Preceptors

Benjamin Andrick, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacist, Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant
Assistant Professor, Clinical Research
Director, Geisinger Medical Center PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency Program
Dr.  Andrick completed his doctor of pharmacy degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Subsequently, he completed his PGY1 and PGY2 oncology residency training at Augusta University Medical Center, in collaboration with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, in Augusta, Ga. Currently, Dr. Andrick practices as a hematology/bone marrow transplant clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center. He serves as the chair of the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG Advocacy & Policy Committee, member of the HOPA Annual Meeting Abstract Review Committee and chair of the PPA Health-System Committee on the national and state level, as well as numerous institutional committees. Currently, major research initiatives include: evaluating the impact and value with implementation of the hematopoietic stem cell transplant pharmacist; development of predictive model for VTE in cancer patients; and evaluating several clinical protocols and supportive care measures for the bone marrow transplant and hematological patients. Dr. Andrick is actively involved in pharmacy and medical education through mentoring and precepting of both PGY1/PGY2 residents, APPE students and participation in Geisinger’s Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. 

Amy L. Brokenshire, PharmD, BCPS, CACP, BCCCP 
Clinical Pharmacist, Cardiology
Residency Program Coordinator
Dr. Brokenshire received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Millersville University in 1998 and her doctor of pharmacy degree from Temple University School of Pharmacy in 2007. She currently serves as a preceptor in cardiology, where she has worked since 2008. She serves on several committees including the LVAD committee, MUE committee and the Residency Advisory Committee. Her areas of interest include cardiology, critical care, anticoagulation, patient counseling and pain management.

Laura Brickett, PharmD, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacist, Critical Care
Dr. Brickett received her doctor of pharmacy degree from Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 2016. She pursued a PGY1 pharmacy residency and PGY2 critical care residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, also earning a Teaching and Learning Certificate through Duquesne University. In 2018, she joined Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa., as a critical care clinical pharmacist. She serves on the residency advisory committee and residency research subcommittee. Additionally, she precepts and mentors pharmacy students and residents, offering experiences in the medical/surgical, cardiac and trauma intensive care units. Laura is also a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and serves on the Research and Scholarship Committee of the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section. Her professional interests include teaching, precepting, sedation and post-intensive care syndrome. 

Barbara Brown, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist, Nephrology
Dr. Brown graduated with a BS in pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and a PharmD from the University of Florida. She has worked as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center for more than 20 years. In 2003, she implemented a pharmacist managed anemia clinic. She is the preceptor for the nephrology rotation. She is an adjunct assistant professor in multiple schools of pharmacy and precepts PharmD students in the area of nephrology. Dr. Brown's areas of interests include nephrology, solid organ transplant, anemia management and the proper use of erythropoietin stimulating agents. Dr. Brown has published papers in the area of anemia management.

Susan Butler, PharmD, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatrics
Dr. Butler is a graduate of Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University. She earned her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2002. After graduation, she completed a pharmacy practice residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She then completed a pediatric specialty residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, Texas, where she was an assistant clinical instructor at the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy. Following residency, she practiced as the neonatal clinical pharmacy specialist at University of Kentucky's Chandler Medical Center. While in this position, she was an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Kentucky School of Pharmacy and also served as preceptor for clerkship students and pediatric specialty residents. In 2006, Dr. Butler was given the honor of teaching a workshop on the assessment and treatment of acute pain in the NICU at the national PPAG Specialty Conference in Baltimore, Md. In 2007, she was appointed course coordinator and sole instructor for the first pharmacology course in the neonatal nurse practitioner program at the University of Kentucky. In 2008, Dr. Butler accepted a position at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a neonatal clinical pharmacy specialist where she served as preceptor for students on pediatric rotation. In 2010, she accepted a position at Geisinger Medical Center as a clinical pharmacist in pediatrics. She is a board-certified pediatric pharmacotherapy specialist and is a preceptor for the pediatric rotation. She currently serves on the NICU clinical care, NICU antimicrobial stewardship, MUE and residency advisory committees at Geisinger. She is a long-time member of PPAG, is actively involved with the PPAG Advocacy Committee and serves as a reviewer for JPPT. Her areas of interest include pediatrics, neonatology, pain management and patient safety.

Samuel Eckel, PharmD, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacist, Cardiology
Dr. Eckel received his doctor of pharmacy degree in 2012 from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. He began working for Geisinger in 2012 and is a preceptor for the cardiology rotation. Dr. Eckel has served as a pharmacist for medical mission trips in Colombia, Haiti, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. He serves on the Medication Safety Committee and Residency Advisory Committee. His areas of interest include acute coronary syndromes, anticoagulation, patient counseling and medical missions. 

Sara Gaines, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Hepatology
Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Dr. Gaines is a graduate of Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy. She earned her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2008. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, Pa. Following residency, she worked at the same facility and implemented an antimicrobial stewardship program as well as practiced in an outpatient HIV and neurology clinic, in addition to staffing in the inpatient pharmacy. While in this position, she was an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown teaching pharmacology to nursing students and served as a preceptor to both PGY1 pharmacy residents and pharmacy students. In 2012, she accepted a position at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, N.Y., as an inpatient pharmacist and practiced in the central pharmacy as well as decentralized locations throughout the facility. In 2016, she accepted a newly created position in ambulatory care at Geisinger Medical Center in the gastroenterology/hepatology clinic. Her professional interests include infectious diseases, transplant and teaching/precepting students and residents.

Stacey Grassi, PharmD, CACP
Assistant Director Ambulatory Clinical Programs, Central Region
Dr. Grassi is a graduate of Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University. She earned her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2002. She completed a PGY 1 pharmacy residency at Geisinger Medical Center in 2003. After residency she accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger where she is now a preceptor for the anticoagulation clinic rotation. She serves on the residency advisory committee at Geisinger Medical Center. She is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University. She has also earned her CACP certification. In her current role she oversees ambulatory clinical programs for the central region which include anticoagulation, diabetes, hypertension, lipids, heart failure, asthma, COPD, pain therapy, addiction medicine, hepatitis C, IBD, anemia in CKD and rheumatology.

Kelly S. Guza, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS
Director, Acute Care Disease Management
Dr. Guza is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences. She earned her BS in pharmacy in 1998 and doctor of pharmacy degree in 1999. She has been practicing as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center since 1999 and has experience in many different areas including internal medicine, nephrology, anticoagulation medication therapy management and most recently pediatrics. She practiced as a pediatric clinical pharmacist specializing in pediatric intensive care and pediatric hematology and oncology for 10 years prior to taking a role in management as assistant director of the Central region for Geisinger. In her current role, she oversees pharmacy clinical programs for the acute care setting across the health system. Dr. Guza currently serves as an educator for the pharmacy leadership rotation.

Sarah F. Hale, PharmD, BCPPS   
Director of Pharmacy, Geisinger Medical Center
Dr. Hale is a 2007 graduate of Duquesne University's Mylan School of Pharmacy. After graduation, she accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center working in pediatrics. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Albany Medical Center and a scholarship of teaching and learning program through Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2012, followed by a PGY2 residency in critical care and pediatrics in 2013. Dr. Hale has served as a lecturer at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and is adjunct clinical faculty for the department of pharmacy practice at Wilkes University School of Pharmacy. She has published in the areas of pediatric immunizations and medication safety and serves as a reviewer for ACCP and ASHP for pediatric pharmacy review and recertification programming for board-certified pediatric pharmacists. She serves on several committees, including the residency advisory committee, medication utilization evaluation committee, formulary steering committee and the pharmacy and therapeutics committee. Dr. Hale is active in both the PGY1 and PGY2 residency programs at Geisinger and as a preceptor for the pharmacy administration learning experience. Her professional interests include pediatric critical care, medication safety and pharmacy education. 

Amber Heffelfinger, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine
Dr. Heffelfinger received her doctor of pharmacy degree from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia in 2019. She pursued a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. In 2020, she joined Reading Hospital Tower Health in West Reading as an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist. In 2021, she rejoined Geisinger Medical Center in Danville as a critical care and emergency medicine clinical pharmacist. She serves on the Residency Advisory Committee and Residency Research Committee. Additionally, she precepts and mentors pharmacy students and residents, offering experiences in the emergency department and trauma intensive care units. Dr. Heffelfinger is also a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and serves on the CODE (Collaborative Organization for Development of Emergency Medicine Pharmacists) program and on the Awards and Recognition Committee of the Emergency Medicine Practice and Research Network (PRN). Her professional interests include precepting, anticoagulation reversal, resuscitation medicine and traumatic brain injury management.

Joan Keehan, RPh, BCPS, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatric Intensive Care
Joan Keehan is a graduate of the University of Houston School of Pharmacy. She received her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy in 1989. In 1993, she accepted a clinical pharmacist position at Geisinger Medical Center. She has worked in pediatrics for over 25 years. She is a preceptor for the PGY2 pediatric critical care learning experience, as well as a preceptor for the PGY1 general pediatric and pediatric critical care learning experiences. She is a member of the PGY1 and PGY2 critical care advisory committees, as well as the medication utilization committee. Her professional areas of interest include general pediatrics, pediatric critical care and medication safety.

Eric Kowalek, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Internal Medicine
Dr. Kowalek is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. He received his doctor of pharmacy in 2010. After graduation, he completed a PGY-1 residency at the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Tucson, Ariz. Following residency training he accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center. Dr. Kowalek is a preceptor for internal medicine rotation. He has been involved with the discharge medication reconciliation project as well as working to improve post-operative orthopedic pain management. His areas of interest include infectious disease, pain management, teaching and internal medicine.

Danielle Kuhn, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Internal Medicine
Dr. Kuhn is a graduate of Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University. She earned her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2001. After graduation, she accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center. She is the preceptor for the internal medicine rotation. She is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice of Wilkes University School of Pharmacy. Her areas of interest include orthopedics, anticoagulation, diabetes, pain management and COPD.

Bradley Lauver, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Coordinator Infectious Disease, Cardiology, Nephrology, and Transplant
Clinical Pharmacist, Critical Care and Infectious Disease
Dr. Lauver earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in 2016. He then completed a PGY1 residency at Geisinger Medical Center. He is presently an infectious diseases and critical care clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center where he serves as a preceptor in these practice areas. Dr. Lauver also serves as the pharmacy coordinator for infectious diseases, cardiology, nephrology and transplant pharmacy services. He holds board certifications in infectious disease (BCIDP) and pharmacotherapy (BCPS). He is active in several committees including antimicrobial stewardship P&T subcommittee, vaccine steering committee, pharmacy action team, PGY1 and PGY2 Critical Care Residency advisory committees, among others. Dr. Lauver’s greatest areas of interest – outside of his daily practice areas – are precepting, education and pharmacy informatics including order-set revision and clinical decision support.

Gary O. Lewis, BSc, RPh
Clinical Pharmacist, Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplant
Mr. Lewis received his pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences. For the past 36 years, he has served as a clinical pharmacist on the hematology service and for the past 18 years on the stem cell transplant service at Geisinger Medical Center. He was board certified in oncology pharmacy through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties in 1998, the first year the certification became available. Mr. Lewis collaborates with the medical team to evaluate drug therapy on hematology (malignant and non-malignant) and stem cell transplant patients across the continuum of care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He is a member of the bone marrow committee and ECOG Pharmacy Committee. His passion is international medical missions and as preceptor of that elective rotation, he has taken many PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Sara Maiers, PharmD, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatrics
Dr. Maiers graduated from the Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy. She earned her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2015. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, Ohio. Following residency, she accepted a position at Geisinger Medical Center as a clinical pharmacist in pediatrics. She is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and precepts the PGY1 general pediatric learning experience. She currently serves on the pediatric trauma, pharmacy action team and residency advisory committees. Her professional areas of interest include general pediatrics, neonatology and pediatric critical care.

Tristan Maiers, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacist, Oncology
Dr. Maiers completed his doctor of pharmacy degree with a public health minor in 2015 at Ohio Northern University, Raabe College of Pharmacy in Ada, Ohio. After graduation, he completed his PGY1 and PGY2 oncology residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. Currently, Dr. Maiers practices as an oncology clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center working in areas of inpatient oncology, outpatient infusion center, and oral chemotherapy medication therapy management. Dr. Maiers is involved in multidisciplinary education through precepting of APPE students, PGY1 and PGY2 residents, and through learning opportunities with Geisinger’s Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. He serves as a group chair within the Career Development Advisory Group in the ASHP New Practitioners Forum, member of the HOPA Grant Reviewers Committee, chair of the Enterprise Pharmacy Week Committee, and involved in a variety of other institutional committees. Areas of interest include solid tumors, palliative medicine and public health initiatives.

Jordan Moore, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager, Geisinger Medical Center
Dr. Moore is a graduate of Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy where he earned his doctor of pharmacy degree in 2015. After graduation, he completed his PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Geisinger Medical Center. Following residency, he accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center where he now serves as a preceptor for the internal medicine and nephrology/transplant rotations. He is involved with the discharge medication reconciliation workgroup, action team, internal medicine morbidity and mortality group, and residency advisory committee. His areas of interest include internal medicine, transitions of care, solid organ transplant, precepting and medical missions.

Kelsey Moyer, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Internal Medicine
Dr. Moyer earned her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 2015. She then completed a PGY1 residency at Geisinger Medical Center. After residency, she accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center where she is a preceptor for the internal medicine rotation. She earned her board certification in pharmacotherapy in 2017. Dr. Moyer presently serves on the medication safety, action team, internal medicine morbidity and mortality, and residency advisory committees. Her areas of interest include cardiology, anticoagulation, medication safety and diabetes.

Kimberly Nissen, RPh, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatrics
Kimberly Nissen is a 1994 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy where she earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy. Upon graduation, she accepted a position as a nuclear pharmacist with the Syncor Corporation. She has also worked at the Bloomsburg Hospital as a staff/clinical pharmacist for 10 years and at the Hazleton General Hospital. She joined the clinical pharmacy staff at Geisinger Medical Center in 2007 and has experience with the adult internal medicine, neurology, trauma, MTM, general pediatrics and pediatric intensive care teams.  She is a preceptor for the PGY1 general pediatric learning experience and pediatric critical care elective. She is a member of the residency advisory committee, the system wide hematology/oncology work group and the iv guidelines committee. Her areas of interest are general pediatrics, pediatric critical care, medication safety and transitions of care.  

Diane Polombo, PharmD, CPPS
Director of Medication Safety
Dr. Polombo graduated from Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1990 with a BS in pharmacy. She earned a doctor of pharmacy degree from Shenandoah University in 2001. She worked as a pharmacist at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for 15 years. She began working for Geisinger in 2005 as a clinical pharmacist prior to taking the role of clinical coordinator at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. She was the medication safety coordinator prior to becoming director of medication safety. She oversees and coordinates medication safety initiatives throughout the health system. Dr. Polombo serves as preceptor for the medication safety learning experience.

Ricky M. Rampulla Jr., PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Disease
Dr. Rampulla is a graduate of Wilkes University: Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. He obtained his PharmD degree in 2011 and completed a PGY1 Residency at Moses Taylor Hospital with the teaching certificate from Wilkes University. Afterwards, he joined the Geisinger clinical pharmacy team in 2012 where he is involved with internal medicine, infectious disease and cardiology. He is a member of the Residency Advisory Committee for both PGY1 and PGY2, the Residency Research Subcommittee, Pharmacy Action Team Committee and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. He has developed guidelines for albumin utilization throughout Geisinger medical centers as well as updates to antimicrobial renal dosing guidelines. His interests include internal medicine, cardiology and infectious disease as well as teaching students and residents throughout their learning.

Angela Slampak-Cindric, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Clinical Pharmacist, Critical Care Medicine; Coordinator Critical Care and Emergency Medicine
Director, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program
Dr. Slampak-Cindric received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a certificate in the conceptual foundations of medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004 and her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 2008. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Geisinger Medical Center. She is presently a critical care clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center where she also serves as director of the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program and coordinator for critical care and emergency medicine. She is a board-certified critical care pharmacist, board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and received a teaching certificate from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. She serves on several committees, including the residency advisory committee, medication utilization evaluation committee, continuing professional development committee, critical care medicine quality improvement committee and the inter-professional council. She is an active member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Slampak-Cindric served as an adjunct assistant professor for the Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant Program as a pharmacology professor and coordinator. She presently participates in the didactic education of Geisinger’s student pharmacists, pharmacy residents, medical students, medical residents, critical care medicine fellows and Bloomsburg University School of Nursing students. She is an assistant professor and course coordinator for the Geisinger Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology, a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy for Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and an associate clinical preceptor of pharmacy and therapeutics for the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Dr. Slampak-Cindric is also the co-director of the Geisinger Pharmacy Summer Internship program. Her professional interests include critical care and emergency medicine, infectious diseases, faculty development, experiential education, teaching and fostering the development of future healthcare professionals.

Leslie Ann Taleroski, PharmD, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatrics
Dr. Taleroski received a bachelor of science degree and a doctor of pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1996. She then completed an ASHP Pharmacy Practice Residency at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., in 1997. Upon residency completion, Dr. Taleroski accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center. She implemented the Geisinger pharmacist position at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital when it first opened in 1997. She has also worked as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Taleroski has been a Geisinger Medical Center pediatric pharmacist for more than 17 years. She acts as a co-preceptor for the pediatrics and the pediatric hematology/oncology learning experiences. Her professional interests include pediatric internal medicine, pediatric hematology/oncology and medication safety. Dr. Taleroski currently serves on the medication safety workgroup, residency advisory committee and the oncology residency advisory committee.

Sally Tice, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Central Inpatient Pharmacy, Intravenous and Nutrition Pharmacy and Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
Pharmacist Coordinator IV/OR, Central Region
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Duquesne University
Dr. Tice graduated with a bachelor of science in pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, a master's in health administration from St. Joseph’s University and a PharmD from Shenandoah University. She has worked as a clinical pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center for almost 30 years. In conjunction with two other pharmacists, she helped establish the infectious diseases pharmacist rounding service in 1997. She is a co-preceptor for the longitudinal central inpatient pharmacy rotation as well as filling in the intravenous and nutrition and infectious diseases pharmacy rotations. She has co-authored and authored letters to the editors in AJHP and articles in Hospital Pharmacy. She is a member of the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists and was a co-author of guidelines published in ACCP as a member of the inhaled antimicrobial task force committee. She has also presented numerous posters/abstracts at ASHP and ASPEN meetings and in addition is an abstract reviewer for ASPEN and a part-time content reviewer for the PSAP series. She serves on Geisinger’s antimicrobial and nutrition sub-committees. Her areas of interest include infectious diseases, clinical nutrition, rheumatology and gastroenterology. She also enjoys precepting students. She is the nutrition preceptor for PGY2 students.