We are excited to welcome Dr. Anna Mills as this year’s Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident! Read on to learn a little more about her.
Tell us about your position
I am excited to be the PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident at Nebraska Medicine. During this year, I am working closely with infectious diseases pharmacists, physicians, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams while developing expertise in antimicrobial stewardship, infectious diseases pharmacotherapy, and clinical research.
Tell us about your background
I grew up on a farm in Clinton, Illinois, and attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for both my undergraduate studies and pharmacy school. After graduation, I completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Corewell Health/William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Why did you choose to come work at Nebraska Medicine/UNMC
Nebraska Medicine was my top choice because of its exceptional reputation in infectious diseases, the breadth of clinical experiences available, and its location in the Midwest. I was excited by the opportunity to work with diverse patient populations and care for patients with a wide variety of infectious diseases while spending an entire year immersed in ID training. During my interview, I was equally impressed by the people as I was by the program. The welcoming and collaborative environment made me feel that I would be a great fit, and I knew it was a place where I could thrive both professionally and personally.
What makes you excited about working in ID
I love that infectious diseases requires both a strong scientific foundation and a great deal of critical thinking. As a pharmacist, I enjoy being highly involved in treatment decisions and using my knowledge of microbiology and pharmacotherapy to help optimize patient care. Every patient presents a unique puzzle, and there is often not a single “right” answer supported by literature. I find it rewarding to work through complex cases, evaluate the available evidence, and develop individualized treatment plans. The blend of biology, chemistry, and problem-solving is what drew me to infectious diseases and continues to make the field exciting to me every day.
Tell us about your first few months as a PGY2 ID Pharmacy Resident
My first few months as a PGY2 ID Pharmacy resident have been incredibly rewarding. I have enjoyed the opportunity to fully immerse myself in infectious diseases and continue learning something new every day. Through rounding with several different services, I have gained exposure to a variety of patient populations and explored different infectious diseases subspecialties. I have also had the chance to share ideas from my previous institution on ways to optimize order sets and pharmacist workflows, which has been a meaningful way to contribute to the team. One of the most rewarding aspects of the residency so far has been getting to know the infectious diseases pharmacists, physicians, and fellows. I have enjoyed collaborating with them on patient care, projects, and learning experiences, and their support has made PGY2 a great experience!
Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to pharmacy
Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy a variety of crafting hobbies and have a dedicated craft corner in my basement where I spend my free time knitting, crocheting, sewing, cross-stitching, macramé, and creating projects with my Cricut. I’m always eager to try new hobbies and recently tried out diamond painting. I also love baking and enjoy sharing homemade treats with my coworkers when I get the chance!
Left Photo: Anna with her fiancé Riley after getting engaged earlier this year!
Learn more about the Nebraska Medicine PGY2 Infectious Diseases (ID) Pharmacy Residency.