PGY1 Pharmacy
| Name: | Leah Baker, PharmD |
| PharmD Education: | UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Residency Research Project: | Characterization of Warfarin Initiation after Mechanical Valve Replacement Surgery |
| Professional Interests: | Internal Medicine, Cardiology | Program Involvement: | Recognition and Website Coordinator, Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (VSHP) |
| Why VCU Health System? | It was obvious from my first encounters with preceptors and previous residents at VCU that it was an environment of overwhelming support. Also, I instantly felt very welcome even from my initial interview and have continued to feel this way since beginning residency. I appreciate the passion that preceptors here have and have enjoyed learning from them thus far. |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond is such an eclectic city that I have really grown to enjoy. The restaurant scene is ever expanding and therefore my list of restaurant recommendations is constantly growing! There are so many outdoorsy activities right in the city too for when you need a breath of fresh air. It is such a fun place to live and there is always something to do! |
| Name: | Anastasia Borodai, PharmD, MPH |
| PharmD Education: | UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Residency Research Project: | Characterization and Evaluation of an Institutional Neuraxial Antithrombotic Best Practice Advisory Alert |
| Professional Interests: | Critical Care | Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Residency Social Media Networking Coordinator, Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (VSHP) |
| Why VCU Health System? | I was drawn to VCU Health for the diverse patients and disease states. My passion lies in critical care therefore I wanted to pursue a PGY1 where I could see a variety of disease states at all levels of acuity and see how pharmacists can impact patient care. VCU also had some of the most engaging and down to earth preceptors I spoke to when interviewing, now as a resident this continues to be true. Our preceptors push us, but also take the time to know us as individuals. |
| Why Richmond? | I loved the food and the general vibe of Richmond. Whether you like being outdoors, sports, food, or just lounging there is always something for everyone. I also like being close to the mountains and beach. |
| Name: | Nathan Falls, PharmD |
| PharmD Education: | Mercer University College of Pharmacy |
| Residency Research Project: | Evaluation of the use of same-day subcutaneous pegfilgrastim versus delayed subcutaneous pegfilgrastim on the incidence of febrile neutropenia |
| Professional Interests: | Hematology/Oncology, Ambulatory Care | Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Midyear Clinical Meeting Committee, VSHP |
| Why VCU Health System? | I realized early on that VCU has a large group of caring preceptors who are eager to teach and were very supportive of their residents. VCU also offers a wide variety of pharmacy practice areas so that I could maximize my PGY-1 experience and work at the top of my license. |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond is one of the best hidden gems in the entire country! There are so many different restaurants, museums, breweries, and other recreational activities available around the city. Richmond is also very pedestrian friendly with a low cost of living compared to other major cities. |
| Name: | Kelsey Oberholtzer, PharmD |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy |
| Residency Research Project: | Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin Compared to Ceftriaxone for Acute Chest Syndrome in Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease |
| Professional Interests: | Oncology, Pediatrics, and Cardiology | Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Interview Committee |
| Why VCU Health System? | I wanted to continue my training at VCU health because of the wonderful experiences I had here as a student. The environment VCU provides is so conducive to learning from experts in the field. I also wanted to work with a diverse population including the underserved population in Richmond. |
| Why Richmond? | I have lived in Richmond for four years and loved every minute of it so of course I wanted to stay! Richmond is full of wonderful restaurants, great walking and running trails, and tons of dog friendly places for the four-legged friends! |
| Name: | Ashton O’Hara, PharmD |
| PharmD Education: | UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Residency Research Project: | Indomethacin vs. acetaminophen for PDA closure |
| Professional Interests: | Pediatrics, Internal medicine |
| Program Involvement: | Residency Social Media Networking Coordinator, Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacy(VSHP) |
| Why VCU Health System? | I was hoping to find a residency program at an academic institution that allows for working with learners and where the relationship between pharmacy and the rest of the interprofessional team is highly valued. There are a also a wide variety of PGY2 opportunities offered at VCU which appealed to me as an applicant who wanted to continue to explore my different interest areas as a PGY1. |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond has more of a city feel than my hometown of Cary, North Carolina and there is a lot of fun stuff to do here. You can try a new restaurant every week and never run out of new places to go, and there is a nice mix of indoor activities like seeing Broadway musicals and outdoor activities like walking along the James River to try out! |
| Name: | Addison Taylor, PharmD |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy |
| Residency Research Project: | Comparison of vancomycin trough dosing to vancomycin pharmacist to dose AUC dosing at VCU, in terms of target attainment and occurrence of nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity. |
| Professional Interests: | Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease, Critical Care |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Education and Development Series Coordinator |
| Why VCU Health System? | As a student at VCU School of Pharmacy, I had numerous rotations at VCUHS, all of which were positive learning experiences. I felt challenged to learn and grow in my role as an APPE student, but also greatly supported and constantly offered helpful feedback and advice. I knew I wanted to continue learning in a similar sort of an environment as a resident and build on the bonds I had previously formed during my P4 year. I also appreciated how close and open all the residents were and knew being a part of a program that fostered those relationships was important to me going into applications. |
| Why Richmond? | I have lived in Richmond since undergraduate school and have grown to appreciate how unique the city is compared to places I have lived before. Richmond boasts amazing restaurants and breweries, with something for everyone. I have always appreciated the walking/hiking trails in the area, which became one of my favorite weekend activities. You are about 1-2 hours away from the mountains, the ocean, and larger cities like Washington DC. Each year I am here, I find something new to love about the city! |
Health-System Pharmacy Administration
| Name: | Anjali Talwar, PharmD |
| PharmD Education: | Palm Beach Atlantic University |
| Residency Research Project: | Evaluation of medication recommendations for alcohol use disorder in patients who were screened/treated for ETOH withdrawal |
| Professional Interests: | Inpatient Management, Organization Affiliation, Cardiology and Psychiatry |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Residency Calendar Coordinator, Virginia Society of Hospital Pharmacists (VSHP) |
| Why VCU Health System? | I chose VCU Health because I felt immediately welcomed by the management staff. During my interview, the team demonstrated commitment and understanding not only to my formal training/education that would happen during my time here but, my personal interests and wellness as well. There seemed to be many mentors and guides who had experience with a combined program such as this who I could refer to. Since my arrival here, I like to say VCU and Richmond have welcomed me with a big hug, which I can stand by even till this day. |
| Why Richmond? | In all honesty, VCU Health brought me to Richmond. I am happy that it did because, this city is unique in many ways. There is always something going, new things to do and see. Most of all the food scene here has been nothing short of diverse and delicious, which has been a huge plus point for a foodie like me. It is a kind city with, much to see and I am looking forward to further exploring it. |
Ambulatory
| Name: | Kimberly O’Neil, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center, Mechanicsville, VA |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA |
| Residency Research Project: | Incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation upon letermovir discontinuation in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. |
| Professional Interests: | HIV/infectious Disease, Oncology, Transplant, Diabetes, and Heart Failure |
| Residency/ Extracurricular Involvement: | Continuing Education Sessions |
| Why VCU Health System? | I was impressed by the breadth of ambulatory care clinics at VCUHS and the opportunity to practice at the top of my license in collaborative practices. There are many opportunities to get exposed to very specific clinics while receiving a solid foundation in primary care. The preceptors are passionate educators and fantastic pharmacists that I wanted to learn from! |
| Why Richmond? | I enjoyed being in Richmond during pharmacy school! The food scene is amazing here and Richmond is a very walkable city. |
Critical Care
| Name: | Madison Roberts, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA |
| PharmD Education: | University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy |
| Residency Research Project: | Characterization of the management of acute agitation in the elderly in the emergency department |
| Professional Interests: | Critical Care – I’m not sure my specific area of interest yet (because I love them all!), but am hoping my PGY2 year helps me figure it out! |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | My current elective activity is the ASHP Midyear Meeting, which means I help organize our resident presence and recruiting. |
| Why VCU Health System? | I love that VCU cares for such a wide range of patients; there is high acuity, many rare disease states, and so many specialties. I also really enjoy working in an academic environment, specifically with our medical resident counterparts. We also have an excellent group of preceptors that continually encourage both professional and personal growth. |
| Why Richmond? | I love that Richmond is close to so many fun cities and places (Boston, NYC, DC, the beach, the mountains) without having to deal with traffic or a big airport of a larger city. I also love all of the parks in RVA - so much great green space! It’s also a great city to explore new restaurants. |
| Name: | Sarah Wyatt, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC |
| PharmD Education: | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Residency Research Project: | Ketamine Versus Etomidate for Rapid Sequence Intubation and the Incidence of Peri-Intubation Hypotension |
| Professional Interests: | Traumatic Brain Injury, Surgical-Trauma, Burns, Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medicine |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Emergency Response Committee, Critical Care Committee, Residency Town Hall Committee |
| Why VCU Health System? | VCU Health System stood out to me over other programs for a PGY2 in Critical Care because of the welcoming people, the training background of the preceptors, and the opportunities for a well-rounded ICU experience. I have interests in both critical care and emergency medicine and VCU Health System provides various educational opportunities in both including rotations, staffing, and code coverage with post-call report. After my interview with the VCUHS ICU pharmacists, I knew VCU was for me! |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond is the perfect blend for foodies, those who love to travel, city life, and small towners. I live in Shockoe and enjoy the greenery, trails next to the James River, and the historic vibes. |
Health-System Pharmacy Administration
| Name: | David Dent, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA |
| Residency Research Project: | Effects of initial VCU discharge pharmacy fill on CHF and Sepsis readmission rates |
| Professional Interests: | Quality Improvement, Pharmacy Operations, Medication Safety |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Residency Banquet Coordinator, Pharmacy/Nursing Committee, Pharmacy Technician Engagement Committee |
| Why VCU Health System? | The VCU Health pharmacy department has honestly become a home away from home. From my very first day starting as an inpatient pharmacy technician, to pharmacy intern, to now as a pharmacist going into my second year of residency training, I've felt fully supported and inspired to advance my clinical and administrative training. The preceptors and pharmacy staff are unmatched when it comes to their knowledge and ability to teach complex topics inherent in a large, academic, level-1 trauma center. The breadth of clinical experiences, masters program in health administration, combined with a wide variety of pharmacy department projects will set me up for success in my future career. |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond has a seemingly never ending supply of brewery's, restaurants, concerts, and special events. If you want to find a way to recharge and unwind throughout the year, the options are endless. |
Internal Medicine
| Name: | Suskriti Dixit, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA |
| Residency Research Project: | Enoxaparin dosing strategies in underweight and obese patients |
| Professional Interests: | Cardiology, Infectious diseases |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Interview committee |
| Why VCU Health System? | The preceptors at VCU Health are what made this program stand out to me! Everyone is very supportive and value our growth and development as residents. The presence VCU Health has in the Richmond and surrounding communities also cannot be missed. We get to work with a diverse patient population and see some of the most complex disease states, which makes VCU Health a great place to train! |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond has grown so much in the past few years, but my favorite things about Richmond are the incredible restaurants and how dog-friendly it is! |
| Name: | Anhmy-Eliane Nguyen, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Northwestern Memorial Hospital |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA |
| Residency Research Project: | Validation of MRSA nares PCR test accuracy in Staphylococcus aureus infection and its impact on anti-MRSA agent usage at VCUHS |
| Professional Interests: | Internal Med, Cardiology, GI/Liver |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Journal Club/Case Conference Coordinator |
| Why VCU Health System? | I had a great learning experience here as a student. Everyone is so welcoming, friendly, and willing to help you grow |
| Why Richmond? | It is home to me! Richmond has a great food, breweries, cafes, and ice cream shops! |
Oncology
| Name: | Erin Holland, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA |
| Residency Research Project: | Evaluation of CTCAE grading of blinatumomab-associated neurotoxicity and characterization of the corresponding treatment disruptions |
| Professional Interests: | Hematology, pharmacogenomics, pharmacovigilance, transitions of care |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Oncology Professional Practice Council (OPPC), Journal Club/Case Conference Coordinator, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) |
| Why VCU Health System? | I had the opportunity to complete several of my APPE rotations at VCU Health as a P4 student and was very impressed with the pharmacist involvement on the interprofessional teams and the eagerness the preceptors had for teaching. This remained true throughout my PGY1 year where it was evident how eager the preceptors were to share their knowledge and support me throughout the year. |
| Why Richmond? | I have lived in Richmond for about 9 years, and I may be biased but I think it is the best! There is something for everyone here including great food, wineries/breweries, the James River, outdoor trails, and we are just a short trip from DC, Charlottesville, the mountains, or the beach! |
| Name: | Aarti Zaver, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA |
| PharmD Education: | University of Pittsburgh |
| Residency Research Project: | Evaluation of hydration protocol for post-transplant cyclophosphamide in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients |
| Professional Interests: | Cellular immunotherapy, gynecology oncology, medical oncology, hematology |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Vizient Chair |
| Why VCU Health System? | When researching residency programs during my last year of pharmacy school, I was looking for a large academic medical center where pharmacy was highly integrated in inter-professional teams, had a wide variety of rotational experiences, and had diverse patient populations. All these qualities were offered by VCU Health. My favorite aspect of this program is the preceptors have who are so welcoming and invested in residents’ learning. After residency training, I aspire to have a career that has plenty of interactions with patients, allows for collaboration with other disciplines, continually pushes me to grow as a practitioner, and helps me provide value to patient lives and health care teams. My PGY1 training at VCU Health has prepared me well to enter my second year of residency in oncology, and I look forward to all the experiences that will give me exposure to a wide range of medications/disease states and help solidify my post-residency plans! |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond is a moderately large city that is easy to navigate and has great ways to de-stress (walking trails, restaurants, museums, boutiques, city events etc). It has something for everyone which is why I love inviting family and friends to visit me during my off weekends to explore different areas of the city and find new favorite places to go. I have a running list of all the restaurants that I want to check off during residency, and my roommate (& co-resident) and I have made it a priority to work our way down that list this year. The list of restaurants in Richmond is truly never-ending! |
Pediatric Pharmacy
| Name: | Joel Wagner, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ |
| PharmD Education: | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, Virginia |
| Residency Research Project: | Evaluation of Antifungal Prophylaxis for Preventing Invasive Fungal Infections in Neutropenic Pediatric Patients |
| Professional Interests: | Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, General Pediatrics |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | CHoR Quality Council |
| Why VCU Health System? | VCU Health System is an amazing place to train as a pharmacist. The preceptors here are supportive and always looking for ways to help us grow and achieve our goals. VCUHS has a large network of clinical pharmacists that can provide expert guidance for residents and learners in many different specialties. The opportunities and culture here are truly incredible and make you feel integrated from day 1! |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond is the best city I have ever lived in! I moved here in 2014 and loved it so much I stayed for pharmacy school and came back for my PGY-2. It is a great place to work and live and does not feel as crowded as other larger cities. I enjoy the endless amount of shows, concerts, festivals, breweries, restaurants, and adult sports leagues here in Richmond; I always have fun things to do outside of residency here! |
Psychiatric Pharmacy
| Name: | Sarah Gamcsik, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA |
| PharmD Education: | University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Residency Research Project: | Assessing the impact of the stimulant shortage on prescribing patterns in children and adolescents with ADHD |
| Professional Interests: | Acute care psychiatry, substance use disorders |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | Resident Wellness Coordinator |
| Why VCU Health System? | During my PGY1 year I enjoyed the opportunity to explore several areas of interest while learning from highly skilled preceptors. Since I had such a positive experience, I decided to pursue my interest in becoming a clinical pharmacy specialist in psychiatry. VCU Health offers a variety of experiences in different practice settings and areas of psychiatry, which I was looking for at a large academic medical institution. |
| Why Richmond? | Richmond has so much to do: food/drink scene, museums, live music, outdoor adventures. Since it is an up-and-coming city there are always fun pop-up events and new things to try. |
Solid Organ Transplant
| Name: | Nicole Lewis, PharmD |
| PGY1 Training: | Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, WV |
| PharmD Education: | West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV |
| Residency Research Project: | Impact of Immunomodulation of Cytomegalovirus T cell Immunity and Duration of CMV Prophylaxis in CMV High Risk Kidney Transplant Recipients |
| Professional Interests: | Solid Organ Transplant, Infectious Diseases, Transitions of Care |
| Residency/Extracurricular Involvement: | American Society of Transplantation (AST), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) |
| Why VCU Health System? | The preceptors and staff have all been very welcoming, which is especially important when coming from an outside health system for PGY2. They genuinely care about helping you learn and succeed in obtaining your goals. |
| Why Richmond? | There is so much to do here, especially when it comes to the restaurant and food scene. There are so many unique restaurants that I cannot wait to try! |