Pharmacy Residency Programs

Mission Statement for Pharmacy Service

To provide excellent, safe, and cost-effective pharmaceutical care that improves the quality of life of our Veterans. This is accomplished by maintaining a long history of, and expansion into new pharmacy clinical services, encouraging collaboration through teamwork, providing superior customer service to all stakeholders, valuing our employees, being dedicated to the training and recruitment of pharmacist trainees, efficiently utilizing resources, and streamlining communication. 

Vision Statement for Pharmacy Service

The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Pharmacy Service will serve as an employer of choice and will be committed to providing consistent excellence in quality and safety through progressive and patient-centered Pharmacy Services across the continuum of a Veteran’s care.

Statement of Values for Pharmacy Service

The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Pharmacy Service values excellence and Veteran Centric care, honesty and integrity, commitment to teaching and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, respect and teamwork, innovation and research, professionalism, and compassion.

Statement of Values for Pharmacy Residency Programs

Hines Pharmacy Residency Programs believe in diversity as our greatest source of strength. We strive to reach as wide a candidate pool as possible through a broad range of virtual and in-person recruitment events. No matter your background, if you are inspired by our mission of advancing the care of veterans through progressive pharmacy practice, we encourage you to apply.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RESIDENCY CANDIDATES TO TRAIN AT HINES VA 

• You can find detailed information on requirements for appointment to the VA here: Am I Eligible? Checklist for VA HPTs (link: https://www.va.gov/OAA/docs/Am_I_Eligible_v5.pdf).  We encourage all candidates to review this in detail.
  • Please be aware, in particular of the following:
    • Drug-Free Workplace: Health Professions Trainees (HPTs) are not drug-tested prior to receiving an appointment; however certain HPTs are subject to random drug testing throughout the entire VA appointment period. HPTs sign an acknowledgement form stating awareness of this practice.
      • Fingerprint Screening and Background Investigation: HPTs will be fingerprinted and undergo screenings and background investigations.  A VA Human Resources Security Specialist will determine suitability. Additional details can be found here .(link: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/10450.html)
      • Health Requirements:
        • As a condition of appointment, HPTs must:
          • furnish evidence or a self-certification that they are physically and mentally fit to perform the essential functions of the training program
          • have up-to-date vaccinations for healthcare workers as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (link: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/index.html )
          • have undergone baseline tuberculosis (TB) screening and testing per CDC health care personnel guidelines (for direct VA-paid HPTs, this means within 90 days of Offer and Acceptance.) (link: https://www.cdc.gov/tb-healthcare-settings/hcp/screening-testing/baseline-testing.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/healthcareworkers.htm)
        • Immunizations: VA employees and HPTs are expected and will need to attest to being up to date with multiple vaccines, including influenza 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RESIDENCY CANDIDATES

• US Citizenship
  • PharmD from an ACPE Accredited College of Pharmacy or equivalent experience
    • PhORCAS Application
      • For more information go to PhORCAS-ASHP (link: https://www.ashp.org/phorcas?loginreturnUrl=SSOCheckOnly)
    • College of Pharmacy Transcripts
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Letter of Interest
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    • Registration for the National Matching Services
      • For more information go to National Matching Services (link: https://natmatch.com/)

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION FOR PGY1 RESIDENCY CANDIDATES

• Candidates must be eligible for licensure to practice pharmacy in one of the states or territories of the United States or the District of Columbia before or within 90 days of starting residency.
  • Letters of Recommendation:
    • Preferably from clinical rotation preceptors  

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION FOR PGY2 RESIDENCY CANDIDATES 

• Successful completion of an ASHP Accredited PGY1 Residency is required
  • Letters of Recommendation:
    • Preferably 2 from clinical preceptors and 1 from the PGY1 Residency Program Director 

PGY1 RESIDENCY PROGRAM GENERAL INFORMATION 

The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is an ASHP accredited program that began in 1999.  The program targets core areas of pharmacy practice, with a focus on a well-rounded experience providing ambulatory care, an integrated inpatient/outpatient team approach to patients care, and experience in specialty programs. The program accommodates for individual experience and specific areas of interest. 

• What types of activities is the resident exposed to?
  • Quality assurance and medication use evaluation activities
    • Formulary management
    • Teaching of PharmD candidates
    • Major project completion & presentation at the Illinois Pharmacy Resident Conference
  • Is the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program ASHP accredited?
    • Yes.  We were awarded full accreditation of 8 years by ASHP in 2022.
  • How many residents are being recruited?
    • Five
  • What is the annual salary for PGY1 residents?
    • $53,470
  • What are some of the benefits offered to PGY1 residents?
    • Insurance options (including medical, dental, vision, and life)
    • 11 paid holidays, 13 vacation days and 13 sick days
    • Medical Library with electronic journal access
    • Free 24-hour access to the employee gym 

PGY1 RESIDENCY CONTACT INFORMATION 

Nick Super, PharmD, BCACP

PGY1 Residency Program Director
5000 S. Fifth Ave (119)
Hines, IL 60141
Nicholas.Super2@va.gov 

Frank Svete, PharmD, BCPS

PGY1 Residency Program Coordinator
5000 S. Fifth Ave (119)
Hines, IL 60141
Frank.Svete@va.gov

PGY2 ID RESIDENCY PROGRAM PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION 

Purpose: 

PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings. Residents who successfully complete an accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency are prepared for advanced patient care, academic, or other specialized positions, along with board certification, if available.

Description: 

This 12-month residency program is designed to provide comprehensive learning experiences in a variety of Infectious Diseases-related areas to afford the resident(s) opportunity to advance and solidify their Infectious Diseases pharmacotherapy knowledgebase in order to qualify for an Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner position upon graduation.  Specifically, the resident will develop skills and abilities in Antimicrobial Stewardship, HIV/AIDS pharmacotherapy and general infectious diseases that will enable him/her to contribute both clinically and academically to the field of Infectious Diseases pharmacy practice. The resident will have the opportunity to be involved in the care of various infectious disease states in diverse patient populations, including acute care, surgical care, medical intensive care, spinal cord injury, and long-term care.

PGY2 ID RESIDENCY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Please see below to learn more about our program
  • Get to know our PGY2 ID program! (link : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1om0raC7SBTB2Fod1mXGoAyciqGiWUa6z/view)

PGY2 ID RESIDENCY CONTACT INFORMATION 

Ursula Patel, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, AAHIVP

Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Residency Program Director, PGY2 Infectious Diseases
5000 S. Fifth Ave (119)
Hines, IL 60141
Ursula.Patel@va.gov

PGY2 HSPAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM PURPOSE

Purpose: 

The purpose of this residency program is to provide the pharmacist with a broad range of experience in pharmacy management and leadership under the coordination of a proven pharmacy management team. The training will be hands-on, experiential learning with an emphasis on the adult learning model and development of self-assessment by the resident, with guidance and constructive, frequent feedback from the Residency Program Director and a qualified team of preceptors. 

Our program builds upon PGY1 residency graduates’ competence in the delivery of patient-centered care and in pharmacy operational services to prepare residents who can assume high-level managerial, supervisory, and leadership responsibilities.

PGY2 HSPAL RESIDENCY CONTACT INFORMATION 

Elizabeth Stone, PharmD

Chief of Pharmacy
PGY2 HSPAL Residency Program Director
5000 S. Fifth Ave (119)
Hines, IL 60141
Elizabeth.Stone1@va.gov

Manali Szynkarek, PharmD

Pharmacoeconomics Program Manager
PGY2 HSPAL Residency Program Coordinator
Manali.Szynkarek@va.gov