2026-2027
Pharmacy Residents
PGY2 Pharmacy Residents
Cardiology
Samantha Ritter, PharmD, MHI
Hometown: Tinley Park, IL
Pharmacy School: University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
PGY1: Loyola University Medical Center
Professional Interests: MCS, Heart Failure
Hobbies: Snowboarding, volleyball, reading
PGY2 Research: Colchicine Monotherapy for First Occurrence Pericarditis
PGY1 Research: Incidence of AE's of SGLT2i Use in HF Patients with Poorly Controlled T2DM
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: walk/run the lakefront, attend concerts/festivals, try new coffee shops
Why UCM?: I chose UCM for the amazing preceptors and supportive culture!! I also knew I would have the best opportunities to learn at UCM with the cutting edge CV medicine and surgery.
Critical Care
Jen Wong, PharmD
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Pharmacy School: University of the Pacific
PGY1: John Muir Health
Professional Interests: Neurocritical Care, Medical ICU, Emergency Response
Hobbies: working out, trying new food spots, pilates/lagree, making mixed playlists on spotify.
PGY2 Research: Evaluation of a CRRT-Specific Cefepime Dosing Guideline on Clinical and Microbiologic Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients
PGY1 Research: Safety of Undiluted IV Push Compared to Diluted IV Piggyback Valproate Administration
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Watching the Navy Pier fireworks from my apartment, getting Molly Tea, Shedd Aquarium
Why UCM?: I chose UCMC because it's a leader in advanced medicine with a community that genuinely values mentorship. Being in an environment that handles complex patient care while encouraging you to ask questions and keep growing was exactly what I was looking for.
Emergency Medicine
Isaiah Hicks, PharmD
Hometown: McKenney, VA
Pharmacy School: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
PGY1: University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC)
Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases
Hobbies: Writing, reading, gaming, working out, hiking
PGY2 Research: Octreotide for Persistent Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
PGY1 Research: Impact of Docusate De-implementation on Invasive Laxative Use in Patients with Thoracic Trauma
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: The Poetry Foundation & the Art Institute of Chicago
Why UCM?: Clear dedication to delivering the best possible patient care and promoting diversity in healthcare
Emergency Medicine
Francisco Damacio, PharmD
Hometown: Fallbrook, CA
Pharmacy School: UC Irvine School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
PGY1: University of Michigan Health
Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine/ Toxocology
Hobbies: Making coffee, hiking, camping
PGY2 Research: Intramuscular Droperidol with Lorazepam Compared to Intramuscular Droperidol with Midazolam for Acute Agitation in the Emergency Department
PGY1 Research: Risk Factors to Predict Severe Refeeding Syndrome in Non-ICU Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Trying new restaurants!
Why UCM?: I chose UCM due to the ample learning opportunities available and dedicated preceptors.
Infectious Diseases
Konnor Battle, PharmD
Hometown: Jayess, MS
Pharmacy School: University of Mississippi
PGY1: St. Dominic Hospital
Professional Interests: Antimicrobial Stewardship; ID Consultation Services
Hobbies: Audiobooks, Cooking, Walking (not running), and being a professional doomscroller
PGY2 Research: Impact of BCID Implementation on Streptococcal and Enterococcal Bloodstream Infection Management
PGY1 Research: Clinical Management and Outcomes in Patients with Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. in Lone Blood Culture Sets
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: All the farmer's markets !!
Why UCM?: I chose UCM because of its prestige as an innovative and prestigious medical center, as well as the dedication of the residency preceptors in creating a learning environment that fostered professional growth and learning styles that best suited me. I am so thankful that I pursued a residency at UCM with its collaborative environment and dedication to excellent patient care.
Informatics
Mitchell Rotenberry, PharmD
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Pharmacy School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
PGY1: Baptist Health Medical Center - Little Rock
Professional Interests: Informatics!
Hobbies: Video games, my cats, travel
PGY2 Research: Implementation of a Health System Integrated Pharmacy Dispensing Software for Investigational Drug Services (IDS)
PGY1 Research: Comparison of Early vs Late Steroid Initiation and its Impact on Septic Shock Patients
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Lakeshore biking
Why UCM?: UCM is a large hospital system which includes research. They strive to push for innovation and education. They provide many different experiences that will continue to help me grow and learn.
Hematology and Oncology
My Patterson, PharmD
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Pharmacy School: UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy
PGY1: Loyola University Medical Center
Professional Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Hobbies: Watching reality TV shows
PGY2 Research: Primary Prophylaxis with Flat Dosing of IVIG For Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Receiving CAR-T and Bispecific T-cell Engager Therapy
PGY1 Research: Efficacy and Cost Analysis of Adding Plerixafor to A Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Mobilization Protocol for Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Favorite restaurant in Chicago so far: Crying Tiger
Why UCM?: I chose UCM for my PGY2 residency because of its wide variety of rotations and the program’s thoughtful structure, which allows me to build a deeper understanding of each disease state in oncology. From the beginning, the preceptors made me feel welcomed and showed me that I would be a part of the team while learning and working alongside them. I was also drawn to the opportunity to care for UCM’s diverse and complex patient population.
Phoenix Yeung, PharmD
Hometown: Hong Kong and Chicago
Pharmacy School: UIC at Chicago
PGY1: Endeavor Health NorthShore at Evanston
Professional Interests: Oncology (not sure solid or heme yet but that's why I am here!)
Hobbies: Snuggling with my silly pug (Dexter) and watching Netflix shows (I am currently watching LIB UK S3!)
PGY2 Research: Post CAR-T Revaccination and Seroprotection Patterns: Evaluation of a Titer-Guided Vaccination Protocol
PGY1 Research: The Impact of Nebulized Albuterol in Hyperkalemia
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Sunrise at the beach!
Why UCM?: I chose UCM because I feel supported by the faculty. I also appreciate the 50/50 split between heme/solid and inpatient/outpatient, which provides valuable exposure before I decide which specific field I want to pursue. Additionally, I like that the program incorporates staffing into the curriculum, as I believe this is essential for helping young professionals build independence and develop their professional identity.
Pediatrics
Lauren Komberec, PharmD
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Pharmacy School: University of Wisconsin - Madison
PGY1: Loyola University Medical Center
Professional Interests: Pediatrics
Hobbies: Traveling, trying new restaurants
PGY2 Research: Post-Discharge Dexamethasone in Acute Asthma and Associations with Return Visits and Prescribing Practices
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Going on walks on the Lakeshore Path
Why UCM?: UCM has extremely kind and knowledgeable preceptors that challenge and inspire you to become a better pharmacist!
Solid Organ Transplant
Katelyn Eidenberger, PharmD
Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, MI
Pharmacy School: Ferris State University
PGY1: Corewell Health Grand Rapids MI
Professional Interests: Cardiothoracic solid organ transplant
Hobbies: Travel, outdoor activities and trying new things
PGY2 Research: Impact of Immunosuppression for Liver Transplant Recipients with Cholangiocarcinoma
PGY1 Research: Effect of Early Versus Delayed Peripheral Nerve Block Use on Clinical Outcomes in Geriatric Patients with Rib Fractures
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Trying new restaurants and walking along the lake
Why UCM?: The University of Chicago stood out to me because the program had unique opportunities that other programs didn’t offer and a great group of preceptors with a diverse training background
PGY1 Pharmacy Residents
Grace Fick, PharmD (PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy)
Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Pharmacy School: University of Illinois Retzky College of Pharmacy
Professional Interests: Ambulatory care, specialty, health policy
Hobbies: Hot yoga, trying new restaurants around Chicago
PGY1 Research: Impact of Moving from a Payer Agnostic to a Payer Adaptive Biosimilar Management
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: Going to Montrose dog beach with my dogs
Why UCM?: I chose UCM for its deep commitment to medication access and health equity, and its focus on the patients and communities it serves. UCM also empowers pharmacists to work across a wide range of practice areas, setting the standard for how our profession can continue to drive meaningful impact on medication access and equity.
Suphawarak Rucha-intra, PharmD (PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy)
Hometown: Mukdahan, Thailand
Pharmacy School: Purdue University
Professional Interests: Ambulatory Care
Hobbies: working out, editing videos, creating vlogs,
PGY1 Research: Weight Outcomes and Semaglutide Tolerability After Switching from Tirzepatide to Semaglutide for Weight Management
Favorite thing to do in Chicago: I love watching the fireworks by Navy Pier, running along the Lakeshore Trail, and relaxing by the Adler Planetarium after work
Why UCM?: I chose UCM because the program's unique combination of community, ambulatory and specialty pharmacy. Every day I come to work, I leave knowing something I didn’t know the day before. Whether it’s a clinical question, a new workflow, or a different way of thinking, UCM creates an environment where asking questions is welcomed and exploring new ideas is part of the culture. But what truly made UCM stand out to me was the people. The team genuinely embodies the value of “grow together”, everyone is welcoming, supportive, and invested in helping each other succeed. Residency is a challenging year, and choosing a place that offers not only strong clinical training but also a community that lifts you up made all the difference. UCM gives you knowledge, opportunity, and a lifelong pharmacy family, and that’s what makes it unique.