's Pharmacy Residency Program Preceptor Profiles Earnest Alexander, Jr., PharmD Clinical Manager of Pharmacy Services Dr. Earnest Alexander is the clinical manager for s department of pharmacy services. Dr. Alexander also holds faculty appointments as clinical assistant professor with the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. His current responsibilities involve coordinating the pharmaceutical care as well as shaping the clinical service goals and direction of the pharmacy department. As a clinical manager specializing in critical care he is involved in direct patient care as well as the training of critical care clinical pharmacists, pharmacy practice and specialty pharmacy residents. Dr. Alexander has also improved the care of critically ill patients and positively impacted the hospital and pharmacy department s budget through the development of a number of drug therapy related protocols/guidelines. As a clinical researcher, Dr. Alexander contributes to medical literature through active publication. His areas of research focus include drug disposition in critically ill patients including drug removal in continuous renal replacement therapy, nutrition support of critically ill patients, infectious diseases and sedation/analgesia in the ICU. Dr. Alexander has published in peer-reviewed journals and authored book chapters as well as served as a professional journal reviewer for Critical Care Medicine and Pharmacotherapy. He is an active member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Tamara Claridge, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Cardiothoracic Transplant Dr. Claridge received her bachelor degree in genetics from the University of Georgia and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy. Dr. Claridge went on to complete an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at St. Vincent Hospitals and Health Services in Indianapolis, IN. She then completed a solid organ transplant pharmacy specialty residency at. Dr. Claridge s practice area is in heart and lung transplant, artificial hearts and cystic fibrosis with both an inpatient and outpatient role. Dr. Claridge offers a rotation in heart/lung transplant and actively participates as a faculty member in the pharmacy practice residency program. She is an active member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplant, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the transplant/immunology and cardiology practice research networks. Her practice areas of interest include patient education and continuity of care.
Minh-Tri Duong, PharmD PGY1 Residency Program Director/Education Coordinator Dr. Duong received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in Gainesville, FL and went on to complete an ASHP accredited specialty residency in ambulatory care at Florida Hospital in Orlando, FL. She is currently the PGY1 residency program director and education coordinator for the department of pharmacy at. Dr. Duong also holds faculty appointments with the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and with Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy. Dr. Duong has worked as a clinical pharmacist in both outpatient and inpatient care as well as a pharmacist in academic practice. Her work experience includes practicing as a primary care clinical pharmacist with a focus in anticoagulation, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension and pharmacokinetics services; functioning as a clinical liaison between pharmaceutical industry and national opinion leaders to develop educational programs for pharmacy and physician groups and serving as assistant professor of pharmacy practice for the College of Pharmacy. As a clinical pharmacist at TGH, Dr. Duong developed the hospital s pharmacy managed anticoagulation ambulatory care clinics. She was also one of the key individuals who started the Tampa Bay Residency Forum network. Her current responsibilities as the residency director and education coordinator involve managing the residency program and coordinating educational initiatives to meet the pharmacy department s academic mission. Dr. Duong has special interests in developing student clinical services and is actively involved in practice based research. She contributes to the medical literature and has published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Duong is an active Education Council member for FSHP and has been invited to serve as a residency site surveyor for the ASHP Accreditation Services Division. Mary Finocchi, PharmD Clinical Pharmacist, Emergency Medicine Dr. Mary Finocchi received a bachelor degree in biology from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota School of Pharmacy in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Finocchi also completed a general pharmacy practice residency at in 2005. She continued to practice at as an intensive care unit clinical pharmacist for three months before accepting the emergency medicine position. Because serves as the level I trauma center for the area with pediatric emergency services and a stroke and chest pain center, Dr. Finocchi s clinical pharmacy practice includes participation in trauma alerts, stroke alerts, cardiac alerts, code 19 s and rapid sequence intubation s in the emergency department. Other services provided include medication management, drug information/clarification, direct consultation, renal dosing, committee participation, drug allergy reporting/documentation and improvement/compliance with Joint Commission/CMS standards. In addition, this environment facilitates an opportunity to provide education and in-services to nurses, paramedics, medical residents and various military personnel. Her research interests include infectious diseases, sedation/analgesia in trauma patients and management of various shock states. Dr. Finocchi has published in peer-reviewed journals and is an active member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Melissa Giarratano, PharmD, BCPS Clinical Pharmacist, Neurosciences Dr. Melissa Giarratano received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in Gainesville, FL. in 2003. She then completed an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, GA. Dr. Giarratano has been a clinical staff pharmacist at Tampa General Hosptial since 2004. For the past two years she has been an active member of the neuroscience healthcare teams, including the Joint Commission-accredited stroke and epilepsy programs. She is responsible for providing pharmaceutical care of patients in both the neuroscience Intensive care unit and the neuroscience medicine/surgery unit. Dr. Giarratano participates in daily rounds with the USF Stroke Service. This includes attendance at inhouse stroke alerts and monthly stroke support group meetings. She is an active member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Maja G. Gift, R.Ph., C.Ph. Director, Pharmacy Services Maja received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from University of Utah in 1983 and completed an ASHP accredited general practice residency at Children s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington D.C. in 1984. Maja completed the Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 2006. She is a registered consultant pharmacist with over 20 years of hospital pharmacy experience including four years of practice in the role of quality improvement coordinator at the Ohio Sate University Medical Center. She holds appointments as clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Practice and clinical affiliate assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy. Maja has been the director of pharmacy at Tampa General for nine years and served as a quality improvement specialist at TGH for one year prior to becoming director. During her tenure as director, the pharmacy department has grown form 59 to 125 staff members. TGH has developed a unit-based clinical pharmacist practice model and all of the pharmacists are considered critical members of the patient care team. Due to her support, many new programs have been launched including the ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency with a full time residency program director, a transplant specialty residency, a pharmacist managed anticoagulation clinic, pediatric pharmacy satellite, outpatient surgery satellite, a medication safety specialist position and numerous others.
Maresa D. Glass, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Critical Care Dr. Glass received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2002. She went on to complete an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, GA. Upon completion of the residency program, Dr. Glass came to as a critical care clinical pharmacist focusing on the care of adult medical ICU and burn ICU patients. Her current practice as the critical care pharmacotherapy specialist involves coordinating the pharmaceutical care of s adult critically ill patients. As a specialist, she is involved in the training of pharmacy practice residents as well as critical care clinical pharmacists. Dr. Glass has initiated a number of protocols, guidelines and educational programs that focus on improving patient safety for the critically ill patient. Amanda J. Hays, PharmD Clinical Pharmacist, Cardiovascular Care Dr. Hays received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. She completed an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at St. Mary s Health Center in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Hays joined Tampa General Hospital in 2004 as a clinical pharmacist specializing in cardiovascular medicine. Her practice area includes direct provision of pharmaceutical care services in the cardiac care unit, telemetry, cardiac cath lab, interventional radiology, and noninvasive cardiology. Dr. Hays has successfully developed an active cardiology service incorporating pharmaceutical care programs. She is an involved preceptor with the student and residency training program. Her areas of interest include heart failure, arrhythmias and acute coronary syndromes. She received the medication safety leadership award at TGH in 2006. Jasmine King, PharmD Assistant Professor/Clinical Pharmacist Florida A&M University COPPS/ Dr. Jasmine King is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice with the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her area of practice is general medicine. Dr. King s current responsibilities involve providing direct pharmaceutical patient care to the patients on the general medicine service at as well as precepting pharmacy students and serving as an advisor for student research projects. As a faculty member, Dr.King has participated in several community-based health fairs with a focus on underserved communities. She is an active member of several professional organizations such as ASHP and APHA.
Leann M. Koontz, PharmD, BCPS Clinical Pharmacist, Ambulatory Oncology Dr. Leann M. Koontz received a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio State University in Columbus, OH and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University in Omaha, NE Dr. Koontz also completed an ASHP accredited residency from The Queen s Medical Center in Honolulu, HI with a focus in adult internal medicine. Her work experience includes oncology, internal medicine, critical care and ambulatory care. Dr. Koontz has also completed a couple of research projects and has published two research projects in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Based on the results of her research project, Dr. Koontz, along with another pharmacist, was able to justify an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist position. Dr. Koontz has also taught nursing pharmacology courses and precepted ASHP residents and pharmacy students for several years. She is a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacists and the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association. Linda R. Linderbeck, BS, RPh, BCOP Clinical Pharmacist, Medicine,Hematology/Oncology Linda R. Linderbeck received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Connecticut in 1990. She began her practice at the Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT in the areas of nutrition support, hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant. Her current practice at includes provision of antimicrobial pharmacokinetics, parenteral nutrition and drug monitoring to medicine patients in addition to pain management, supportive and anti-neoplastic therapies to hematology and oncology patients. She currently serves on the hospital s pain management committee and precepts pharmacy interns, advance practice students and PGY-1 pharmacy practice residents in the areas of medicine and hem-onc. She is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association.
Jessica O Donnell, PharmD, CACP Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Ambulatory Care Dr. Jessica O Donnell received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy in 2001. The following year she completed an ASHP-accredited specialty residency in Ambulatory Care at Bay Pines VAMC in St. Petersburg, FL. Dr. O Donnell began her clinical practice at Tampa General Hospital in 2002, focusing primarily on inpatient psychiatry. As ambulatory services developed in the ambulatory care clinics at in May 2003, Dr. O Donnell shifted her focus to ambulatory care. As the pharmacotherapy specialist in ambulatory care, her current clinical practice responsibilities include management of the anticoagulation clinic, managing patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, team member of the diabetes group visit service, teaching the medications and monitoring portion of the monthly diabetes class at Healthpark and medication reviews for patients. In addition, she serves as the consultant pharmacist of record for all of the ambulatory clinics at and the St. Pete Times Forum. Dr. O Donnell also serves as the ambulatory care clerkship preceptor for the University of Florida and serves as the ambulatory care residency preceptor for the PGY1 residency program. In July 2007, Dr. O Donnell became a certified anticoagulation care provider. She is a member of the AC forum, ACCP and ASHP. Her teaching and research interests include hyperlipidemia, anticoagulation and diabetes. Saumil Patel, PharmD Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Pediatrics Dr. Patel received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas College of Pharmacy. He worked two years as a clinical pediatric pharmacist at St. Louis Children s Hospital in St. Louis, MO in the pediatric intensive care unit and served as the investigational pharmacist. In 2003 he completed an ASHP accredited pediatric specialty residency at St. Louis Children s Hospital focusing on pediatric and neonatal critical care. Dr. Patel was involved in the teaching drug information and a nonprescription drugs class at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Currently, Dr. Patel is responsible for pharmacy services to the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units, general pediatrics, adult and pediatric dialysis and labor and delivery. Dr Patel s interests include pediatric and neonatal critical care and infectious disease. Throughout his practice, he has an interest in pediatric medication safety. His research interests include analgesia/sedation, pain management and pharmacodynamic and kinetic properties of medications in pediatric populations. He is an active member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group.
Kelly L. Scolaro, PharmD Assistant Campus Director - St. Petersburg Campus Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice University of Florida, College of Pharmacy. Kelly Scolaro is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice and assistant campus director (St. Petersburg) at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. As assistant campus director, Dr. Scolaro assists with administrative and student affairs. She also serves as the local course coordinator and primary facilitator for second and third year level courses. Dr. Scolaro is the APhA-ASP faculty advisor for the St. Petersburg students. Dr. Scolaro received a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Auburn University School of Pharmacy in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Following graduation, Dr. Scolaro completed the Walgreens/University of Florida Community Pharmacy Practice Residency. After residency, Dr. Scolaro entered practice full time with Publix Super Markets, Inc. before joining the pharmacy practice faculty at Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy in 2002. While at Auburn University, Dr. Scolaro developed a clinical practice in a local CVS/pharmacy and served as a preceptor for fourth-year pharmacy students. She also served as the course coordinator for the nonprescription medications elective and as a facilitator in many other courses. Dr. Scolaro s research interests include pharmacist-patient communication regarding nonprescription products, developing clinical services in the community pharmacy setting and distance learning. Her honors include Harrison School of Pharmacy Preceptor of Excellence and APhA Innovative Project Grant recipient. Andrew Silverman, PharmD Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Abdominal Transplant Services PGY2 Transplant Residency Program Coordinator Dr. Silverman is a doctor of pharmacy with over 20 years of experience working with kidney, liver and pancreas transplant patients. He received his bachelors and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of the Sciences of Philadelphia (Philadelphia College of Pharmacy). Dr. Silverman spent four years at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and then six years at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center working with transplant patients. He has spent the last 10 years in Tampa at TGH working with the transplant programs. Dr. Silverman s main interests include patient education, helping patient s take control of their disease and continuity of care. His clinical interests include critical care, infectious disease, nutrition, immunology/immunosuppression, end stage liver disease and chronic renal insufficiency. He has given over 100 professional and patient presentations at local, statewide and national meetings. He has written two book chapters and been an author of several publications. Dr. Silverman has been actively involved in several organizations serving transplant patients. Currently, he is president of the American Liver Foundation-Gulf Coast Chapter, and is a past board member of the American Association of Kidney Patients, the board of trustees of the National Kidney Foundation of Florida (NKFF) and the Transplant Recipient s International Organization. He was on the medical advisory board for the NKFF and is currently on the medical review board for Network Seven in Florida.
Kevin B. Sneed, PharmD. Associate Professor, USF Department of Family Medicine Clinical Director, Assistant Dean, USF Division of Clinical Pharmacy Dr. Sneed is an associate professor at the USF Department of Family Medicine, and clinical director and assistant dean of the USF Division of Clinical Pharmacy. He was previously an associate professor with the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacy Practice, where he also earned status as a tenured professor. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a concentration in microbiology from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Sneed received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. He completed an ambulatory care pharmacy practice specialty residency at Bay Pines Veteran s Administration Medical Center, where he was involved with initiating a home-based warfarin monitoring program for patients enrolled in the hospital-based primary care program. His current practice site is at the University of South Florida College of Medicine- Department of Family Medicine, where he is an ambulatory/primary care clinical pharmacotherapist. Dr. Sneed has maintained clinical pharmacy services in the USF Department of Family Medicine clinics, including an anticoagulation clinic, a metabolic disorders clinic, and a medication management clinic. He also assisted with the initiation of the USF pre-diabetes clinic, which operated under a research model to study methods of diabetes prevention. Dr. Sneed has also been invited to participate in a cardiomyopathy clinic, which is managed by the cardiology group. Dr. Sneed has research interests in the pharmacological treatment of patients with cardiac metabolic disorders, microbial infectious processes and is active in community healthcare initiatives. Further research endeavors examining healthcare disparities in the treatment of cardiovascular and cancer-related disorders. He currently directs a community initiative known as IN-SHAPE, which is addressing cardiovascular disparities in African-American and Hispanic communities in Tampa, FL. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and has participated in several grant projects and clinical trials. Dr. Sneed currently serves on the board of directors for the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Hillsborough County, and is on the University of South Florida Diabetes Education Council Advisory Board. He participates in many community endeavors on an annual basis, most notably the Florida Cancer Education Network Men s Health Forum in Tampa, Fla. The opportunity to expose students to medication management practices exists with the diversified population seen in the clinic and in the Tampa Bay area. Dr. Sneed is very active in national and state organizations including NPHA, ASHP, FPA, FSHP, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.