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Pharmacy Residency (VA - Fort Meade, SD - VA Black Hills Health Care System)

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PGY-1 pharmacy residency program builds on a Pharm.D. education to the development of pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of Veterans.
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The VA Black Hills PGY-1 pharmacy residency program builds on a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education to contribute to the development of skilled clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of Veterans with a wide variety of health conditions. Our residents graduate from the program eligible for board certification and PGY-2 pharmacy residency training.
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Program Description

The VA Black Hills PGY-1 pharmacy residency trains pharmacy residents in the setting of a large, rural VA health care system. The VA Black Hills Health Care System serves over 20,000 Veterans across two main Medical Center facilities (Fort Meade and Hot Springs) and several Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Our health care system is located in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota.

While both inpatient and outpatient learning experiences are required, resident involvement in the ambulatory care setting is robust. This includes participation in established medication therapy management (MTM) clinics such as: anticoagulation, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, tobacco cessation, COPD, and hepatitis C. Residents also have required learning experiences in long-term care (Community Living Center), home based primary care, inpatient clinical pharmacy, and internal medicine. Most of our learning experiences are longitudinal, allowing residents to maintain their clinical skills in these different practice areas throughout the year.

Residents also participate in a longitudinal professional development rotation designed to enhance leadership ability and emotional intelligence. An elective teaching certificate program is available which equips residents to pursue a position in an academic setting. Our site has numerous academic affiliations, including the South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions. Feedback from both residents and preceptors is highly valued and used to customize each resident’s experience.

VA Black Hills Pharmacy Preceptors
Program Rotations & Example Schedule

Direct Patient Care

Required
Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) - L
Anticoagulation (AC) - L
Community Living Center (CLC) - L
Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) - L
Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy (ICP) - R
Internal Medicine (IM) - R

Non-Direct Patient Care

Required
Orientation (Orient) - R
Practice Management (PM) - R
Residency Project (Proj) - L
Medication Use Process (MUP) - L
Professional Development (PD) - L
Practice Coverage (PC) - L

Elective

Teaching Certificate (TC) - L
Pain Management (Pain) - R
Academia (Acd) – R

Antimicrobial Stewardship (ASP) - R


R = rotational; L = longitudinal

See  learning schedule and an example schedule in the Resources section.

Application Process

Applicants interested in the VA Black Hills PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency are required to submit applications to the ASHP PhORCAS portal (https://portal.phorcas.org) by January 10th. Our program NMS code number is: 137921.

The following materials are required:
  • Letter of intent
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Official copy of college transcripts
  • Three references (via PhORCAS reference request)
Additional requirements:
  • Pharm.D. from an accredited College of Pharmacy
  • U.S. citizenship
  • Ability to participate in an on-site interview (if selected)
  • Candidates will be notified of interview status no later than February 15th.
Program Preceptors

Joe Berendse, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP

Clinical Pharmacy Faculty
Dr. Berendse received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2015. He completed both his PGY-1 pharmacy residency and PGY-2 ambulatory care residency at the Boise VA Medical Center in Boise, ID. He is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice for South Dakota State University. He precepts the Residency Project, Pain Management, and Academia rotations. He also serves as a member of the Residency Advisory Committee.

Wendy Brink, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Dr. Brink attended pharmacy school at South Dakota State University and graduated in 1999, after which she began her career with the VA Black Hills Health Care System. Dr. Brink precepts residents on the Community Living Center (CLC) rotation.

Amy Doten, Pharm.D.

Chief of Pharmacy
Dr. Doten received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The University of New Mexico in 2002. She completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at HealthPartners in Minneapolis, MN. She precepts the Practice Management rotation and serves as a member of the Residency Advisory Committee.

Anna Delzer, Pharm.D., BCACP

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Dr. Delzer attended pharmacy school at South Dakota State University and graduated in 2014. She completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the VA Black Hills Health Care System. She precepts residents on the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) rotation.

Emily Ertz, Pharm.D., BCACP

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Dr. Ertz received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The University of Minnesota in 2015. She completed her rural health/ambulatory care PGY-1 residency at the Minneapolis VA Health Care system. Dr. Ertz precepts residents on the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) rotation as well as assisting in the Anticoagulation rotation. 

Ashley Hyde, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Dr. Hyde received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from South Dakota State University in 2016. She completed her PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the VA Black Hills Health Care System, and now precepts the Anticoagulation rotation for the residency program. 

Harrison Johnson, Pharm.D., MHA

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Dr. Johnson received his Doctor of Pharmacy & Masters of Healthcare Administration degrees from the University of Wyoming in 2019. He completed his PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the VA Black Hills Health Care System. He currently works as the Pain Management, Opioid Safety and PDMP (PMOP) coordinator for the facility. He precepts the Pain Management rotation.

Cole Kling, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist        
Dr. Kling received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2010, after which he began his career with the VA Black Hills Health Care System. He works primarily in the areas of internal medicine, anticoagulation, and geriatrics. He precepts the Practice Coverage and Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy rotations.

Sarah Kling, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist        
Dr. Kling received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2015. She then completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System in Sioux Falls, SD. Dr. Kling precepts the Anticoagulation rotation.

Maggie Kruschel, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Dr. Kruschel received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2015. She completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System—Lincoln Division. She works as a clinical pharmacist for the Home-Based Primary Care team and precepts the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) rotation.

Mike Lemon, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Faculty
Dr. Lemon received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas in 1994. He completed his PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the VA Medical Center in Little Rock, AK. He is a Professor of Pharmacy Practice for South Dakota State University. He works primarily in the areas of inpatient care and antimicrobial stewardship. Dr. Lemon precepts the Internal Medicine, Teaching Certificate, and Antimicrobial Stewardship rotations, and he also helps with the Residency Project requirements.

Jessica Mitchell, Pharm.D.

Residency Program Director / Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Dr. Mitchell graduated from the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy in 2008. She then completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the VA Black Hills Health Care System (as the program's first resident). She works as the Residency Program Director, precepts the Orientation and Medication Use Process rotations, and serves as a member of the Residency Advisory Committee.

Lisa Narveson, Pharm.D., BCOP

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Dr. Narveson received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from North Dakota State University in 2003.  She completed her PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND and her PGY-2 oncology residency at University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas.  She was an assistant professor teaching Neoplastic Diseases at NDSU and clinical oncology pharmacist at Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo prior to coming to VA Black Hills Health Care System. She works primarily in the areas of outpatient, inpatient, internal medicine, and oncology.  She precepts the Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy rotation.

Ryan Rubbelke, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist        
Dr. Rubbelke received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2008, after which he started working at the VA Black Hills Health Care System. He works primarily in the area of outpatient medication management. He precepts the Practice Coverage rotation.

Krista Sarvis, Pharm.D., BCPS

Associate Chief of Pharmacy
Dr. Sarvis received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2007. She completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency with the University of Wyoming and the Community Health Center of Central Wyoming in Casper, WY. Dr. Sarvis has worked at the VA Black Hills Health Care System since 2009. She currently precepts the Residency Project rotation and serves as a member of the Residency Advisory Committee.

Current Residents

Nathan Graves, Pharm.D.

Dr. Graves is originally from Jefferson, IA. He attended pharmacy school at South Dakota State University and graduated in 2022. His primary practice interests include ambulatory care, pharmacogenomics, infectious disease and respiratory medicine. Outside of work, he enjoys riding motorcycle, disc golf, finding the best local restaurants (especially Chinese food!), and playing video and board games with friends.

 

Kaitlin Metcalfe, Pharm.D.

Dr. Metcalfe is originally from Minneota, MN. She attended pharmacy school at South Dakota State University and graduated in 2016. Her current pharmacy practice interests include ambulatory care and chronic disease state management. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, weekends at the lake, and going on adventures with her 3-year-old son.

 

Olivia Sharp, Pharm.D.

Dr. Sharp is originally from Omaha, NE. She attended pharmacy school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and graduated in 2022. Her current pharmacy practice interests include ambulatory care, mental health, and geriatrics. She enjoys camping, hiking, making candles, and spending time with her cats.

Benefits & Practice Coverage

Salary and Benefits

Residents will receive an annual stipend of $41,742, which includes salary plus health and life insurance. Fringe benefits include 13 days of paid leave, 13 days of paid sick leave, & 7-11 paid holidays. On-site housing may be available at a reduced rate. Furthermore, financial support to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Midwest Pharmacy Residents Conference, and South Dakota Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SDSHP) Annual Meeting are provided.

Practice Coverage

Each resident will be assigned to cover the service longitudinally as appropriate after completing a three-week concentrated learning experience. The purpose of working as a pharmacist is to gain experience and improve skills in the medication use process.

Typically, residents will rotate coverage every third weekend in addition to 1-2 work days per month. Residents are also expected to work 2 minor holidays per year. With practice coverage, residents work with the unit dose, IV admixture, and outpatient pharmacy systems. A pharmacist will always be available to assist the resident with any questions that arise during practice coverage. Residents may be eligible for dual appointment.  

Resources

Please submit questions to:

Jessica Mitchell, Pharm.D.
VA BHHCS Pharmacy
113 Comanche Rd
Fort Meade, SD 57741
Phone: 1-800-743-1070 ext. 17060
EmailJessica.Mitchell12@va.gov