Pharmacy Preceptors
Jeff Brock, PharmD, MBA, BCIDP, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy at Drake University in 1995, his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kansas in 2003 and his MBA from the University of Iowa in 2010. Jeff began at MercyOne in 1995 as a clinical staff pharmacist until 2000 when he began his role as the infectious disease pharmacy specialist. He currently precepts the PGY1 required infectious diseases, as well as the PGY2 emergency medicine longitudinal infectious diseases learning experiences. His practice interests include antimicrobial stewardship, allergy & immunology and infection prevention. Jeff enjoys precepting to help others develop their love of infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship, as well as being able to learn from those he is precepting. Outside of work, Jeff enjoys cycling, running, hiking and sailing.
Ashley Cook, Pharm.D., BCCCP is the Clinical Manager at MercyOne. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2011 and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in 2012. After residency she took a staff pharmacist position and worked in oncology, med surg, telemetry and eventually emergency medicine and critical care. In 2021 she became the critical care pharmacy specialist and then in 2023 the clinical manager. Ashley has precepted residents for over 10 years and has had multiple different learning experiences for both PGY1 and PGY2 Emergency Medicine residents. She currently precepts PGY1 residents on their Leadership and Pharmacy Practice, Staffing I, and Staffing II learning experiences. She currently precepts the PGY2 resident on their EM Leadership experience. She is very passionate about clinical pharmacy and continuing to push the boundaries of pharmacists working at the top of their license, including bedside involvement and medication administration. Outside of work Ashley enjoys being a hockey “billet” mom, traveling and hiking different national parks, and playing sports.
Brian Farris, PharmD, BCPS, earned his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2017 from the University of Colorado. He completed PGY1 pharmacy residency at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in 2018. After residency, he stayed at MercyOne as a full time pharmacist. He now staffs primarily in the emergency department and critical care units. He appreciates precepting learners of all experience levels and backgrounds. Brian is the primary preceptor for the trauma learning experiences for PGY1s and PGY2. He is also primary preceptor for EM IV for the emergency medicine PGY2. Brian is the pharmacy representative on the trauma committee and the disaster and emergency preparedness committee at MercyOne. Outside of work, Brian enjoys being active, cooking, music and spending time with his wife and twin girls.
Kimberly Graham, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, is the pediatric pharmacy specialist. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 2008 and completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. After completion of her residency, Kimberly moved to Des Moines and signed on with MercyOne as a clinical staff pharmacist. She began providing expanded evening coverage in pediatrics, which previously ended daily at 1500. She earned her BCPS certification in 2012, and in 2015, she also earned her BCPPS certification. Kimberly was offered and accepted the new position as the pediatric pharmacy specialist in 2018. Her daily tasks include rounding in the PICU and general pediatrics, precepting students and residents, participating in various committees such as Medication Safety, Perinatal Safety, and Pharmacy and Therapeutics committees, and implementing and improving ordersets, among other tasks. Kimberly has more than 10 years of experience precepting PGY1 and PGY2 residents in pediatrics. Her learning experiences include Pediatrics elective for PGY1 residents, and the required Pediatric Emergency Medicine rotation for PGY2 EM residents. Her areas of interest include pediatric critical care, medication safety, and women's health. Kimberly is also an ambassador for MercyOne, representing the organization through social media, recruiting new employees, and promoting MercyOne as a great place to work. Outside of work, Kimberly enjoys spa days, shopping, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, and spending time with her husband and three children.
Lynn Kassel, PharmD, BCPS, is an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. She graduated from Drake University in 2009 and completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, as well as a PGY2 critical care pharmacy residency at University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy in Aurora, Colorado. She has been involved with the MercyOne residencies since starting at MercyOne and Drake in 2015. She precepts the PGY1 residents in their Clinical Precepting required rotation, and she works closely with the PGY2 Emergency Medicine resident to develop ACLS content within a didactic course at Drake. She interacts with post-graduates in the Teaching & Learning program through multiple lectures and mentoring of their teaching. Her teaching responsibilities at Drake University include precepting APPE and IPPE students each year as well as didactic teaching in the pharmacotherapeutics course series and an elective course in arrhythmias. Her professional interests include surgical medicine, pharmacokinetic analyses, interprofessional education, and social identities. She is a current member of AACP, ACCP and IPA, where she has held committee appointments and leadership positions with each. Her favorite thing about precepting is feeding the future of the professional, and thus improving the lives of patients and teams. She enjoys spending time with her two children, doing house projects, being outside, and reading.
Alexandra Kerrigan, PharmD., BCPS, BCCCP earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2017 from Creighton University. She completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in 2018. She received her BCPS in 2019 and BCCCP in 2024. After residency she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to take a clinical pharmacist role. She came back to MercyOne as a full-time pharmacist at the end of 2019. She primarily staffs in the Critical Care Units. Alexandra is a preceptor for critical care experiences. She appreciates precepting learners of all experience levels and backgrounds. Alexandra is a member of the Organ Donation Committee at MercyOne. She also is an adjunct professor at Mercy College of Health Sciences teaching Pharmacology. Outside of work Alexandra enjoys traveling, gardening, playing board games and spending time with her boyfriend and cats. She has hopes of being fluent in Turkish in the upcoming years.
Andrew Kjos, PharmD., MBA is the Pharmacy Manager at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. He graduated from Drake University in 2005 with his PharmD, and then again in 2019 with his MBA. Andrew started his pharmacy career in home infusion, before transitioning over to an inpatient setting in 2009. He specialized in sterile compounding and worked in an IV room for 13 years prior to joining MercyOne. Andrew serves as the primary preceptor for the PGY1 Leadership and Pharmacy Practice experience. In his free time, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and children, hiking and camping, watching the Vikings lose more games than they should, and spending too much on Taylor Swift tickets.
Jessica Nesheim, Pharm.D., BCEMP is an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. She earned her PharmD from Drake University College of Pharmacy in 2009 and completed a PGY1 residency at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in 2010. During residency, Jessica assisted in the development and justification of pharmacy services in their Emergency Department (ED) leading to the approval of two Emergency Medicine Pharmacist (EMP) positions and her initial role as an EMP at MercyOne Des Moines. Jessica precepts Orientation, EM I & III, EM Leadership, and longitudinal Projects and Education & Teaching for the EM PGY2 resident. She also precepts the EM experience for PGY1 residents and an APPE EM experience for pharmacy students. Her professional interests include opioid stewardship, substance use disorders, practice improvement, and advancing the profession of pharmacy. Jessica serves on multiple committees within MercyOne. She is an active member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, serving on the Policy Committee on Professional Affairs and is actively involved with ACCP Emergency Medicine PRN as chair of the Collaborative Organization for Development of Emergency Medicine Pharmacists (CODE) committee and ASHP as a member of the Emergency Medicine Section Advisory Group (SAG). Jessica’s favorite thing about precepting is gaining fresh perspectives and insights, continually learning, and celebrating with learners as they overcome challenges. When she isn’t working, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, traveling, trying new restaurants, and tackling DIY projects around her “fixer upper”.
Meghan Person, Pharm.D., BCPS earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Wyoming in 2019. She completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in 2020. After completing her residency, she worked as an overnight pharmacist and later transitioned to critical care and emergency medicine. Her areas of interest include infectious diseases and toxicology. She has previously precepted the PGY-1 research project and the PGY-2 EM Staffing Learning Experience, and she currently precepts the PGY-2 EM II Learning Experience. Meghan enjoys precepting learners of all backgrounds and experiences and integrating teaching with all members of the health care team. Outside of work, Meghan enjoys traveling, hanging out with her husband and puppy, trying new breweries and wineries, and playing board games.
Jenna Rose, Pharm.D., BCPS earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2017. She completed a PGY1/2 Pharmacotherapy residency program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, before beginning her career there as an Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. In 2021, Dr. Rose moved back to Des Moines and transitioned to her current role as Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She precepts the Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Teaching and Learning experiences. In May 2022, she became the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director. Her practice and research interests include clinical informatics, medication safety, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. Outside of work she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Amanda Sorensen, PharmD, BCPS, BS earned her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2014 from Creighton University in Omaha. She completed PGY1 pharmacy residency at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. After completion of her residency, she started at MercyOne as a clinical staff pharmacist. She received her BCPS in 2017. She currently spends the majority of her practice in critical care. Amanda is a co-preceptor for critical care experiences. Amanda enjoys facilitating integration with providers and mid-levels to establish evidence-based patient care in critical care areas. She is a current member of the ECMO and PERT committees. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys traveling, being outside, patio weather and spending quality time with her husband and family.
Julie Suiter, PharmD, BCOP, is an Oncology Pharmacy Specialist at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1987 from Creighton University in Omaha, NE and completed a Clinical Pharmacy Practice Residency at University of Cincinnati Hospital in Cincinnati, OH in 1988. Julie has extensive teaching experience in both the clinical and didactic settings. She precepts the PGY1 elective oncology learning experience. She has been board certified in oncology pharmacy (BCOP) since 1999 and is a long-standing member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA). Her practice interests include hematologic malignancies, chemotherapy toxicity prevention/management, TPN management, cancer pain management, and clinical teaching. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, gardening, and reading.
Michaela Todd, PharmD, BCCCP, earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2021 from Purdue University. She completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri and a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, Illinois. After residency, she moved to Des Moines and started working as a clinical staff pharmacist on the ER/Critical Care Team at MercyOne, staffing primarily in the emergency department. Her areas of interest are infectious diseases and toxicology. She helps precept students and residents on emergency medicine rotations and is a co-preceptor for one of the PGY1 research projects. Her favorite thing about her current role is being able to work closely with ER providers and nurses, as well as providing direct patient care through medication administration. On her days off, Michaela enjoys traveling, going to concerts, reading, crafting, trying out different breweries/craft beer, doing yoga, and playing soccer.
Tori R. Thompson, PharmD, BCCCP, is the critical care pharmacy specialist. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University in 2018 and served as an intern in MercyOne main pharmacy through school. She completed PGY-1 Residency at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS and PGY-2 Critical Care Residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. After residency she worked as a critical care pharmacist primarily in neuro, surgery, trauma, and burn and earned her BCCCP certification in 2021. She moved back to Des Moines and returned to MercyOne in 2024. Her daily responsibilities include oversight of critical care and surgery medication related projects, staff education, and patient care. She serves as the primary preceptor for all critical care learning experiences and loves seeing moments of understanding in her learners when discussing the complexities of critical care. Her professional passions include research, clinical pharmacist role and recognition expansion, and practicing evidence-based medicine with a multidisciplinary team with key interests in shock management, sedation, anticoagulation, antimicrobials, and pathophysiology. She is active in the Society of Critical Care Medicine serving as an appointed committee member, a charge lead of multiple charges within the Clinical Pharmacist section, and a multidisciplinary taskforce member within the neuroscience section. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog, reading, cooking, hiking, and crafting.
Will Wright, PharmD, MBA earned his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2021 from Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Methodist Hospital/Park Nicollet Health Services and a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. After residency he moved back to Des Moines to serve as a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne, primarily working in the areas of emergency medicine and critical care. In September 2024 he transitioned to Senior Operations Manager at MercyOne. Outside of work, Will enjoys music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
