Pharmacy Residency leadership
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Jill Strykowski M.S., R.Ph.
Jill Strykowski is director of Pharmacy at Mercy Hospital and Unity Hospital. She obtained her B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin and her M.S. in Hospital Pharmacy (Experimental Pharmacotherapy) from the University of Minnesota. Her Master’s thesis was entitled, Implementation and Outcome Analysis of an Anticoagulation Clinic. She has lectured on anti-thrombotic topics and most recently published a book chapter on safe use of antithrombotics in the inpatient setting. Prior experience includes pharmaceutical research and drug development and the implementation of a large multi-disciplinary anticoagulation clinic. Most recent interests include Emergency Department Pharmacist practice, Geriatrics Team, Pharmacy Leadership, and Medication Therapy Management.
Jill is member of the Leadership Network Partners and has mentored many students through Practice Management and extended leadership focus. She currently serves on the Board of the Minnesota Pharmaceutical Association and the Minnesota Department of Human Services Drug Utilization Review Board. She is member of ASHP, MSHP and MCCP and is a clinical assistant professor at the University on Minnesota. Ms. Strykowski is a mentor to staff, student externs and residents, and has been nominated several times for Preceptor of the Year.
Mary Foss, Pharm D
Mary Foss is Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Unity Hospital and Pharmacy Residency Program Director for Mercy Hospital and Unity Hospital. She received both her B.S. and Pharmacy Doctorate degrees from the University of Minnesota. Mary is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy – Department of Experimental Clinical Pharmacology, and adjunct associate professor of Pharmacology – Course Director at St. Mary’s University College of Graduate Studies, School of Nurse Anesthesia..
Coordinating Preceptors
Heather Blue, PharmD, BCPS
Heather Blue earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy. Upon graduation she completed the ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency here at Mercy and Unity hospitals. Heather currently works in all areas of clinical pharmacy at Mercy, focusing her practice in the Emergency Department. She is the residency coordinator at Mercy and precepts pharmacy students on rotation. Heather also participates in the pharmacy mentor program at the University of Minnesota. In continuation of her residency project, she has established a Medication Therapy Management practice with Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institutes’ heart failure clinic. In 2010, she passed the BCPS exam to become Board Certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist. In 2011, she accepted a part-time position working as the consulting pharmacist for Allina’s Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO), focusing on improving care while decreasing costs for this geriatric population.
Jeralyn Furst, PharmD, BCPS
Jeralyn is a staff pharmacist at Mercy Hospital and a co-coordinator for the residency program at Mercy and Unity hospitals. She obtained her PharmD from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, she completed an ASHP accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Minnesota Medical Center – Fairview in Minneapolis, Minn. In her current position she works in all areas of the hospital, with a primary focus on the cardiology and intensive care units. She is a preceptor for students and residents for in a cardiology rotation. In 2010, Jeralyn passed the BCPS exam and to become Board Certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist.
Kim Glasoe, PharmD
Kim has been an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Mercy Hospital since the service began in 2007. She obtained a B.S. in Psychology from North Dakota State University, and her PharmD from the University of Minnesota in 2002. Kim recently helped establish a Collaborative Practice Agreement with Mercy Hospital’s emergency medicine physician group, EPPA, to manage discharged patients’ cultures and sensitivities for an antibiotic stewardship program. Kim also maintains ACLS and PALS certifications and is a PALS instructor for Allina Hospitals & Clinics.
Kelly Ruziska, PharmD
Kelly received her PharmD degree from North Dakota State University in 2006, and completed her pharmacy practice residency at Mercy and Unity hospitals in 2007. Currently, she works as a de-central pharmacist in the ICU and on cardiology, oncology and medical-surgical units. Kelly serves as resident preceptor for oncology, critical care and internal medicine rotations, and is the student coordinator and preceptor for college of pharmacy students on rotations. Her interest in teaching provided her an opportunity to become a clinical liaison to Allina Medical Clinics, where she educates INR nurses on anticoagulation. She also works as hospital coordinator for the Tech-Check-Tech program at Mercy. Her residency project provided the groundwork for Best Practice Alert for DVT prophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients Allina-wide.
Venessa McConkey PharmD, BCPS
Venessa is a staff pharmacist and residency coordinator at Unity Hospital. She earned her PharmD degree from Drake University in 2007 and completed an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at Mercy and Unity hospitals in 2008. In the fall of 2009, Venessa passed the BCPS exam to become Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy. She is a preceptor for the critical care and psychiatry/substance abuse residency rotations, as well as for APPE students.
Nicole Nelson PharmD, BCPS
Nicole Nelson earned her PharmD degree in 2005 from the University of Minnesota. From 2005-2006, she received specialized training as a Critical Care Pharmacy Resident at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn. In the fall of 2007, Nicole passed the BCPS exam and became board certified as pharmacotherapy specialist. Nicole is currently Clinical Pharmacist and Residency coordinator at Unity Hospital.
Additional preceptors
Angela Cortese, PharmD
Angela earned her PharmD degree from the University of Minnesota in 2007. She completed an internship at the Hennepin Regional Poison Center and stayed on as a Specialist in Poison Information until 2009. She is currently a staff pharmacist at Unity Hospital in the Emergency Department. Angela is a preceptor for the Emergency Medicine residency rotations with an emphasis in toxicology.
Brent Kosel PharmD
Brent Kosel is Pharmacy operations manager at Mercy Hospital. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from North Dakota State University in May of 1994. He completed a Master’s Residency in Hospital Pharmacy Administration at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI. Brent has prior experience as a Critical Care Specialist and Manager in various practice settings. His interests include Medication Safety, Automation, and Regulatory Compliance.
Brenda Nelson PharmD, BCPS
Brenda Nelson received her PharmD degree from the University of Minnesota and completed a one-year residency in critical care at Hennepin County Medical Center. She has worked as a clinical specialist in critical care, neurology, and solid organ transplant. She also served as the director of the Clinical Therapeutics Program at Hennepin County Medical Center from 2002 to 2004. In her current position, Brenda is the drug policy clinical coordinator for Allina Pharmacy Services, where she is responsible for coordinating all aspects of implementing of a system-wide medication formulary. Nelson has been a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist since 2001.
Dan Niznick PharmD
Dan is the Pharmacy operations manager at Unity Hospital. He obtained his PharmD from the University of Minnesota in 2005. In his current position he is responsible for the daily operations of the pharmacy, including management of drug purchasing and distribution, management of controlled substances, regulatory compliance, and other key areas. Besides operations duties, Dan focuses on pharmacy informatics and the use of data to improve operations and clinical outcomes. Dan has also assisted with the implementation of remote verification for two community hospitals.
Peter Nyhus, PharmD
Peter Nyhus received his PharmD degree from the University of Minnesota College. Following graduation he took a staff position at Mercy Hospital working in the Oncology, Med/Surg, ICU, Cardiology and OR areas. After working more than five years years in a staff role, Peter took a position as clinical manager for the pharmacy department. Peter has been a preceptor for college of pharmacy students as well as pharmacy practice residents. Current areas of interest include glycemic control and anticoagulation therapy.
