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

 

Required
Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) – L Specialty-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
Pain Management (Pain) - R
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
Antimicrobial Stewardship (ASP) - R
Community Living Center (CLC) - R
Compounded Sterile Preparation (CSP) - R
Oncology (Onc) - R

 

R = rotational; L = longitudinal

See  learning schedule and an example schedule in the Resources section.  Elective experiences are customized based on residents’ interests and future plans. Experiences may vary from the examples listed above and may also include an extension of a required learning experience.

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.

Joe Berendse, Pharm.D., 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 Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice for South Dakota State University. He precepts the Residency Project, Specialty-PACT, and Teaching Certificate rotations. He also serves as a member of the Residency Advisory Committee.

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. 

Ashley Hyde, Pharm.D., BCPS

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., CACP

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 and assists with the Anticoagulation rotation.

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, and Antimicrobial Stewardship rotations, and he also helps with the  Teaching Certificate 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 inpatient, internal medicine, oncology, and pharmacogenomics.  She precepts the Oncology elective rotation, and will be establishing a Pharmacogenomics elective 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 and assists with the Anticoagulation 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.

Grant Strain, Pharm.D.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist        
Dr. Strain received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2017. Shortly after graduation, he started working at the VA Black Hills Health Care System. He works primarily in the areas of outpatient, anticoagulation, inpatient, and internal medicine. He precepts the Practice Coverage rotation.

Birgen Berg, Pharm.D.

Dr. Berg is originally from Bismarck, ND. She attended pharmacy school at North Dakota State University and graduated in 2023. Her current pharmacy practice interests include ambulatory care, diabetes management and anticoagulation. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing board games, hiking, and winter sports.

Jacob Heezen, Pharm.D.

Dr. Heezen is originally from Miller, SD. He attended pharmacy school at South Dakota State University and graduated in 2023. His primary practice interests include ambulatory care, infectious disease, mental health, and chronic disease state management. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching movies and sports.

Sydney White, Pharm.D.

Dr. White is originally from Augusta, GA. She attended the University of Georgia for pharmacy school (Go Dawgs!) and graduated in 2023. Her current practice interest areas include geriatrics, pain management, and transitions of care. She enjoys watching football, spending time with family, finding the best coffee shops, and roaming thrift stores.

Salary and Benefits

Residents will receive an annual stipend of $47,937, 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 for rent. 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 2-3 minor holidays per year. With practice coverage, residents work with inpatient, 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.