Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy Residents and Fellows
Class of 2012-2013
Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy is pleased to introduce its pharmacy residents and fellow for 2012-2013. Feel free to email any of the following individuals with program specific questions simply by clicking on their name!
PGY-1 Pharmacy Residents
Dr. Becky Zaworski graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago-College of Pharmacy in May 2012. Before going to pharmacy school she completed at Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign. She is currently doing her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. Her interests include academia and working in ambulatory care clinics. She hasn't chosen an area of specialty yet, but is hoping she will figure out her interests this year on her rotations. She enjoys running and recently ran in the Warrior Dash with her sister and mother. She also likes working out, being outdoors and spending time with family and friends. She was recently engaged and is excited for planning her wedding in August 2013.
Dr. Nicole Wegrzyn is a PGY1 Pharmacy Resident with a focus in ambulatory care and a faculty appointment as a Visiting Instructor. Nicole considers herself a recent transplant to the city of Chicago, having just moved 1,000 miles from Boston, MA. She grew up near Hartford, CT and received her PharmD from Northeastern University in May of 2012. As a student pharmacist, Nicole held many leadership positions and played an active role in professional pharmacy organizations such as NCPA, ASP-APHA, and the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association. Nicole's clinical interests include chronic disease management, transition of care, patient education, and immunizations. Other related interests include using innovative technologies and advocating for pharmacist and patient rights at both state and national levels. Nicole aspires to be a clinical faculty member and would like to someday develop a mobile MTM service housed in an RV. Outside of work, Nicole is an avid hockey fan (can't wait for a Blackhawks vs. Bruins game!), a connoisseur of farmers' markets, and a do-it-yourself interior design enthusiast.
Dr. Lisa Mackowski is currently a PGY1 Pharmacy Resident at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. Her prior professional academic career began at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry, and she then pursued her PharmD at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Pharmacy, graduating Summa Cum Laude in May 2012. Lisa is open-minded about the different fields in ambulatory care as she begins her residency, and although she has yet to decide on a specialty, she is truly passionate about academia. She aspires to be a clinical faculty member at a college of pharmacy to foster professional development and to bring excitement to pharmacy students while they are learning about intricate pharmacotherapy topics. While Lisa enjoys her time as a pharmacist, she also has a commitment to the community by volunteering for charitable organizations such as Rebuilding Together and March of Dimes among others. In her spare time she loves spending time with friends and family, and with her recent engagement, the planning for an upcoming fall 2013 wedding makes everything more exciting! She also adds that if she could do anything in just one day, she would eat all the chocolate that is available in the world. (Just a heads up if you have chocolate sitting on your desk!)
PGY-1 Community Pharmacy Residents
Brittany Hoffmann, SuperValu, Inc.
Dr. Brittany Hoffmann graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy and Masters of Business Administration from Drake University in May of 2012. Prior to her professional studies, Brittany obtained her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Saint Francis in 2008. She is currently completing a PGY1 Community Pharmacy Residency Program with Jewel-Osco. Clinical areas of interest include headache management, medication therapy management, and diabetes care. Her personal interests include traveling to any new place, discovering new types of cuisine, and spending as much time as possible with her friends and family.
Courtney Ammons, SuperValu, Inc.
Dr. Courtney Ammons is a graduate of Hampton University located in Hampton, Virginia. She is currently one of the PGY1 community pharmacy residents with Jewel-Osco Pharmacy. As a result of the difficulties her grandmother had with her health, Courtney has garnered an interest in heart failure, diabetes and respiratory disorders. Courtney's has used what she learned in pharmacy school to provide her grandmother with information that has helped her be more proactive in managing her health. Just as Courtney has helped her grandmother, she seeks to help others through education and clinical services within the community setting. Although pharmacy is a serious profession, people would be surprised to know what a great sense of humor Courtney has. Her humor coupled with her bright personality connects her with many people of various walks of life.
Akanksha Dudeja, Dominick's Pharmacy
Dr. Akanksha Dudeja recently graduated with her PharmD from the University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Pharmacy. She started her pharmacy career as a participant in the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy's Career Explorers Program during the Summer of 2005 and then went on to pursue a degree in Pharmacy. The continually advancing and progressive nature of community pharmacy practice intrigued Akanksha, and she is now currently a PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident at Dominick's/Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. Her clinical interests include geriatrics, nutrition, and women's health. She would ultimately enjoy a career in direct patient care as well as academia. On a personal note, Akanksha loves to dance, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Residents
Sonia Nevrekar, PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Resident, Rush University Medical Center
Dr. Sonia Nevrekar received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2011 from Purdue University and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis. Sonia recently moved to Chicago to complete her PGY2 in Infectious Diseases at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy/Rush University Medical Center. Her practice interests include transplant and pediatric infectious diseases, as well as antimicrobial resistance and teaching. Ultimately, she hopes to obtain a faculty position at a college of pharmacy associated with an academic medical center which integrates teaching, clinical research, leadership, and patient care opportunities. In her free time, Sonia enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, exploring Chicago and planning a wedding!
Jim Rhodes, PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Resident, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Dr. Jim Rhodes received his PharmD at the University of Florida where he focused on substance abuse research. He completed his PGY1 residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is currently training as the Infectious Diseases PGY2 pharmacy resident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. His interests include outcomes based research and translational research. On a personal note, Jim enjoys movie-going, board-games, and spending time with his cat.
Infectious Diseaes Pharmacotherapy Fellow
Milena McLaughlin, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Dr. Milena McLaughlin graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in May 2009. After graduation she moved to Brooklyn, NY to complete her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Maimonides Medical Center. Throughout her residency, Dr. Griffith was drawn to the inherent complexities of constructing effective pharmacotherapeutic treatments for multi-drug resistant organisms. Dr. Griffith decided to pursue these interests and is currently the Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Fellow at Midwestern University with her practice site at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She also hopes to further develop her teaching and leadership skills and become involved with pharmacy organizations on a national level. Dr. McLaughlin's other areas of interest include HIV/AIDS pharmacotherapy and drug information.
PGY-2 Critical Care Residents
Mindy Joseph, PGY-2 Critical Care Resident, Rush University Medical Center
Dr. Mindy Joseph is one Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy's PGY2 Critical Care residents at Rush University Medical Center. Mindy began her educational career at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she enrolled as a Chemistry major. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. Mindy's initial interests were in the areas of critical care and infectious diseases, which has since been the same. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. Her experience at Stroger Hospital allowed her to rotate through various critical care units, which strengthened her desire to specialize in critical care. Outside of her pharmaceutical career, Mindy enjoys being outdoors. She likes to participate in various activities such as going to the beach, playing volleyball, grilling, biking and running. She plans to complete the half marathon in September and then the full marathon within the next two years. She has gone skydiving, white water rafting, climbed a water fall, swam with dolphins, ziplined and parasailed. In the future, she hopes to travel to various parts of the world, hike in the Himalayas, learn to scuba dive and go on a safari.
Olabisi Falana, PGY-2 Critical Care Resident, Rush University Medical Center
Dr. Olabisi Falana is originally from Lagos, Nigeria. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011 and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) in Chicago. She is currently completing a PGY2 residency in critical care at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy/RUMC. Following the completion of her PGY2 residency program, Dr. Falana plans to pursue a position as a critical care clinical specialist at an academic teaching institution where she will have the capacity to provide evidence-based patient care in addition to utilizing and developing her leadership and stewardship abilities as a preceptor to students and residents. Her current practice interests include neurocritical care, cardiology, international pharmacy practice and public health. Ultimately, she aspires to hold a faculty position at a college of pharmacy. When not working, Bisi (as she prefers to be called) loves to read and travel abroad. In the past year, she has traveled to Nigeria, Bermuda and Toronto, and looks forward to future travels. Bisi is grateful for the relentless support from her family, friends, and mentors throughout her educational endeavors.
Elizabeth Short, PGY-2 Critical Care Resident, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Dr. Elizabeth Short is originally from southwest Michigan and obtained a bachelor's degree in biology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. She graduated from Creighton University School of Pharmacy in Omaha with her Doctor of Pharmacy and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Her areas of interest are critical care and toxicology. She would like to practice at an academic medical center and participate in clinical research. She enjoys spending time with her family and retreating to the outdoors of Northern Michigan.
Ryan Van Engel, PGY-2 Critical Care Resident, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Dr. Ryan Van Engel received his PharmD from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2011. He completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, IA. He is currently a PGY2 critical care pharmacy resident through Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and his interests within critical care include cardiac and surgical intensive care. After he is done with this year of residency, he hopes to find a critical care position at a large tertiary academic medical center that is affiliated with a college of pharmacy. His outside of work interests include all sports and outdoor activities along with spending time with his family and friends.
