The PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital prepares residents for a successful pharmacy career through rigorous training, hands-on clinical experience and a diverse, supportive teaching environment.
The ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital offers a 12-month comprehensive training experience in a community, teaching, 340B-designated hospital. With four resident positions annually, our program develops acute care clinical pharmacists who are well-prepared for board certification or PGY2 training.
Our program features:
- Individualized mentorship and a multidisciplinary learning environment
- Diverse patient population from Chicago’s north and northwest sides
- Advanced learning experiences in critical care, infectious disease, ambulatory care and more
- Teaching certificate opportunity through Rosalind Franklin University
- Magnet Recognized Hospital and Primary Stroke Center Accreditation
Program structure & curriculum
- Orientation (4): ACLS, Epic, Pyxis, IV Room, Protocols, Staffing
- Administration (4)
- Ambulatory Care (Anticoagulation Clinic) + Transitions of Care (10 each; concurrent)
- Cardiology (5)
- Critical Care (6)
- Emergency Medicine (5)
- Infectious Disease (5)
- Internal Medicine (6)
- Drug Information & Policy Development (48)
- Patient Care Service / Staffing (48): One evening/week + every other weekend
- Residency Project (52): includes 3-week dedicated project time
- Advanced Ambulatory Care
- Advanced Critical Care
- Advanced Emergency Medicine
- Advanced Infectious Disease
- Geriatrics
- Nutrition
- Pain Management
- Psychiatry
- Teaching Certificate through Rosalind Franklin (48 weeks)
- Medical education
- Meds to Beds counseling
- Nursing in-services
- Residency Grand Rounds
- APPE student precepting
- Residency Practice Management meetings
- Anticoagulation counseling
Who can apply:
Graduates of an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy degree program
Requirements:
- Eligibility for pharmacist licensure in Illinois (board exams recommended before residency start)
- Participation in the Residency Matching Program (NMS Code: 206413)
Application deadline: January 2, 2026
Start date: June 29, 2026
Submit via PHORCAS:
- Letter of Intent (professional goals and interest in PGY1 residency)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation (PhORCAS forms)
- Official pharmacy school transcript
Estimated stipend: $50,000
Time off: 22 PTO days
Licensure deadline: Illinois pharmacist license expected by September 1
Swedish Hospital is a 289-bed community teaching hospital located in Chicago and part of a 9-hospital system. On-site location includes:
- Inpatient units staffed by decentralized clinical pharmacists
- Outpatient pharmacy services (Meds to Bed) and infusion clinics
- Thrombosis and Anticoagulation (TAU) Clinic
- Integrated Epic EMR system
We serve a multicultural, multilingual population with extensive use of interpreter services in direct patient care.
Specialty services available on-site include:
- Emergency services
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Cancer care and infusion
- Geriatric medicine
- Obstetrics and women’s health
- Inpatient rehabilitation
- Paula Bielnicka, PharmD, BCPS – Residency Program Director
- Rita Connelly, PharmD, BCPS – Clinical Pharmacist
- Detelin Dyakov, PharmD, BCPS – Clinical Pharmacist
- Eva Galka, PharmD, BCCCP – Pharmacy Manager
- Alicia Juska, PharmD, BCPS – Director of Pharmacy
- Connie Ku, PharmD, BCPS – Operations Manager
- Darya Lough, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP – Clinical Pharmacist
- Megan Newton, PharmD, BCPS – Clinical Pharmacist
- Annie Nono, MS, PharmD, BCPS – Clinical Pharmacist
- Lionel Sielatchom Noubissie, PharmD, BCIDP – Antimicrobial Stewardship Coordinator
- Justin Viloria, PharmD, MBA – Clinical Pharmacist
- Kwang Yoon, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP – Clinical Pharmacist
Life as a resident
From competitive benefits and built-in wellness resources to a collaborative culture and tech-forward clinical systems, our PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program is designed to support residents both personally and professionally.
Residents receive an annual stipend of approximately $50,000 and are eligible for full-time employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage.
Residents train in modern inpatient and outpatient pharmacy settings supported by EPIC EMR, Pyxis technology and centralized sterile compounding facilities. Additional resources include a pharmacy residency office space with individual PC's, desks, and ergonomic chairs to support a comfortable and productive work environment.
The program offers protected time for conferences, Grand Rounds and interdisciplinary learning. Residents may pursue a teaching certificate through Rosalind Franklin and are supported in attending the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting or other professional conferences.
Residents are provided with 22 days of paid time off, observe six national holidays, receive one compensation day per week, assigned a residency mentor, and attend monthly sessions focused on mental health and wellness. They also receive a discounted gym membership to the Galter Life Center, Chicago’s only certified medical fitness facility. Year-round wellbeing is further supported through access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
Paula Bielnicka, PharmD, BCPS
PGY-1 Residency Program Director
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist
(773) 878-8200 x4726
paula.bielnicka [at] endeavorhealth.org (paula[dot]bielnicka[at]endeavorhealth[dot]org)
Swedish Hospital
5145 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
