Residents and Alumni
Current residents
Molly Brautigam, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Clinical interests: Family practice – diabetes management, anticoagulation, hypertension
Why Geisinger: I had the opportunity to complete an APPE experience at Geisinger 65 Forward and during my time, I was able to experience firsthand how valuable pharmacists are as part of the healthcare team within Geisinger. I was impressed by the strong integration of pharmacists into direct patient care and the collaboration between pharmacists and all members of the healthcare team. Geisinger's residency program includes a longitudinal learning experience, allowing for the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with patients throughout the residency year, which was very important to me when looking into programs, and for me, what really set Geisinger apart from other residency programs. Geisinger’s ambulatory care pharmacy residency provides an excellent environment to grow clinically, build confidence and prepare for a career in ambulatory care pharmacy.
Jordyn Maroszek, PharmD
Pharmacy school: University of Toledo
Clinical interests: Family practice, pain management
Why Geisinger: I knew that after graduating pharmacy school I wanted to practice in the ambulatory care space. Geisinger provides every opportunity to get ambulatory care experience, treating many different disease states, right from the very start. After meeting and having the chance to talk with some of their pharmacists, I knew this was an organization I wanted to be a part of. Energy is high and the support here is unmatchable. I have no doubt I will walk out of this year with the knowledge and skills needed to be an exceptional pharmacist.
Alumni
2025 – 2026
Ashley Mayes, PharmD, MBA
Pharmacy school: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy
Practice Advancement Project: Evaluation of subcutaneous furosemide prescribing patterns and perceptions among cardiology providers in patients with heart failure
Position after graduating from residency: Acute Care Clinical Pharmacist Geisinger Clinics Hematology Oncology Pharmacist
Grace O’Toole, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
Practice Advancement Project: Evaluation of Warfarin Versus Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use Among Primary Care Patients with Venous Thromboembolism
Position after graduating from residency: MTDM Pharmacist at Geisinger Mifflintown Family Practice
2024 – 2025
Yongqi (Tina) Cao, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
Practice Advancement Project: Switching Patterns of Biologics or Small Molecule Agents for Psoriasis in Geisinger Outpatient Dermatology Clinics
Position after graduating from residency: Oncology Infusion Clinic Pharmacist at University Alabama at Birmingham
Ciera Helsel, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Practice Advancement Project: Qualitative Evaluation of Statin Prescribing Among Patients Diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Position after graduating from residency: Clinical MTDM pharmacist in nephrology with Geisinger
2023 – 2024
Kirsten Mascaritola, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
Research project: Total Insulin Dose Reduction in Patients Receiving Novel Antidiabetic Agents for Type 2 Diabetes
Position after graduating from residency: MTDM pharmacist at Geisinger Kistler in Primary Care
2022–2023
Megan Sokol, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
Research project: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor associated euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis: a multi-hospital case-control study
Position after graduating from residency: MTDM Pharmacist at Geisinger Buckhorn in Primary Care
Sarah Tucker, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Purdue University
Research project: Outcomes of a pharmacist led comprehensive medication review program within an integrated care delivery network
Position after graduating from residency: Walgreens
2021–2022
Samantha Kitko (Matchock), PharmD
Pharmacy school: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Erie Campus
Research project: Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety Outcomes in Patients with Dose Escalation of Empagliflozin in Practice
Position after graduating from residency: MTDM Pharmacist at Geisinger Moshannon Valley Family Practice
How did residency prepare you for your current position? "Along with the knowledge gained, I feel that residency helped me to have the confidence needed to be a run a single-pharmacist ambulatory care clinic day to day."
MeiLing Montross, PharmD, MBA
Pharmacy school: Cedarville University School of Pharmacy
Research project: Impact of Interdisciplinary Case Management and Pharmacist Transitions of Care Interventions on 30-Day Readmissions
Position after graduating from residency: Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist for Geisinger/Prime Med in Clarks Summit (Non-Traditional, Population Health-Based, Primary Care MTDM)
How did residency prepare you for your current position? "It gave me the clinical experience to be confident in caring for my patients. Residency also introduced me to a team of resources across the system including other pharmacists and various drug information resources."
2020–2021
Elena Marines (Denger), PharmD
Pharmacy school: Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
Research project: Sacubitril-valsartan 24-26 mg twice daily versus target dose angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Position after graduating from residency: Clinical Medication Therapy Disease Management (MTDM) pharmacist in primary care with Geisinger Bellefonte Family Practice; preceptor and assistant program director for the Geisinger Clinics West PGY1 Residency
How did residency prepare you for your current position? "Geisinger Clinics West PGY1 Residency prepared me for my current position by exposing me to a multitude of disease states and various clinical situations. With the experience I gained in my year of residency, I feel more equipped and prepared to handle more complicated clinical scenarios. I was able to step into my role as an MTDM pharmacist at a busy Geisinger clinic relatively seamlessly because of the training that I had during my residency year."
Lauren Pheasant, PharmD
Pharmacy school: Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Research project: Comparison of total cost of care for patients with select chronic disease states when utilizing mail order pharmacy services compared to a community pharmacy
Position after graduating from residency: Clinical MTDM pharmacist in dermatology with Geisinger
How did residency prepare you for your current position? "Residency helped prepare me for my current position as a dermatology clinical pharmacist at Geisinger by helping me to develop my critical and clinical thinking, improve my drug information skills, as well as strengthen my communication when discussing patients with other members of the healthcare team. It also allowed me to have experience practicing at the top of my license."