Director of Pharmacy - Neil Schmidt, M.A., R.Ph., FASHP
As Director of Pharmacy Services at SSM St. Mary's Health Center, I want to welcome you to this site devoted to our residency program.  I am pleased to sponsor a program that has become a great asset to SSM St. Mary's Health Center and to our patients.  The residency program was started in 2001 to lift the level of pharmacy practice in our department equal to the needs of a community based teaching hospital.  The program was also intended as a "grow your own" program to meet the needs of the department in the face of an expanding pharmacist shortage.  Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would hire seven of our first eleven residents completing our program.

Clinical Coordinator - McKenzie Ferguson, Pharm.D.
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Program Preceptors
Each resident receives individualized instruction from a group of dedicated preceptors representing diverse interests.

Neil Schmidt, MA, RPh, FASHP
SSM South Operating Group
Director, Pharmacy Services
B.S. Pharmacy: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
MA Healthcare Administration: Webster University, St. Louis, MO
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Administration: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Preceptor: Pharmacy Administration

McKenzie Ferguson, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: St. Mary's Health Center, St. Louis, MO
Preceptor: Drug Information and Clinical Management

Dawn Brendle, RPh
Team Leader, Interim
B.S. Pharmacy: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Preceptor: Pharmacy Administration

Laurie Niewoehner, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
PharmD: University of Minnesota
Specialty Residency in Pediatrics: Children’s Mercy Hospital and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy
Preceptor: Neonatology and Women’s Health

Kirk Yount, PharmD
Pharmacy Information Coordinator
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, MO
Preceptor: Pharmacy Administration

Kevin McCree, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, MO
Preceptor: Critical Care

Davina Dell-Steinbeck, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
PharmD: University of Kansas
Pharmacy Practice Residency: St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, MO
Preceptor: Internal Medicine

Heather Kohlhaas, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Preceptor: Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine

Shared Faculty Positions
Cassandra Maynard, PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville - School of Pharmacy
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, MO
Preceptor: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

Abigail Yancey, PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, St. Mary’s Health Center
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Specialty Residency in Internal Medicine: Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH
Preceptor: Internal Medicine

Alicia Forinash, PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, St. Mary’s Health Center
PharmD: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice Residency: Family Medicine of St. Louis, Forrest Park Hospital
Preceptor: Internal Medicine

Current Residents
Megan Bergstrom, PharmD
Education
Doctorate of Pharmacy, Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Science; Des Moines, IA

Why I chose St. Mary's
I chose Saint Mary’s because of the overwhelming feeling that I belonged here when I walked in the doors. Not only was the pharmacy staff welcoming, the entire hospital made me feel as if I was “at home”. The staff was extremely enthusiastic about the resident positions and stressed how flexible the program is. I came from a background with interests in multiple areas of pharmacy. This program assured me that I would have a versatile year in every interest area I had among supportive preceptors and coworkers.

My Favorite Rotation
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my rotations thus far. Internal medicine was a great introduction to hospital pharmacy for me; I was able to see multiple disease states and work collaboratively with a medical team to deliver the best patient care possible. Critical Care was extremely challenging and a truly great experience. I learned something new everyday and was able to make recommendations to our medical team on a daily basis.

After Residency
I look forward to working as a clinical pharmacist in either a hospital or clinic setting. Among my goals are BCPS certification and becoming more involved in local and national pharmacy organizations.

Rachel Tanner, PharmD
Education
Pharm.D. from Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Science; Indianapolis, IN

Why I chose St. Mary's
One of the major reasons why I chose St. Mary’s was because I felt an instant connection with the pharmacy staff.  During the interview process everyone was incredibly welcoming and made me feel like I was already a part of their team.  I was also impressed with what the residency rotation schedule had to offer me.  The rotations that were included in the residency program at St. Mary’s incorporated almost all of my interests, and the program gave the opportunity to be very flexible throughout the year.

My Favorite Rotation
I have enjoyed all of my rotations so far this year.  I am really looking forward to critical care and cardiology. 

After Residency
My goals after residency include working in a clinical position in a teaching hospital and obtaining BCPS certification in the near future.