Ascension St. Francis Hospital

Pharmacy Residency Program

Program Overview

Ascension St. Francis Hospital is a community hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which has been serving the community since 1956 while providing a scope of services including the latest in neurological disorders, cardiac care and orthopedics. The pharmacy residency Program at Ascension St. Francis is designed to develop independent, insightful practitioners who are effective members of health care teams and provide comprehensive pharmacy services as key members of the Pharmacy Department.

Purpose Statement

PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) 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.

Residency Mission

The pharmacy residency program is designed to develop independent, insightful practitioners prepared to assume an advanced clinical practice position in a community hospital, pursue a PGY2 in a focused area of interest, or serve as adjunct faculty for a college of pharmacy.

Residents completing the program will expand their knowledge and skill in providing optimal pharmaceutical care in various patient care settings. They will improve medication safety and appropriate medication use as effective members of healthcare teams. Through the development of written and oral communication skills, residents completing this program will become effective educators of health care professionals, patients and students. Residents completing the program will learn to integrate therapeutic knowledge with an understanding of the health care system to become proficient in improving patient care through the development of drug therapy related policies and procedures. Residency graduates will demonstrate critical thinking and time management skills that will allow them to become self-directed leaders within both their practice setting and the pharmacy profession.

Residency Training Sites

  • OVERVIEW

    Residency Training Sites

      Ascension St. Francis Hospital Pharmacy Department

      The Department of Pharmacy is open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Services are provided through decentralized pharmacists (coverage from 0700-2000) and the main pharmacy. Clinical and distributive services are provided by 19 unit-based pharmacists.

      Patient Care Areas

      • Adult Intensive Care
      • Medical/Surgical
      • Emergency Medicine
      • Oncology
      • Center for Neurologic Disorders (Outpatient)
      • Cardiology/Cardiac Intervention Center
      • Investigational Drug

      Clinical Pharmacy Services

      • Pharmacokinetic Dosing and Monitoring
        • Aminoglycosides
        • Argatroban
        • Fosphenytoin/Phenytoin
        • Heparin
        • Miscellaneous, as consulted
        • Vancomycin
        • Warfarin
      • Renal Dosing Adjustments
      • IV to PO Conversions
      • Antimicrobial Stewardship
      • Therapeutic Interchange Program
      • Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Optimization
      • Response to Medical Emergencies
      • Drug Information
      • Heart Failure Patient Discharge Counseling
      • Additional Patient Counseling per Request
      • Culture Call Back
      • Medication Reconciliation per Request
      • Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) Management
      • Policy/Procedure Development for Patient Care Areas
    • EXPECTATIONS

      The Pharmacy Residency Program at Ascension St. Francis Hospital has set expectations, including required rotations and elective opportunities.

      Expectations to be completed during the residency year:
      • Licensure in the state of Wisconsin
      • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification
      • Attendance at every cardiac and respiratory arrest while on site
      • Attendance at Milwaukee City-Wide Residency Conferences
      • Longitudinal residency project presentation at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and the Wisconsin Pharmacy Residency Conference
      • Assist in the training of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students
      • Assist in policy/procedure development for patient care areas
      • Assist medication safety pharmacist with medication error analysis and follow up
      • Attendance at each Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting

      Required Rotations

      • Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
      • Cardiology
      • Central Pharmacy
      • Critical Care
      • Internal Medicine
      • Pharmacy Administration/Drug Policy
      • Research-Flex time
      • Ambulatory Care (longitudinal)
        • Center for Neurological Disorders
        • Reiman Cancer Center
      • Medication Safety (longitudinal)
      • Pharmacy Practice/Staffing (longitudinal)
      • Research Project (longitudinal)

      View a sample rotation schedule.

      Elective Opportunities

      • Academia
      • Critical Care II
      • Emergency Medicine
      • Oncology
      • Neonatal Intensive Care
      • Orthopedic Surgery

      Additional Information

      Staffing

      Every third weekend and five separate weeks throughout the residency year.

      View a sample staffing schedule.

      Number of Positions

      Three PGY-1 Pharmacy Residents

      Salary

      Approximately $48,000

    • APPLICATION

      To apply to the Ascension St. Francis Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, please read the application requirements and follow the application process.

      Application Requirements (via PhORCAS)

      • Letter of Intent
      • Curriculum Vitae
      • Three Letters of Recommendation
      • School of Pharmacy Transcripts
        Students applying from a School or College of Pharmacy which grants pass/fail grades must submit an official document (signed, hard copy) from their respective Dean or Assistant Dean of Pharmacy stating the student’s rank within the pharmacy class.
      • Supplemental Questions
        *Must be uploaded to PhORCAS
      • PhORCAS Application

      Program Identification

      • ASHP Code: 45037
      • National Matching Services Code: 22901

      Deadline

      All application materials must be submitted via PhORCAS no later than Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 at 11:59 pm CST.

    • RESIDENTS
      View current and past Pharmacy Residency Program residents at Ascension St. Francis Hospital by selecting a name below.
      • Meghan Cohen, PharmD (R9) 
        Meghan Cohen, PharmD is from Mishicot, WI and completed both her undergraduate studies and Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During pharmacy school she worked in both retail and independent community pharmacies, and she is excited to be starting her career in the inpatient setting. Her clinical interests include critical care, cardiology, and emergency medicine. During her PGY1 year, she hopes to gain more experience in critical care, including neonatal intensive-care practice, and is also excited for the opportunity to precept students. After residency, she plans to move forward in her career in acute care pharmacy by becoming board certified. During her free time she enjoys baking, exercising, exploring local breweries, and watching Wisconsin sporting events (Packers, Badgers, Brewers, Bucks).
      • Kristin Klarenbeek, PharmD (R10)
        Kristin Klarenbeek, PharmD is from Alvord, Iowa and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Spanish from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD in 2014. She then completed her Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2018. Her current areas of clinical interest include cardiology, critical care, and emergency medicine. She has had extensive experience in the community pharmacy setting by working as a technician and intern throughout undergraduate and pharmacy school and is excited to expand into the acute care setting. After PGY1, Kristin plans to pursue a PGY2 in critical care or emergency medicine.

        In her free time, Kristin enjoys watching movies, having game night with friends, and traveling.

      • Preston Sycks, PharmD, (R11)
        Preston Sycks, PharmD, originally from Rochester, MN, earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Studies from the University of Kansas and subsequently his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2018. His current practice interests include pediatrics and critical care. He also enjoys teaching and is excited to complete a teaching certificate during his residency. After PGY-1, Preston hopes to combine his passions to pursue a PGY-2 in pediatrics with a focus in critical care. From there, he would like to use his knowledge and experiences to educate pharmacy students about pediatric care.

        In his free time, Preston enjoys volunteering in the community, spending quality time with his family and friends, playing disc golf, and watching KU basketball.

      • Past Residents

        2015-2016

        • R1: Ashley Mulvey
        • R2: Dylan Jones

        2016-2017

        • R3: Rida Abbasi
        • R4: Meghan Learned
        • R5: Sarah Seward

        2017-2018

        • R6: John Knebel
        • R7: Cassandra Leightner
        • R8: Mazen Samadi
    • RESIDENTS
      View current and past Pharmacy Residency Program residents at Ascension St. Francis Hospital by selecting a name below.
      • Meghan Cohen, PharmD (R9) 
        Meghan Cohen, PharmD is from Mishicot, WI and completed both her undergraduate studies and Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During pharmacy school she worked in both retail and independent community pharmacies, and she is excited to be starting her career in the inpatient setting. Her clinical interests include critical care, cardiology, and emergency medicine. During her PGY1 year, she hopes to gain more experience in critical care, including neonatal intensive-care practice, and is also excited for the opportunity to precept students. After residency, she plans to move forward in her career in acute care pharmacy by becoming board certified. During her free time she enjoys baking, exercising, exploring local breweries, and watching Wisconsin sporting events (Packers, Badgers, Brewers, Bucks).
      • Kristin Klarenbeek, PharmD (R10)
        Kristin Klarenbeek, PharmD is from Alvord, Iowa and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Spanish from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD in 2014. She then completed her Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2018. Her current areas of clinical interest include cardiology, critical care, and emergency medicine. She has had extensive experience in the community pharmacy setting by working as a technician and intern throughout undergraduate and pharmacy school and is excited to expand into the acute care setting. After PGY1, Kristin plans to pursue a PGY2 in critical care or emergency medicine.

        In her free time, Kristin enjoys watching movies, having game night with friends, and traveling.

      • Preston Sycks, PharmD, (R11)
        Preston Sycks, PharmD, originally from Rochester, MN, earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Studies from the University of Kansas and subsequently his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2018. His current practice interests include pediatrics and critical care. He also enjoys teaching and is excited to complete a teaching certificate during his residency. After PGY-1, Preston hopes to combine his passions to pursue a PGY-2 in pediatrics with a focus in critical care. From there, he would like to use his knowledge and experiences to educate pharmacy students about pediatric care.

        In his free time, Preston enjoys volunteering in the community, spending quality time with his family and friends, playing disc golf, and watching KU basketball.

      • Past Residents

        2015-2016

        • R1: Ashley Mulvey
        • R2: Dylan Jones

        2016-2017

        • R3: Rida Abbasi
        • R4: Meghan Learned
        • R5: Sarah Seward

        2017-2018

        • R6: John Knebel
        • R7: Cassandra Leightner
        • R8: Mazen Samadi
    • CONTACT US
      For more information about the Pharmacy Residency Program at Ascension St. Francis Hospital, please contact:

      Mike Gillard, PharmD, BCPS
      Residency Program Director
      E-mail: Mike.Gillard@ascension.org

      Benjamin Scott, PharmD, BCPS
      Residency Program Coordinator
      E-mail: Benjamin.Scott@ascension.org