Residents

As reflect upon the completion of my PGY1 pharmacy residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, I am filled with satisfaction that comes from perseverance and true personal growth. Every residency program must strike a balance between providing their residents a steady supply of rigorous learning opportunities while simultaneously creating space for the routines that further mental and physical health. I think this program actively pursued the balance at both ends by tailoring individual rotations and projects to my interests, providing mentors to guide me as I expanded the frontier of my clinical expertise, and encouraging the incorporation of personal wellness strategies into my self-reflections.

I now transition to a new role as a clinical pharmacist at ThedaCare Medical Center-Neenah where I am confident that I will be a valuable addition to their team. Even more importantly, I am convinced that this last year has made me a more reliable advocate for patient safety.

My PGY1 experience at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences. This residency program offered me the opportunity to gain diverse rotational involvement while also being able to provide additional exposure to my areas of interest. During my time here the pharmacists displayed a true passion for teaching and cultivated an environment that was conducive to my growth. During a challenging residency year, I was always well-supported, which led to establishing great relationships. You know what they say: "Tough times never last, but tough people do" and that is something that represents the culture at Illinois Masonic.

I am grateful for the advanced training that this year provided and for having a supportive and synergistic resident class. Moving forward, I am confident that as I transition into the next chapter of my pharmacy career, Illinois Masonic has given me the skills, knowledge, and confidence to provide the best care for my future patients..

My residency experience at Illinois Masonic Medical Center provided me with the necessary challenges I was looking for in order to become an efficient clinical pharmacist. Throughout the residency year, I had the opportunity to learn directly from board-certified clinical pharmacists with years of experience and expertise. This program also allowed for flexibility to tailor my rotation track to my personal career goals by offering impactful core rotations and elective rotations.

Overall, my experience at Illinois Masonic Medical Center helped me to become confident in my clinical skills, ultimately allowing me to achieve my goal of obtaining an inpatient clinical pharmacist position within the Advocate Health System post-residency.

My PGY1 residency experience at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has been an invaluable and rewarding experience. The program incorporated a variety of rotations that were tailored to my interests such as infectious diseases and anticoagulation. Furthermore, it was a privilege to work alongside board-certified pharmacists who were devoted to developing my clinical knowledge and skills. This year has allowed me to become a confident and independent clinical pharmacist well-equipped to begin my pharmacy career.

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center’s residency program has challenged me in ways that has allowed me to grow as a pharmacist and as a person. My preceptors and program director were able to individualize my experience to maximize my learning and explore my interests. I am forever grateful for all the opportunities I was given during my residency. At the end of my residency, I was able to complete a rotation in oncology to prepare me as I transitioned into my position as a clinical pharmacist at Advocate Illinois Masonic. I am ecstatic that I have the opportunity to further grow as a clinician and continue to work with the amazing pharmacy staff at Illinois Masonic.

Illinois Masonic Medical Center was a great place to complete my post-graduate training. I felt very well-supported, both personally and professionally, throughout the entire year. I also greatly valued the opportunity to complete advanced rotations in both infectious disease and critical care, which provided experiences that helped me to advance my clinical skills and develop the confidence to become an effective clinical pharmacist. Through this program, I developed connections and friendships that will continue well beyond the residency year. I was certainly challenged in many ways this year, but I leave the program feeling well-prepared to move into a Clinical Pharmacist position at Advocate Trinity Hospital.

This past year has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I have ever had. Looking back, I realized how much I grew as a pharmacist and how much I had learned throughout the year (the learning never stops of course). The pharmacy preceptors did an amazing job incorporating us residents into everyday practice so that we got the most out of each project and rotation throughout the year. The various rotations and preceptor styles allowed me to develop my own practice that has set me up for success post-residency. Going through the year with 3 other residents was one of my favorite parts as we struggled and succeeded together, shared some good laughs, learned from one another, and grew to become good friends. I am extremely grateful I was able to complete a PGY1 residency at Illinois Masonic where I was able to improve myself as a person and clinical pharmacist needed to become successful for the rest of my career.

My residency year at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to work with highly trained and experienced clinical pharmacists and rotate through a variety of clinical fields. The residency program is designed in such a way to ensure your success as not only a resident but also as a future clinical pharmacist. The preceptors are incredibly supportive and always willing to share their wealth of knowledge. This program has provided me with an invaluable experience and has helped me become a well-rounded clinical pharmacist.

My PGY1 residency experience at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was undoubtedly rewarding and has built a strong and successful foundation for my journey as a clinical pharmacist. Being given the opportunity to train alongside a variety of innovative and intelligent board-certified pharmacists has been incredibly valuable towards my personal and professional growth and I feel well-prepared as I transition into my new role as a Clinical I Pharmacist at Illinois Masonic. This program is well-equipped for success, and I am confident that the connections I have made here are lifelong and will forever influence my practice.

Ever since my PGY1 interview with Illinois Masonic, I knew this program exemplified what I sought in my post-graduate training. From working alongside board certified preceptors to participating in a multi-disciplinary team within a multitude of various practice areas, I was well prepared to advance my training through a PGY2 program. I know that the connections I have made, the challenges I conquered, and the friendships I cultivated at Illinois Masonic will not only help me through the next year, but will permanently influence my future practice as a clinical pharmacist.

I was fortunate to have been able to complete my PGY-1 pharmacy residency experience at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. The residency year provided me with the opportunity to enhance my clinical knowledge, my personal relationships, and my time-management skills. The flexibility and the preceptors are what set the program apart from others. Jodi, the residency director, was able to coordinate each rotation to ensure that I would get experience in all my areas of interest, including developing a new pediatric rotation.

Each preceptor took the time to truly get to know me and develop rotation activities to advance my strengths and challenge my weaknesses. I am also thankful to have been surrounded by my co-residents who were an incredible support through every aspect of the year. This challenging yet rewarding residency experience has taught me countless skills that I will carry on throughout my career and I am lucky to have completed it at IMMC.

My PGY1 experience at Advocate Masonic was all that I had hoped it would be and more. The year challenged me to develop into a confident and independent clinical pharmacist well positioned to begin my pharmacy career. I believe that a core strength of the program was the practice environment. The entire pharmacy staff was like one big family, supportive of my learning while also encouraging me to be the best I can be. I am also thankful for being able to have worked alongside three incredible and supportive co-residents, Kyle, Kaitlin, and Dana who all made the year even more memorable.

To be sure, this program opened doors to me that would not have existed otherwise, including multiple job offers in my field of interest and the opportunity to remain within the Advocate system post-residency by practicing as a clinical pharmacist at Good Samaritan! Looking back, I could not imagine completing my residency anywhere else, and I will always remember this year fondly.

My PGY1 pharmacy practice residency experience at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center provided me with great opportunities to advance my career interests in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. The Residency Program Director was outstanding in making sure my PGY1 experience was tailored to obtain the full experience and utilize all resources available. Aside from great experiences in my specific interests, my PGY1 experience was more than what I thought it would be.

This program turned one of my non-interest fields of Infectious Diseases into one of my favorites and greatest experiences here. All the preceptors brought great challenges with all their qualified experience. The amount of dedication, care, and push from them all has allowed me to advance my education and knowledge with confidence as a clinical pharmacist. I will always remember this year of experience and be grateful.

The PGY1 pharmacy practice residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was the perfect balance of challenging yet rewarding experiences throughout the year. The program incorporated a variety of rotations that were tailored to my interests like oncology and infectious disease. Learning from board certified preceptors who are passionate about their area of interest while also providing a strong support system to the residents contributed to my development as a well-rounded clinical pharmacist.

Looking back at this past year, I am very thankful I was a part of a meaningful residency program and I am confident I will be successful as I take the next step into a PGY2 pharmacy residency in oncology!

Completing my PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has been a great experience. I am very thankful to have been surrounded by such talented pharmacists, physicians, nurses and fellow residents. Working with each one of these individuals have shown me the true determination to the practice of pharmacy and medicine. The hands-on-experience and skills I gained here will follow with me through the rest of my career. It is truly incredible to see the growth I have made in the past year and look forward to what the future holds!

This past year at Illinois Masonic has been extremely rewarding! The residency program challenged me like no other and allowed me to grow into a confident clinical pharmacist. A huge contributing factor to the success of this program are the highly qualified pharmacists who demonstrate innovative and compassionate practice daily. This residency allowed me to train in a variety of fields, including my passions of Emergency Medicine and Advanced Infectious Diseases.

I was also able to use my last rotation to include the Anticoagulation Clinic and NICU to help prepare me for my future role at Illinois Masonic, as I am staying on as a clinic pharmacist post-graduation! This program set the building blocks for me to thrive in my role as a pharmacist for years to come; and for that, I will always be grateful.

During my interview for the PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, it was clear to me that the program was equipped with dedicated and knowledgeable preceptors. Looking back, the year spent at AIMMC was challenging, rewarding, and helped shape me into a confident and competent clinical pharmacist. The variety of rotations that were offered provided me with learning experiences that I will use throughout my future career.

This program was able to accommodate my interests with my research project, seminar, and even went as far as implementing a new Cardiology rotation. These are the things that truly show how committed AIMMC is to their residents, and I will always be grateful for that.

The pharmacy residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has allowed me to practice confidently as a clinical pharmacist. One of the most valuable parts of being a resident at AIMMC were the preceptors and their commitment to helping me achieve my goals. Having a strong support system helped me become a better pharmacist. Furthermore, the Pharmacy Residency Director was able to tailor my rotations to accommodate my interests, allowing me to gain experience at Lutheran General Hospital by completing a pain management rotation.

I was able to tailor my rotations to my interests which created a well-rounded experience. After the completion of my residency year, I am confident I will be successful as I take the next steps in my career as a pharmacist.

The PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center provided various opportunities to learn and grow as a pharmacist. I gained experience in both the ambulatory care and inpatient hospital settings. I was able to foster my interest in oncology through advanced rotations and other directed projects, like my major research project and a drug monograph.

The most rewarding part of this year was working alongside extremely knowledgeable and dedicated preceptors who challenged me to further develop my clinical knowledge and critical thinking skills by allowing me to work independently and providing support when necessary. After completing this residency program, I feel confident to begin my practice as a clinical pharmacist.

The pharmacy residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has exposed me to a variety of different clinical pharmacy settings. The program has allowed me to become a more confident and well-rounded pharmacist. The greatest values of the program are within the amazing preceptors and physicians that you get to work with and learn from throughout the residency year. I am very thankful that I was able to receive extensive training at Illinois Masonic in which I was able to achieve my professional goals and become a more competent pharmacist.

The residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center helped me grow as a clinical pharmacist and as a professional. I have had the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of rotations, including Ambulatory Care, Emergency Medicine and Infectious Diseases, among others. The preceptors at AIMMC are incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to teaching and provided me with immense guidance throughout the year.

I have not only had the chance to build close relationships with the pharmacy staff here, but also have made close interdisciplinary relationships with the medical residents, nursing staff and even attending physicians. At AIMMC, I was always encouraged to think critically and make meaningful contributions to the department. After the completion of my residency year, I am confident I will be successful as I take the next steps in my career.

The PGY1 pharmacy practice residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center provided me endless opportunities to learn and grow as a pharmacist. Through the varied rotations offered, I was able to gain experience in both the ambulatory care and inpatient hospital settings which helped me discern my interest in critical care. The qualified and dedicated preceptors at AIMMC helped to further develop my critical thinking skills and clinical knowledge as they both challenged and supported me throughout the year.

Their commitment to the residency program and my success as a resident was evident as my year progressed. After completing this residency program, I feel prepared to begin my practice as a well-rounded clinical pharmacist.

I feel so blessed to have spent the last year at Illinois Masonic. I was able to learn from extremely knowledgeable and experienced clinical pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare providers. After completion of this residency program, I am able to confidently thrive in my new position as a clinical pharmacist in an infusion pharmacy in Atlanta. Using all the tools and resources provided during my residency year, I will continue to learn and expand my career goals. I am so grateful for the experience and opportunity to have been with such wonderful people at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

The residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center provided the tools and opportunities I needed to advance my career and further explore my interests. I worked very closely with the Residency Program Director to create my rotation schedule, which was tailored to meet my interest in emergency medicine. I learned an immense amount this past year and am very grateful for the learning opportunities this residency program has afforded me. With the support and guidance from all of the preceptors here, I was able to obtain a PGY-2 residency in emergency medicine.

The pharmacy residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has helped me to achieve my goal of becoming a well-rounded and competent pharmacist. I was able to work closely with the various medical teams and make interventions. I felt that I was able to make meaningful contributions to the institution during my residency year. Most importantly, I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with highly trained, Board Certified preceptors that were invested in my training as a pharmacy resident. My learning experiences and clinical knowledge that I have gained from this residency year has prepared me well to work as a clinical pharmacist.

My residency training at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (AIMMC) exceeded my expectations. I worked with amazing preceptors who pushed me to become a better pharmacist. They encouraged and supported my growth into a more experienced and independent clinician. The people that I have encountered during my time at AIMMC continue to inspire me through their dedication and enthusiasm for teaching. I’ve learned so much from everyone here and I’m thankful to have worked with so many skilled practitioners.

The Illinois Masonic residency program has helped me become well prepared to work as a clinical pharmacist in the hospital setting. I greatly appreciated the guidance I received from my preceptors, as well as the flexibility I was given to tailor my rotation schedule to meet my interests. I particularly enjoyed my infectious disease rotation, and was able to complete an advanced infectious disease rotation later in the year with a focus on HIV.

This allowed me to work more closely with patients both in the inpatient and the clinic setting. The program offers a variety of learning opportunities with inpatients, the ambulatory care setting and staffing requirement, and I believe it was all of these opportunities that allowed me to achieve my goal of obtaining a clinical pharmacist position by the end of my residency.

The residency program at Illinois Masonic has prepared me to become a confident clinical pharmacist in various practice areas, including inpatient and outpatient settings. After my residency, my pharmacist training has been significantly accelerated, which is a true testament to the level of high quality PGY-1 training at IMMC. One of the characteristics that drew me to this program was being able to learn from highly trained, Board Certified preceptors. In addition, my Residency Director and Residency Coordinator were able to tailor my rotations to accommodate my interests, allowing me to gain enough oncology experience to be able to staff confidently in the oncology clinic and on the oncology inpatient unit.

My year at Illinois Masonic provided me with the opportunity to gain clinical experience in a number of different areas from experienced preceptors. which has helped me become a well-rounded pharmacist. One of the most valuable parts of being a resident at Illinois Masonic were the preceptors and their commitment to helping me achieve my goals and become a better pharmacist.

During my residency year at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, I learned more about how to apply my clinical knowledge than all four years of pharmacy school. Thanks to all the wonderful residency trained preceptors, I was able to identify my clinical strengths and work towards my weaknesses. The highlight of my residency was working with the family practice and infectious diseases team. I was able to integrate into the team and contribute my recommendations about appropriate medication dosing and adequate treatment for chronic disease states.

There were so many opportunities presented to me during my residency year, including conducting a prospective research study, conducting a CE accredited seminar, and participating in the teaching certificate program. I enjoyed my residency year and I am well prepared for my clinical staff pharmacist position due to the extensive training I received at IMMC!

Upon completion of my residency year, I was able to practice confidently and independently as a clinical pharmacist. I was also able to obtain board certification at my earliest eligibility just a few months later. Both of these achievements speak greatly to the high quality of resident training at IMMC. The knowledgeable and experienced preceptors of IMMC’s pharmacy residency program guided me to become a well-rounded practitioner with a solid foundation in hospital pharmacy practice.

My residency at Illinois Masonic has definitely prepared me to work as a clinical/staff pharmacist in a large academic teaching hospital. Honestly, having the preceptors all residency trained (also trained at great sites!) with board certification helped me get A LOT out of the program, definitely more than I would have even thought. It was a great experience and has prepared me 10 fold for my current position and even future clinical coordinator or management positions too.