Pharmacy Residency Program Faculty at UPMC in Central Pa.

UPMC in central Pa. Pharmacy residents work under the supervision of a diversely talented group of faculty members who are dedicated to providing a strong educational foundation in pharmacy.

Michael Barrese, PharmD, BCCCP, BCCP, received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 2011. Upon graduation, he began working for Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA as a cardiology clinical pharmacist later transitioning to emergency medicine and critical care. In this role he served as a preceptor for PGY1 and PGY2 residents as well as the department ACLS and emergency bedside response instructor. In 2021 he joined the UPMC Central Pa region team as a clinical specialist in cardiology and critical care. He serves as a member of several interdisciplinary committees related to the care of cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery patients. Professional affiliations include the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Research Networks for cardiology and emergency medicine as well as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Practice interests include resuscitation, emergency cardiac care, and heart failure.
Renee Bogdan, PharmD, BCPS, received her Pharm.D. from Shenandoah University. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency and PGY2 Critical Care pharmacy residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. Renee joined the UPMC in central Pa. pharmacy team as a Critical Care Specialist and since has taken on additional leadership roles at UPMC in central Pa. and is currently a Pharmacy Manager. Renee serves as residency program director, supervises pharmacy interns, oversees APPE/IPPE students, and coordinates a clinical staff pharmacist ladder program. Outside of work, Renee enjoys spending time with her family (including two kids that compete in ninja warrior), hiking, gardening, and reading.
Elysia Burke, PharmD, received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland in 2021 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Penn State University in 2016. She completed both her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice and PGY-2 Infectious Diseases residencies at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Following completion of residency, Elysia joined the UPMC Central team as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). Her professional interests include multidrug resistant organisms, optimization of antimicrobial stewardship, and microbiology. In her free time she enjoys puzzling, cooking, and reading.
Marissa Csovelak, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, received her Pharm.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 2015. She completed her PGY1 residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network in 2016. Marissa joined UPMC in central Pa. as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist and has since transitioned to her current role as a Clinical Pharmacist in Oncology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, hiking, and putting jigsaw puzzles together.
Kristin Feick, PharmD, BCPS, received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Temple University school of Pharmacy (TUSP) in 2019. Following graduation, she completed her PGY1 residency at Tower Health - Reading Hospital. Upon graduation, she continued to work as a clinical pharmacist until returning to TUSP for completion of a PGY2 residency in Critical Care. Kristin joined UPMC Central Pa team as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Her clinical areas of interest include toxicology, sepsis, anticoagulation, and precepting/teaching. She is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). In her free time, she enjoys baking, running, and spending time with friends and family.
Erik M. Hernandez, PharmD, MHA, BCPS, is a graduate of the Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and graduated with his Master’s Science in Health Administration at Saint Joseph’s University. Additionally, Erik has completed training in Antimicrobial Stewardship through the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists. Erik has served in various pharmacy leadership capacities with UPMC in central Pa. since 2004 and is currently a System Clinical Director of Pharmacy Services, where he has oversight of multiple inpatient, transitions of care, and outpatient service lines. His primary professional interests include pharmacy administration, adult internal medicine, and the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
Ally Hitchcock, PharmD, AAHIVP, received her Pharm.D. from the Wegmans School of Pharmacy/St. John Fisher College in 2021. She completed both her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice and PGY-2 Infectious Diseases residencies at SUNY Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY. Following residency, she joined UPMC in central Pa. as an Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Her interests within infectious diseases pharmacy include antibiotic allergy assessment, antibiotic resistance, and HIV. During her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and being outdoors.
Savannah Knepper, PharmD, BCPS, received her PharmD from Duquesne University in 2018. She completed a PGY1 Acute Care pharmacy residency at Cape Fear Valley Health in Fayetteville, NC in 2019. Upon graduation, she continued with Cape Fear Valley Health as a clinical pharmacist in emergency medicine, cardiology, and most recently as the Med/Surg Team Lead. While there, Savannah served as preceptor for students, PGY1 residents, and PGY2 residents in various rotations. Savannah joined the UPMC in Centra PA pharmacy team in 2022 and is currently a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist in Internal Medicine. Practice areas of interest include heart failure, inpatient hematology and oncology, and women's health. In her free time, Savannah enjoys spending time with her children and dogs, watching sports (especially hockey), and being outdoors as much as possible.
Daniel Lindsay, PharmD, BCPS, received his Pharm.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Following his post-graduate training he practiced in emergency medicine in Ohio before moving to medical critical care in Brooklyn, NY. He joined the UPMC in central Pa team as a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist in 2021 where he practices in the medical-surgical intensive care unit. He is a member of SCCM, ASHP, and ACCP as well as a member of ACCP’s critical care and emergency medicine PRN’s. Dan’s clinical interests include precepting, hemodynamics, toxicology and pk changes in critically ill patients. Outside of work Dan enjoys spending time with his family, visiting the local breweries, golf and cooking.
Kristen Looney, PharmD, BCCCP, received her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2019. She completed both a PGY-1 and PGY-2 residency training (Critical Care) at the University Of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. After completion of residency, she joined UPMC in central PA as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Her interest within critical care pharmacy include academia, cardiology, and neuroscience. She is an active member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Critical Care PRN and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). In her free time she enjoys running, being outdoors (hiking, kayaking), trying new restaurants, watching The Office, and seeing Broadway musicals.
Liana Mandel, PharmD, BCPS, received her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from University of Pittsburgh in 2015. She completed her PGY1 residency at Valley Health in Winchester, Virginia. After completing her residency, she joined UPMC in central PA as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist. She has since transitioned to Clinical Pharmacist with a focus on adult internal medicine. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and baking (especially macarons!).
Ryan Porter, PharmD, MBA, received his Pharm.D. from LECOM School of Pharmacy. He also posses a Bachelors of Science degree in Biochemistry from Juniata College and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. Ryan began his career at St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem, PA as an evening shift staff pharmacist. From there, he held various roles including IV room supervisor. Ryan joined the team at UPMC in central Pa. in 2013 and now is the Director of Operations of the Dauphin and Cumberland Divisions as well as Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family (two active young kids that also avoid sleep!), travel, exploring culinary opportunities, and following sporting events (especially college football).
Ken Trinh, PharmD, BCCCP, received his Pharm.D. from Temple University in 2015. He completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Tower Health Reading Hospital (formerly Reading Health System) and a PGY2 critical care pharmacy residency at St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. After completion of residency training, Ken joined the UPMC in central Pa. team and currently practices primarily in the intensive care unit and emergency department. Ken serves as the preceptor for the Emergency Medicine Learning Experience. He is a member of SCCM, ASHP, and ACCP and is currently a member of the ACCP Critical Care PRN Communications Committee.
Lindsey Stramara, PharmD, BCPP, received her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Bradenton, Florida, in 2017. She completed a Pediatric Specialty Residency at Wesley Children’s Hospital, in Wichita, Kansas. Upon completion of post-graduate training she practiced in Arizona, specializing in pediatric critical care and general pediatrics. She joined UPMC in central Pa. as a Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist Specialist in 2020, where she serves the women’s and children’s services. She is an active member in multiple multidisciplinary pediatric committees at UPMC in central Pa. and serves as the preceptor for the Pediatrics/Neonatology rotations. Professional affiliations include the Pediatric Pharmacy Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Practice interests include pediatric critical care, sedation, pain management, traumatic brain injury and research.
Soim Tsang, PharmD, BCOP, received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2009. Upon graduating, she worked at a long-term care pharmacy for 3 years before joining UPMC in central PA as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist in 2012. She has since transitioned into her current role as a Clinical Pharmacist specializing in Oncology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing board games, and watching K-drama, which also helps keep up with her Korean so she can teach her two active kids.
Christopher Valintakonis, PharmD, BCPS, received his Pharm.D. from the University of the Sciences Philadelphia School of Pharmacy in 2011. Upon graduating, he began working for UPMC in central Pa. as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist and has since transitioned into his current role as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine. His roles rotate between a decentralized pharmacist on the medicine floors, the Intensive Care Units, and emergency departments. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute P&T Committee. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dogs and outdoor sports including skiing, mountain biking, soccer, and volleyball.
John Wageh, PharmD, received his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in 2021. He completed his PGY-1 residency at ChristianaCare in Delaware and PGY-2 in critical care medicine at the Cooper Healthcare/Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He joined UPMC in Central Pa. as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in 2023. His professional affiliations include the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). His clinical areas of interest include therapeutic drug monitoring, antimicrobial stewardship, and ACLS. During his spare time, he enjoys playing and watching soccer, painting, and traveling.

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