted at debra.reynolds2@va.gov.

 

Roselle Schanker, PharmD

Roselle (Pinky) Schanker serves as the Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy at VAEKHCS, Leavenworth division. Dr. Schanker received her PharmD degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1995 and completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the VA hospital in Columbia, Missouri. She came to Leavenworth in 1997 and previously worked in Ambulatory Care, Home Based Primary Care and Long-Term Care. Dr. Schanker precepts residents for the pharmacy leadership and administration rotation. She may be contacted via email at roselle.schanker@va.gov.

 

Jennifer Thomas, PharmD

Jenny Thomas is our Clinical Pharmacy Educator Program Manager. jennifer.thomas99@va.gov

 

Dorothy Williams, PharmD, BCPP

Dorothy Williams is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in psychiatry. Dr. Williams earned her PharmD from the University of Kansas in 2007. She subsequently completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in 2008, after which she stayed on to work as an inpatient behavioral health clinical pharmacist. She joined VA Eastern Kansas HCS in 2014 as a behavioral health clinical pharmacist within the outpatient mental health clinic. She earned her BCPP certification in 2012. Dr. Williams currently works as a behavioral health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the Leavenworth Campus in the Domiciliary where she practices as an advanced practice provider with a scope-of-practice. Dr. Williams is involved in the Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care Committee for EKHCS and has publications on topics involving psychotropic medications.  Dr. Williams may be contacted at  Dorothy.williams11@va.gov.

Benefits

• Health and life insurance
• 13 days of sick leave
• 13 days of paid-time-off
• Paid administrative leave for conferences and educational events
• 9 Paid federal holidays
• Competitive stipend
• Free parking

 

Eligibility

• United States Citizen
• Pharm.D. degree from a school of pharmacy accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE)
• Be licensed or eligible for licensure as a pharmacist in any U.S. state.

The Colmery-O’Neil VA is in Topeka, Kansas just 25 miles west of Lawrence and 66 miles west of Kansas City. The Dwight D. Eisenhower VA is in Leavenworth, Kansas just 35 miles east of Lawrence and 30 miles northwest of Kansas City. There is plenty to do in the Topeka, Lawrence, Leavenworth and Kansas City as well as the surrounding areas.  Overall, it is a great place for people of all ages.

http://www.travelks.com

https://www.visitkc.com

 

About Topeka:

Brown vs. Board Historical Museum

Capital City

Combat Air Museum

Lake Shawnee

Local restaurants and bars 

Multiple parks and trails

Shawnee Lake

Topeka Performing Arts Center

Topeka Symphony

Topeka Zoological Parks

Washburn University

Washburn University athletics

 

About Lawrence:

Art in the Park

Bicycle friendly community

Clinton Lake

Disc golf

Dog Days

Dole Institute of Politics Museum

Home of the University of Kansas

Live music

Local boutiques and shops

Vital Downtown

Multiple parks and trails

Natural History Museum

Spencer Museum of Art

University of Kansas athletics