Apply by January 2, 2025. To qualify for our residency program, you must:

• Be a graduate of a Doctor of Pharmacy program from an ACPE-accredited school or college of pharmacy.
• Have legal working status in United States to cover your entire period of residency training. We are unable to sponsor visas for residents.
• Be eligible for pharmacist licensure in Illinois. Residents matched to our program must obtain Illinois pharmacist licensure before September 1.
• Hold an Illinois pharmacy technician license if you are not registered as a pharmacist in Illinois before the residency program start date.
• Register with PhORCAS and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Resident Matching Service.
• Complete your PhORCAS profile and submit all participation materials directly through the PhORCAS online portal. These materials include:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of intent
• Three letters of recommendation (You may use the Standard Reference Form in PhORCAS for recommendations. You do not need a separate letter.)
  • Reference letter writers should be preceptors, employers, professors or other professionals who can evaluate your skills and character.
  • At least one of the three letters should be from a preceptor from a patient-facing APPE rotation who can comment on your clinical skills.
• Pharmacy school transcripts
• An essay response to the supplemental question (below) in your application
  • Your response should be no longer than 500 words.
  • We will not review your application if you do not include your response.
  • The essay is separate from your cover letter. Upload it in the Supplemental Information section in PhORCAS.
  • The supplemental question: Describe your past, present, and future contributions to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in your professional career.

Virtual Information Sessions 2024

Join us at our upcoming postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) information sessions. They will feature a brief presentation to give a program overview, followed by a Q&A.

Open houses

• October 7, 7 – 8 pm CT
• October 30, 7 – 8 pm CT

Sign up for a session.

Showcase Attendance 2024

SNPhA x ACCP Residency Showcase (Virtual)

• 7 – 8 pm CT, November 12

ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana)

• 1 – 4 pm CT, December 9

Mission Statement

The PGY1 residency program builds on Doctor of Pharmacy education and outcomes to develop pharmacist practitioners with knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the educational competency areas, goals and objectives.

Residents who successfully complete PGY1 residency programs will be skilled in diverse patient care, practice management, leadership and education. They will be prepared to provide patient care, seek board certification in pharmacotherapy, and pursue advanced education and training opportunities, including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies.

Program Description

Our pharmacy residency program is committed to cultivating exceptional pharmacists through a comprehensive and innovative learning experience. We strive to provide a supportive and collaborative environment, fostering growth in clinical skills, research and leadership. We aim to empower our residents to become confident, patient-centered practitioners dedicated to advancing pharmaceutical care and improving patient outcomes.

The program is 12 months long, and orientation begins in mid-June.

The residency is based at the Northwestern Medicine Specialty Pharmacy of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago. This pharmacy is accredited by the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion among pharmacy residents. Our program believes that a residency class from a diverse set of backgrounds helps broaden perspectives, leads to creative problem solving, enriches our department and ultimately fosters excellent patient care.

We continually challenge ourselves to work toward a more equitable and inclusive program through our recruitment process, policies and interactions. Our program respects the dignity and worth of each resident, and we cultivate a culture where value is seen in everyone's unique differences.

Your residency experience will be tailored to your interests and goals.

Required rotations are:

• Orientation
• Administration and leadership
• Inflammatory diseases
  • Dermatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Rheumatology
• Hematology/oncology
• Quality, safety and accreditation
• Infectious diseases
• Neurology, allergy/asthma, cardiology (combined)
• Pharmacy practice
• Women’s health and reproductive medicine

Elective rotations are:

• Primary Care
• Transplant
• Population health
• Cardiology

• Research: Residents must complete an independent research or quality improvement project with mentorship from clinical pharmacists and support from the departmental research committee. Residents may choose any research project, define their own research question and work with the research advisor of their choice. We expect residents to present background and methods at the annual Vizient meeting, before the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Clinical Mid-Year Meeting. Results of clinical research projects will be presented at a resident-specific spring conference.
• Presentations: We expect PGY1 residents to present:
  • Two formal and two 20-minute research presentations during resident noon conference. They can choose any topic, including patient cases encountered during rotations, pharmacy hot topics and controversial grey areas of medical practice. Residents will get timely feedback from preceptors and the residency program director.
  • One hour-long continuing education presentation for pharmacists and/or technicians.
• Committee participation: Each resident will serve on a resident committee and the specialty pharmacy’s quality committee and clinical committee. They will have opportunities for more committee involvement that aligns with their interests.
• Precepting: Each resident will be involved in precepting pharmacy students during their learning experiences.
• Teaching certificate: All residents will participate in a teaching certificate program. They can present didactic lectures, if opportunities are available.
• On-call shifts: Residents will be on call throughout the year, including holidays, to support after-hour clinical questions and operational needs.
• Staffing: Each resident will staff one day per week rotating in the Specialty Pharmacy and Ambulatory Infusion Pharmacy.
• Longitudinal Clinic: Residents will spend time every other week in a longitudinal clinic.
• Business plan: Residents must develop a business plan for a new or enhanced pharmacy service.

Andrea Gómez, PharmD, BCACP
Director, Residency Program
andrea.prince@nm.org

Gómez is a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine Specialty Pharmacy. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, completing her PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY2 ambulatory care residency at CoxHealth. Gómez is certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties as a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist. She has worked at the Specialty Pharmacy since 2022 and practices in the neuro-oncology clinic. She enjoys watching sports, boxing and volunteering.

Nevena Dzinkic, PharmD
Coordinator, Residency Program
nevena.varagic@nm.org

Dzinkic is a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist at the Specialty Pharmacy. She completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Collage of Pharmacy at University of Illinois-Chicago. Dzinkic completed her post-graduate PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Loyola University Medical Center. She has been practicing professionally at Northwestern Medicine since fall 2021. In her spare time, Dzinkic enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, playing with her dog, trying out new restaurants in the city, and exercising.

Alexandra Edinger, PharmD
Coordinator, Residency Program
alexandra.edinger@nm.org

Edinger is a fertility and reproductive medicine clinical pharmacist at the Specialty Pharmacy. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Pharmacy. She went on to complete her PGY1 specialty pharmacy residency at the University of Illinois-Chicago and since has been at Northwestern Medicine. In her spare time, Alexandra enjoys Orange Theory, running, baking and reading.