Preceptors
Preceptors
Dave Blaha, Pharm.D.
Dave Blaha, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa and completed a PGY1 residency with Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has practiced at MercyOne since 1999, and currently serves as the preceptor for the Cardiology core rotation and ICU elective. His professional interests include medication safety, cardiology, and critical care. Dave is also a member of ASHP, IPA and is past-President of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc
Shana Brunsvold, Pharm D., BCPS
Shana Brunsvold, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2007 and completed a PGY1 residency at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. Shana serves as an adjunct assistant professor for the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy. Shana is a preceptor for the Acute Care Pharmacy Practice rotation and serves as the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director. Her professional interests include internal medicine, infectious disease, and pharmacy practice leadership. Shana is a member of ACCP, ASHP, and IPA.
Ben Buffington, Pharm.D.
Ben Buffington, Pharm.D., is a staff pharmacist at MercyOne Long Term Care Pharmacy. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2019. Ben serves as a preceptor for the long-term care rotation. His professional interests include geriatrics and transitions of care.
Emily Doerfler, Pharm.D., BCPS
Emily Doerfler, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Clinical Supervisor of Hospital Pharmacy Operations & Pharmacy Department Informatics at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University in 2014 and completed a PGY1 residency at Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City, MO. She is currently working toward a Master of Science degree in Clinical Informatics and Patient-Centered Technologies through the University of Washington. Emily is an adjunct assistant professor for Creighton University. She serves as a preceptor for the informatics elective. Her professional interests include pharmacy informatics, hospital operations, and process improvement.
Kirk Eckhoff, Pharm.D., BCPS
Kirk Eckhoff, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2005 and completed a PGY1 residency at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kirk serves as a critical care preceptor and is an adjunct assistant professor for the University of Iowa and Drake. His professional interests include cardiology and critical care.
Sarah Farndale, PharmD, BCPS
Sarah Farndale, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medication Management. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2012 and completed a PGY1 residency at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. Sarah is a preceptor for the ambulatory care clinical rotation at the anticoagulation clinic. Her professional interests include cardiology and transitions of care. She is a past president of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc. and a member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association.
Chase Kern, Pharm D., BCPS
Chase Kern, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from South Dakota State University in 2021. Following graduation, he completed the PGY1 residency at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. Chase is the primary preceptor for the internal medicine I and II rotations of the infectious disease rotation. He is the coordinator of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Antibiotic Stewardship committees. His professional interests include critical care, infectious disease, internal medicine, and hospital policy and procedure.
Cheryl Larson, Rph., BCPS
Cheryl Larson, Rph., is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. She received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 1994. Cheryl serves as preceptor for the Acute Care Pharmacy Practice rotation. Her professional interests include sterile compounding and hospital pharmacy operations. Cheryl is a member of ACCP and ASHP.
Zach Law, Pharm D. BCPS
Zach Law, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2010. Following graduation, he completed the PGY1 residency at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. Zach is a preceptor for the critical care residency rotation. He is also a rotation preceptor for South Dakota State University and the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy. Zach serves as secretary of North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc. (NIPI). His professional interests include critical care and internal medicine.
Jill Leisure, Pharm. D., BCACP
Jill Leisure, Pharm. D., BCACP, is the lead clinical pharmacist of MercyOne Medication Management. This clinic specializes in ambulatory outpatient anticoagulation management which serves approximately 520 patients in the North Iowa area. Jill received her B.S. in pharmacy from South Dakota State University in 1991, and then completed her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 2002. Jill is an active preceptor of both residents and students. Her professional interests include anticoagulation, heart failure, diabetes and geriatrics. She is a member of ASHP.
Craig Osland, M.S., R.Ph.
Craig Osland, M.S., R.Ph., has served as Director of Pharmacy at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center since October 1995. He serves as preceptor for the Leadership rotation. He was an Assistant Director of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Hospital, and Pharmacy Supervisor at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, prior to returning to the Midwest. He received his B.S. in pharmacy from
Abbey Pitzenberger, Pharm D., BCPS, BCCCP
Abbey Pitzenberger, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP, is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa in 2006 and completed a PGY1 residency at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Abbey serves as an adjunct assistant professor for the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include oncolology targeted therapy and supportive care. Abbey is a member of ACCP and HOPA.
John Swegle, Pharm D., BCPS, BCACP
John Swegle, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP, is a clinical pharmacist on faculty at the Family Medicine Residency Program at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor for the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy. He received his B.S. degree in pharmacy from Drake University and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa. In addition, he has completed a pharmacy residency in Family Medicine from the University of Iowa - College of Pharmacy and the University of Iowa Department of Family Medicine. He is a member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, ACCP, APhA, ASHP, and North Iowa Pharmacy, Inc. His areas of interest include geriatrics, hospice and palliative, and ambulatory care.
Vanessa Vesely, Pharm D., BCPS
Vanessa Vesely, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University in 2018 and completed a PGY1 residency at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Vanessa serves as a preceptor for the emergency department rotation. Her professional interests include internal medicine, emergency medicine, and transitions of care.
Ryan Weaver, Pharm D.
Ryan Weaver, Pharm.D., is Manager of Acute Care and Cancer Center Pharmacy Services at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa. He has practiced at MercyOne since 2022, and currently serves as the preceptor for the Medication Use rotation. He was a Pharmacy Director at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, MO and a Pharmacy Supervisor at Mercy hospital in Springfield, MO prior to his current role. He served as a preceptor for both the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Pharmacy. Ryan currently serves as the Chair of the Medication Safety Committee at MercyOne. His professional interests include process improvement, hospital operations, and pharmacy practice leadership.
