St. John's Education & Training Pharmacy Residency Programs Meet the Current Residents
Group of pharmacists

Meet the current PGY1 & PGY2 residents

The pharmacy staff at HSHS St. John's Hospital are committed to improving the community's health and helping to train the next generation of health care professionals. As a result, St. John's offers two pharmacy residency programs to help develop high quality pharmacy professionals for the future.

Meet the Current Residents

Austin Dillon, PharmDAustin Dillon, PharmD | PGY1
Hometown: Dixon, IL
Dr. Dillon earned his Bachelor's of Science in Biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville before going on to earn his PharmD at the same institution. After graduation, he took a position as a PGY1 Pharmacy Resident at HSHS St. John's. Areas of interest include academia and emergency medicine. He serves as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Pharmacy Practice at SIUE School of Pharmacy in addition to his clinical pharmacy residency. Austin's current research projects include assessing the efficacy of heparin monitoring with anti-Xa levels as well as implementing a naloxone distribution program. Other than pharmacy, his interests include traveling (when there is not a pandemic going on), golfing, and following professional football. A fun fact about him is that his hometown happens to be the boyhood hometown of President Ronald Reagan. 

Vincent Chau, PharmDVincent Chau, PharmD | PGY1
Hometown: Peoria, IL
Dr. Chau earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE School of Pharmacy in 2019. He serves as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Pharmacy Practice at SIUE School of Pharmacy in addition to his clinical pharmacy residency. His practice areas of interest include cardiology, infectious disease, and internal medicine. Vincent's current research project include assessing the appropriateness of continuous infusion of proton-pump inhibitors. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, following Chicago sports teams, and traveling. 




 

Erica Ridley, PharmDErica Ridley, PharmD | PGY1
Hometown: Chatham, IL
Dr. Ridley earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and went on to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in May 2020. As her major research project, Erica chose to assess the average duration of antibiotic therapy, both inpatient and outpatient, for patients with uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia. In addition to her clinical pharmacy residency, she serves as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Pharmacy Practice at SIUE School of Pharmacy. Her practice areas of interest are ever changing but currently include pediatrics, infectious disease, and internal medicine. In her time away from pharmacy, she likes spending time with family and friends, enjoying Lake Springfield, and watching Packers football. 


Askash Patel, PharmDAakash Patel, PharmD | PGY2
Hometown: Columbia City, IN
Aakash earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Manchester University in May 2019 and had then went on to complete his PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. Aakash’s practice areas of interest, beyond infectious diseases, include pursing academia and contributing to didactic and experiential education of pharmacy learners. His residency project for this year will look at the potential cost-benefit analysis of implementing oritavancin use in patients to reduce the risks and costs associated with an extended length of stay. Outside of pharmacy, Aakash enjoys listening to audiobooks, watching content across multiple streaming platforms, breakfast foods, hanging out with his wonderful co-residents and Zoom sessions with family. He also enjoys traveling but has not recently been able to indulge in that passion.