2024 NYSCHP Annual Assembly Speaker Biographies

Pharmacist's Role in Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Care
Anthony Gerber, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP

Dr. Gerber earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Long Island University (LIU) Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy. After pharmacy school, he went on to complete a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the New York Harbor Healthcare System VA and then a PGY-2 in Ambulatory Care at Long Island University/Brooklyn Hospital Center. Dr. Gerber currently works as a CDTM Ambulatory Care pharmacist at New York Health + Hospital/Bellevue in both the Virology and Pride clinics. Dr. Gerber is the first status neutral CDTM pharmacist at the institution working closely with transgender and gender non-conforming patients assisting in gender affirming care, HIV treatment and prevention.

Dr. Gerber has been an active member of NYSCHP Royal Counties since 2019. He along with his co-chair Samantha Paone were able to spearhead the Royals Grassroots Advocacy Committee. Dr. Gerber served as the Royals’ Director-at-Large from 2021-2022. In 2022, he was elected to the position of President-Elect of Royal Counties and currently serves as the chapter's President.  Dr. Gerber wants to encourage all pharmacists, pharmacy students, and technicians to become more involved in advancing their profession. He believes by working as a team, we can create a better future for ourselves and the next generation of healthcare professionals 

Bio:

Willie Eggleston is the assistant clinical director of the Upstate New York Poison Center and an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Wilkes University, completed a fellowship in clinical toxicology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Applied Toxicology.

Eggleston’s research focuses on identifying and reducing drug related harms, particularly harms stemming from opioid use. His research has been recognized by the Pharmacotherapy Editor’s Choice Award, the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ Platform Award, and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology’s Research Award. He has presented at several regional, national, and international meetings, including the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cancer Care
Syed Arafath, PharmD, BCOP

Bio:

Syed Arafath is an oncology clinical pharmacy manager at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Arafath earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Long Island University and then completed his PGY1 and PGY2 residencies from The Johns Hopkins Hospital and New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell & Columbia University Medical Center respectively. As an integral part of the oncology clinical team, Dr. Arafath strives to bring excellence in oncology care. He is passionate about cancer research, patient education, and artificial intelligence in health care. In his free time, he loves to read books, travel and explore nature. 

Innovative Practices in Pharmacy: Leveraging Shared Governance for Operational Excellence and Future Preparedness
Salma Hewady, PharmD

Bio:

Salma Hewady is the Supervisor of Health System Inpatient Pharmacy Operations at Mount Sinai Health System. She completed her PharmD at St. John’s University, PGY-1 at Northwell Health System’s Plainview Hospital, and PGY-2 at Mount Sinai specializing in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership. In her current role, Salma serves as an interface between clinical, safety, informatics, operational, and supply chain teams to facilitate regulatory compliance and innovative practices.   

Empowerment via Development of Shared Governance Committee with Change in Management
Grace L. Yun, PharmD

Bio:

Grace Yun is currently a pharmacy manager at St.Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY. She graduated from St.John’s University with a doctorate in pharmacy in 2014. Her career at St.Francis started as an intern in 2011 and she had the opportunity to grow internally and join the management team. 

Joining the management team was a unique experience for not only Dr. Yun, but for the entire department as well. She joined during a period of transition, where their new management team had a different style than what the department, along with herself, were used to. This proved to be her first personal goal in management. She wanted to adapt and facilitate a culture that optimized and improved the department, while simultaneously capturing the culture of the hospital that they all recognized and loved. Understanding the balance between change, improvement, and staff morale is what contributed to her achievement today.

Dr. Yun believes that success of a healthcare organization is predicated on engaging employee’s positive responses and incorporating that into a dynamic healthcare model. Therefore, by creating a shared governance committee, staff discusses new ideas and solutions to improve the department in their own respective roles. With this collaboration, we are all empowered and our voices are heard.

Currently, she is enrolled at Adelphi University for a Master of Business Administration. Hey future goal is to fortify her management style and operational experience with the newfound skills of her degree.

Matthew Li, PharmD, MHA, BCPS, BCCCP

Bio:

Dr. Matthew Li earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at St. John’s University. Post-graduation, Dr. Li completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, NY and a PGY2 critical care residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. Complementing his clinical expertise, Dr. Li expanded his horizons by earning a Master of Health Administration degree at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Li’s contributions to the field extend beyond clinical practice. He has showcased his expertise through presentations at the local, state, and national level. Additionally, his research has found home in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Li is currently the clinical pharmacy specialist for the trauma, surgical, and burn intensive care units at Westchester Medical Center and serves as the residency program coordinator for the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program.

GLP- 1 Craze: Pharmacological Weight Management and the Role of the Pharmacist
Kate Cabral, PharmD, BCCP, FACC, FCCP

Dr. Kate Cabral, PharmD., BCCP, FACC, FCCP, is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) in Albany, NY.  Dr. Cabral earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and completed a PGY1 and PGY2 in cardiology at Boston Medical Center. She initiated clinical pharmacy services and maintains a clinical practice at Capital Cardiology Associates in Albany NY, where she serves as the Director of Metabolic Services and RPD for a cardiology PGY2 program.  Previously, Dr. Cabral practiced as a clinical pharmacy specialist in cardiology and anticoagulation at Maine Medical Center and Boston Medical Center.  

GLP- 1 Craze: Pharmacological Weight Management and the Role of the Pharmacist

Bio:

Sarah Amering graduated from Purdue University with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2009. She subsequently completed a PGY1 residency focused health disparities and equity at Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy in New Orleans. Dr. Amering currently practices comprehensive medication management (CMM) at Manhattan Square Family Medicine. Her practice focuses on shared-decision making to optimize therapy for patients’ chronic conditions in a high-functioning, team-based care setting. In addition, she is co-coordinator for the pathophysiology and pharmacology course series for the Family Nurse Practitioner Mental Health program at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Additionally, she sits on the board of Association Haïtienne de Développement Humain and chairs the medical mission committee. She is active in advocacy and legislation at local, state, and national levels to advance the practice pharmacy. She is active in NYSCHP, PSSNY, ACCP, and GTMRx working on various committees and workgroups to promote appropriate and sustainable implementation of pharmacy services. 

Residency Research and Practice Forum Opening Session: Your Journey as a Leader
Thomas P. Lombardi, PharmD, FASHP

Bio:

Dr. Thomas Lombardi is the Systems Director of Pharmacy for St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP) in Albany, NY.  Dr. Lombardi received a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University at Buffalo.  He completed an ASHP Hospital Pharmacy Residency at the Buffalo General Hospital and a Fellowship in Pediatric Pharmacotherapy at Hartford Hospital.

Dr. Lombardi chairs the Trinity Health New York IRB, and SPHP P&T Committee, is an active member of many patient safety committees and has administrative responsibility for the 340B Drug program.  He is actively involved with Trinity Health as a leader in various leadership groups and is a TogetherCare Accountable Pharmacy Leader serving to guide Regional Health Ministries in their Epic go-live.  Dr. Lombardi is Adjunct Faculty at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and has affiliations with many other Schools of Pharmacy throughout the United States.  Dr. Lombardi is a past president of NYSCHP, serves as the organization's Parliamentarian and is a winner of the NYSCHP Board of Directors Award and NYSCHP Research and Education Foundation Bernard Mehl Leadership Award.  He is a Fellow of ASHP and has served as an ASHP media spokesperson on medication errors and on the ASHP Council on Legal and Public Affairs and is a mentor in the ASHP Guided Mentoring Program.  

Leveraging the Growth Mindset for Professional Success
Ashley E. Woodruff, PharmD, BCPS

Bio:

Ashley E. Woodruff, PharmD, BCPS is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Interprofessional Practice at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  She practices as an Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Buffalo General Medical Center, where she is also the Program Coordinator for the PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency.  She has been regionally and nationally recognized for her teaching and mentorship and has published over 30 papers in the area of outcomes-based research and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Food for Thought: Balancing Parenteral Nutrition Compounding Challenges
Amanda Waldeck-Barra, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS

Bio:

Amanda Waldeck-Barra received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy in 2014, and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Stony Brook University Hospital in 2015.  She continued her career there as a Nutrition Support Pharmacist, overseeing the parenteral nutrition ordering, verification, and preparation process, all while expanding clinical services in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  In 2020 she transitioned to the role of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, primarily working out of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, but continues to provide pharmacy services throughout the entire Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Waldeck-Barra has a passion for educating young professionals in the medical field.  She has been the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director at Stony Brook University Hospital since 2019 and is an instructor at the Renaissance School of Medicine.  She often gives lectures to medical students, residents, and fellows on various topics in both pediatrics and nutrition support. 

Her areas of interest include parenteral nutrition support, pediatric critical care, and medication safety.  She is involved in a number of research and quality improvement projects looking at ways to optimize medication use and safety at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.  She is board certified in both adult and pediatric pharmacotherapy.

Bio:

Dr. Scott Nelson, PharmD, MS, FAMIA, ACHIP is a pharmacist and Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Nelson is the Director of the Master of Science in Applied Clinical Informatics (MS-ACI) online program, and currently works in Medication Safety Informatics in HealthIT. Hi domain expertise include clinical decision support, medication reconciliation, e-prescribing, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, medication standards and terminologies, and immunizations. Dr. Nelson received his PharmD from the University of Utah, then completed a 2-year fellowship in Medical Informatics with the Department of Veterans Affairs and a MS in Biomedical Informatics at the University of Utah. When he is not working, you can usually find him playing with his kids, boating, running, traveling, or rock climbing.

Bio:

Dr. Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD, BCPS, NCMP is a Clinical Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Experiential Education in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Division of Education and Teaching Innovation at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Cieri-Hutcherson received a Doctor of Pharmacy from UB and subsequently completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and Kaleida Health. She went on to complete a PGY2 at Buffalo General Medical Center and Kaleida Health specializing in internal medicine and academia. Dr. Cieri-Hutcherson currently practices as a clinical pharmacist at Buffalo General Medical Center where she rounds on an acute care internal medicine teaching services and provides reproductive health counseling in an ambulatory care clinic for patients with Sickle Cell Disease. She specializes in internal medicine and reproductive/women’s health. She is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and a North American Menopause Society certified menopause practitioner. 

From Awareness to Action: Strategies for Drug Diversion Prevention and Detection
Ashley Halloran, PharmD

Bio:

With a decade-long career in pharmacy, Ashley Halloran, a graduate of LECOM in Erie PA, is the Vice President of Pharmacy Operation at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), a 600-bed Level I Trauma center in Buffalo, New York.

Under her leadership, the pharmacy department has expanded to over 100 FTEs across Acute Care, Specialty Pharmacy, Clinical Services, and Ambulatory Care, as a part of ECMC's mission to provide every patient the highest quality of care delivered with compassion.

Ashley was instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she led both clinical and operational initiatives to address the pandemic. During this work she identified a gap in pharmacy services in the community and initiated a Specialty Pharmacy at ECMC opening in 2022, enhancing services for both ECMC patients and the Buffalo community. In addition to her operational and clinical responsibilities, Ashley takes an active role in ECMC’s regulatory compliance.

Ashley currently chairs the Acuity Pharmacy Advisory Committee and is a PGY1 Residency Preceptor and Pharmacy Practice preceptor where she is able to mentor the next generation of pharmacy professionals.

Deeply rooted in her Great Valley, New York Community, Ashley, along with her husband David, are small business owners and avid outdoorsmen.

Wastelog Testing: How to Create an Operational Workflow in your Perioperative Services for Narcotic Diversion Testing
Karen Erickson, PharmD, BCGP, MBA

Bio:

Karen Erickson is the Pharmacy Site Director at the New York Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, in New York, NY. Dr. Erickson is a graduate from Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University Brooklyn Campus, completed PGY-1 residency at Mount Sinai Hospital and a PGY-2 residency at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. She is a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist since 2005 and earned an MBA in 2022 from The Forbes School of Business at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Dr. Erickson has been with New York Presbyterian Hospital system since 2004 under various roles such as Intern, Oncology/Transplant Pharmacy Manager, Corporate Regulatory Manager, Supervising Pharmacist and Director of Operations at NYP Hudson Valley and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. She is excited to lead hospital wide efforts with Diversity Equity and Inclusion and safe optimization of pharmacy services at her site. 

Wastelog Testing: How to Create an Operational Workflow in your Perioperative Services for Narcotic Diversion Testing
Susan Kokura, PharmD, MBA

Bio:

Susan Kokura PharmD, MBA is the Pharmacy Operations Manager for NewYork-Presbyterian: Columbia University Medical Center. In this role, she is responsible for Pharmacy Operations including perioperative services, intensive care units, and step downs.  She has extensive experience in hospital pharmacy operations, clinical pharmacy practice, pharmacy informatics, specialty pharmacy, independent pharmacy services, academia, pharmaceutical marketing, strategy, and consulting for 19 years. Dr. Kokura joined NYP in 2012. Her previous roles to name a few prior to her current role include working as a VP, Medical director for Syneos Health, clinical pharmacist at Yale New Haven Hospital, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA.  Dr. Kokura earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, completed her PGY-1 residency training at the VA Loma Linda Medical Center in Southern California, and received her Master’s in Business Administration with a specialty in Organizational Leadership from Forbes School of Business and Technology.  Dr. Kokura also holds a Business Strategies certification from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

HIV Long Acting Injectables - The Treatment of the Future, Now.
Holly R. Hamilton, PharmD, AAHIVP, BCPS

Bio:

Dr. Holly Hamilton is a board –certified clinical pharmacist, a practicing HIV pharmacotherapy specialist, and an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist at Yale New Haven Health.  She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Sullivan University College of Pharmacy in 2013 and completed two years of post-graduate residency training - a PGY1 in Community Pharmacy with Sullivan University & Walgreens in 2014 and a PGY2 in HIV Pharmacotherapy with University at Buffalo & Erie County Medical Center in 2015.

Dr. Hamilton is an adjunct professor and a clinical preceptor for several universities. She routinely works in the community to provide education on HIV and its treatments, and has presented at local, regional, and national levels as an expert on HIV. She is an HIV Champion for the Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) through the New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute, as well as a continuing education contributor for the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC). She collaborates with state and national organizations to improve care for persons living with HIV, not only in New York, but nationwide.  

In her non-pharmacist life, Dr. Hamilton is a published fantasy author, an avid traveler, and mom to the coolest 4 year old on the planet. 

Prevent Defense: Anti-Amyloid Therapeutics for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease
Daniel T. Abazia, PharmD, BCPS, CPPS

Daniel T. Abazia PharmD, BCPS, CPPS is Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Medication Use Safety and Information Center with the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy – Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He is also Program Director for the Rutgers/RWJUH PGY2 Medication Use Safety and Policy Residency and Preceptor with the Johnson & Johnson/Rutgers Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship Program. Dr. Abazia earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in 2005. He completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA in 2006. Since that time, Dr. Abazia has held clinical, academic, health-system management, and pharmaceutical industry positions on the East Coast and Midwest. He has also held leadership posts and continues to be an active member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists (NJSHP), and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). Dr. Abazia is also board certified in pharmacotherapy (BCPS) by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) and credentialed by Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS).

Vickie Powell is the Enterprise Director of Pharmacy of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Employee Engagement, Human Resources, and Training and Education at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The Hospital is affiliated with two of the nation’s leading medical colleges: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medical College. With its academic affiliates, the Hospital shares a commitment to pursuing clinical excellence, engaging in groundbreaking biomedical research, outstanding medical education, and providing prevention and wellness services to the community. Vickie is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at Long Island University and a guest lecturer at the Touro College of Pharmacy, New York, NY.

Vickie received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Pharmacy from Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana; a Master’s of Science degree in Pharmacy Administration from Long Island University, New York, and a PharmD degree from Howard University, Washington DC.  She is a fellow of ASHP, and an inaugural member of the Certified Pharmacy Executive Leaders (CPEL) cohort.

Vickie is the past president of the New York City Society and New York State Council of Health-Systems Pharmacists. She remains active in both organizations and most recently chaired NYSCHP inaugural DEI committee. Vickie’s sustained ASHP service includes, Delegate to the House of Delegates, Council on Education and Workforce Development, ASHP Policy-Process CQI Special Committee, Board of Canvassers, ASHP Committee on Nominations, Council on Pharmacy Practice, ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Chair of ASHP Political Action Committee, and the Certified Executive Leaders Advisory Committee.

The Impact of Patient-and-Family-centered-care in Patient Safety and What it Means to Pharmacy Practice
Batoul Senhaji-Tomza, PharmD, MPH

Bio:

Batoul Senhaji-Tomza currently serves as the Associate Dean of Curriculum, associate professor as well as founding director of the PharmD/ MPH collaborative program at Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP).

Previously, she practiced as a clinical pharmacist in the transplant and Intensive care units of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a patient safety consultant designing and implementing medication safety reporting systems across various hospitals.

Her recent achievements at TCOP include, leading the development, approval, and implementation of the PharmD curriculum; facilitating the Strategic Plan’s creation; contributing to full accreditation, while conceiving and now managing the PharmD/MPH Collaborative Program. As a passionate teacher and advocate for patient safety, Dr. Senhaji-Tomza designed and delivers the TCOP patient safety curriculum. She is also, a productive scholar, and devoted ambassador to the profession with a wide range of publications and presentations.

Dr. Senhaji-Tomza earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology with a Business Administration minor and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Temple University as well as a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Additionally, she holds a patient safety certificate from the Johns Hopkins Institute for Patient Safety and Quality and a certificate for Women in Leadership from the Harvard School of Graduate Education.

In her spare time Dr. Senhaji-Tomza enjoys spending time with her children, hiking, cooking, and traveling.

A Cancer Center's Experience in Improving Medication Safety
Amelia Chan, PharmD, MBA, MS, BCOP

Bio: 

Dr. Amelia Chan is the Assistant Director of the Division of Pharmacy Services and Residency Program Director (RPD) for the PGY2 Medication-Use Safety & Policy Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. Dr. Chan earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Master of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy from the University of Florida. She earned her Master's in Business Administration from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. She is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist.

Dr. Chan has over 25 years of experience in health system pharmacy, serving in various clinical and leadership roles in advancing pharmacy practice. Dr. Chan joined the MSK Department of Pharmacy in 2006. She manages all aspects of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, drug policy, and quality and safety. She is responsible for medication use quality and safety improvement, drug policy development and administration, formulary management, institutional guidelines development, and medication use evaluation.

Dr. Chan co-chairs the center's Pharmacy Quality Assessment Committee. She is an active member of the center's Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, Chemotherapy Practice Committee, Ethics Committee, and the Joint Commission Medication Management Task Force.