Program Overview

Expected outcomes of the residency include:

• Provision of pharmaceutical care in multiple environments
• Function as a contributing member of an inter-disciplinary health care team enhancing patient care.
• Education of patients and health care professionals
• Personal commitment to life-long learning, self-assessment and self-evaluation
• Commitment to advancing pharmaceutical care and the pharmacy profession
• Able to establish and manage their own pharmaceutical care practice

Statement of Purpose

Pharmacists completing this residency program will be competent and confident providers of pharmaceutical care in multiple environments. They will be both responsible and accountable for achieving the best possible drug therapy outcomes for patients as members of the inter-disciplinary healthcare team. They will be skillful educators of patients, healthcare professionals and the community on medication related topics. They will establish a personal philosophy of practice which includes a commitment to life long learning through the ongoing assessment and evaluation of their own performance. They will demonstrate leadership through advancing the practice and profession of pharmacy. Pharmacists completing this residency program will also be able to establish and manage their own pharmaceutical care practice.

Preceptors

Craig Osland, M.S., R.Ph., has served as director of Pharmaceutical Care Services at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa since October 1995. He is the Residency Program Director and serves as preceptor for the Leadership rotation. He was an Assistant Director of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Hospital and Pharmacy Supervisor at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, prior to returning to the Midwest. He received his B.S. in pharmacy from South Dakota State University and his combined M.S. degree with a two- year hospital pharmacy and administrative residency from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW Hospital and Clinics. He is an adjunct assistant professor and preceptor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Drake University College of Pharmacy. He is a member of the Trinity Health Pharmacy Council. He has served on various group-purchasing committees. His professional interests include organizational and pharmacy practice leadership, integration of pharmaceutical care and pharmacy services across the continuum of care, continuous quality/process improvements and customer service. Craig is a member of ASHP, IPA and North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc.

Dave Blaha, Pharm.D., is Manager of Acute Care Pharmacy Services at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa and has been with Mercy since 1999. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa, and completed a pharmacy practice residency with Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to moving into the manager role, Dave served as a clinical preceptor for the residency and for pharmacy students for many years. He currently serves as the preceptor for both the Acute Care and Medication Use rotations for the residency. His professional interests include cardiology, critical care, and infectious disease. Dave is also a member of ASHP, IPA, and is past-President of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc.

Tim Becker, R.Ph., is the manager of Mercy Family Pharmacies, which is comprised of Medical Arts Pharmacy in Spencer, Sheffield Pharmacy in Sheffield and Regency, Westside, Mercy Long Term Care and Forest Park Pharmacy all in Mason City. Forest Park is a community pharmacy that employs four pharmacists and is located near the Forest Park Clinics. Tim received his B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Iowa. He serves as an adjunct faculty for University of Iowa and as a preceptor for Pharm.D. clinical rotations for pharmaceutical care and for the residency program. Tim is certified by the Iowa Center for Pharmaceutical Care (ICPC), held a fellowship in the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Pharmacy Association and speaker of the House of Delegates. Tim has also received certification in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. His interests include traditional community pharmacy augmented with more in-depth disease state management as afforded by the ICPC model of pharmaceutical care. He is also very interested in geriatric pharmacotherapy, serving as a provider and/or consultant to over a dozen nursing homes and hospice.

Carol (Smestad) Anderson, R.Ph., Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Mercy Cancer Center and has been a member of the pharmacy staff since 1991. Carol’s responsibilities include outpatient clinical pharmacy services at the Cancer Center and inpatient clinical services in all decentral areas. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from North Dakota State University in 1986 and her Doctor of Pharmacy with honors from the University Of Iowa College Of Pharmacy in 2001. Carol is an adjunct instructor with both University of Iowa’s and Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and serves as one of the residency oncology preceptors. A member of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc., IPA and ASHP, her professional interests include oncology, cardiology, and infectious disease. She has twice served as President of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc, is currently serving on the IPA Health Systems Liaison Board, and has served as a Delegate to the IPA annual meeting for three years.

Angie Fouts, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist with Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa and serves as the preceptor for the Infectious Disease rotation. She earned her B.A. degree in Biology from Augustana College and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, SD and also serves as an adjunct assistant professor for the University Of Iowa College Of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include internal medicine and infectious disease.

Jill Leisure, Pharm. D., is the lead pharmacist of the Mercy Specialty Clinics, which includes out patient services for Anticoagulation and Medication Review. The Anticoagulation Clinic is an ambulatory clinic that serves approximately 400 patients in North Iowa. The Medication Review Clinic is a service with a goal to help decrease hospital readmissions by reconciling and educating patients on their medications. Jill received her B.S. in pharmacy from South Dakota State University in 1991, and then completed her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 2002. She has completed and Heart Failure Certificate Program from the University of Southern Indiana in November 2011. Her professional interests include anticoagulation, diabetes, and geriatrics.

Abbey Pitzenberger, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2006 and completed the pharmacy practice residency at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Abbey serves as adjunct assistant professor for the University of Iowa – College of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include internal medicine, behavioral medicine and infectious disease. Abbey is a member of IPA, ACCP, and North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc. 

Cathy Stroup, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2003 and completed the pharmacy practice residency at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Her professional interests include internal medicine, infectious disease, and anticoagulation. She is a member of ASHP, Iowa Pharmacy Association, and North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc.

John Swegle, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist on faculty at the Family Practice Residency Program at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. He is also an associate professor (clinical) for the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy. He received his B.S. degree in pharmacy from Drake University and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa. In addition, he has completed a pharmacy residency in Family Medicine from the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy and the University Of Iowa Department Of Family Medicine. His areas of interest include geriatrics, psychiatry and cardiology.

Michael Williams Jr., R.Ph., is a long-term care pharmacist with Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa since January 2008. The long-term care pharmacy provides consultation services for eight nursing homes in the area and prescription services for nine. Mike is a graduate of the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in 1996 and a member of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc. His professional interests include retail and long-term care pharmacy.

Kirk Eckhoff, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree form the University of Iowa in 2005 and completed a pharmacy practice residency at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kirk serves as adjunct assistant professor for the University of Iowa and Drake. His professional interests include Cardiology and Critical care.

Shana Brunsvold, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2007 and completed the pharmacy practice residency at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Shana serves as adjunct assistant professor for the University of Iowa – College of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include behavioral medicine and infectious disease. Shana is a member of IPA, ASHP, ACCP, and North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc.

Zach Law, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2010. Following graduation, he completed the pharmacy practice residency at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Zach currently serves as a rotation preceptor for South Dakota State University and the University of Iowa. His professional interests include critical care and internal medicine. Zach is also a member of IPA and ASHP. 

Curriculum

Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa
(PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency Program
(PDF Copy)

Project

The resident is required to complete one major project pertaining to a particular pharmacy topic or issue. A final report of this project must be prepared and formally presented.

External Professional Activities

The resident is required to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and participate in the Residency Showcase. The resident is encouraged to participate in the resident poster presentation at this same meeting.

Accreditation

The 12-month residency program is ASHP accredited for two positions.

Stipend/Benefit Information

The stipend for the 12-month residency is competitive.

The resident receives two weeks of paid vacation, plus approved holidays. The resident is eligible for the medical benefits listed on the fact sheet enclosed in the packet.

Application Materials

If you are interested in applying to the Residency Program, please apply through Phorcas (Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service) at www.ashp.org/phorcas. In addition to submitting an application, please include your Curriculum Vitae, academic transcripts,three letters of recommendation, and letter describing your desire to complete Residency training.

Contact

For additional information regarding the residency program contact either:

Craig Osland
Residency Program Director
Director of Pharmacy
Phone: 641-428-7605
Email: oslandc@mercyhealth.com

John Swegle
Assistant Professor-U of IA / Clinical Pharmacist-Family Medicine Center
Phone: 641-428-7182
Email: sweglej@mercyhealth.com