PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency at Baptist Hospital Preceptors

Radhan B. Gopalani, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCP, AACC, received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1995. She completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency training at Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center. Prior to starting her journey at Baptist Hospital in 2007, she had worked as an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Miami VAMC and as a Critical Care Pharmacy Specialist at Kendall Regional Medical Center. Over the course of last 15 years at Baptist, she has served in various roles including General Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, Cardiology Specialists/Educator, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Director and Cardiology Clinical Coordinator. Currently, she is the Cardiology Pharmacy Clinical Manager and PGY2 Cardiology RPD. In her current position, she oversees cardiology clinical pharmacy initiatives at the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and inpatient cardiac units supporting cardiology transitions of care and leading pharmacy investigational drug services. She performs in an evaluative and educational capacity for evidence-based use of cardiovascular medications within our health system. She co-chairs Cardiac and Vascular Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Sub-Committee. Radhan is an adjunct clinical faculty for the colleges of pharmacy at University of Florida, Palm Beach Atlantic University and NSU. She precepts pharmacy residents and students for various clinical rotations and facilitates their research at Baptist Hospital. She has passion for teaching and mentoring; she believes in empowering and inspiring others to achieve their highest potential. Her leadership mission is to be a leader who actively listens and is genuinely interested in her team’s talent development and who serves as a facilitator and role model for others.

Heidi Clarke, Pharm.D., BCCCP, obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University (NSU), College of Pharmacy. She completed post graduate residency training in Internal Medicine/General Pharmacy Practice with a focus on Critical Care Medicine at NSU in conjunction with Baptist Hospital of Miami. Dr. Clarke practices as the ICU Clinical Specialist at Baptist Hospital, she serves as one of the Clinical Managers and the Director of the PGY2 Critical Care Residency Program at Baptist Hospital. She is recognized for her efforts as the Critical Care Pharmacy Services leader within Baptist Health South Florida. She is also an adjunct Professor of Pharmacy at NSU and UF. In addition, she is involved with various committees and professional organizations and serves as a reviewer for abstracts for the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). She has served on ASHP’s Committee charged with updating the residency learning objectives for PGY-II Critical Care residency programs.

Jefferson Cua, Pharm.D., BCIDP, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Chicago in 2010 and subsequently earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) in 2018. After pharmacy school, he completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Michigan Medicine where he served as a clinical instructor and obtained a teaching certificate from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. He then went on to complete a PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Residency at UW Health, where he was appointed as a clinical instructor with the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Pharmacy. Dr. Cua joined Baptist Hospital of Miami (BHM) in 2020, where he currently serves as an Antimicrobial Stewardship (ASP) Specialist. At BHM, he co-leads the ASP Collaborative Committee and coordinates ASP initiatives with system-wide committees, physician groups, microbiology lab, and infection control and prevention. He is also an active member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). As a current clinical instructor for the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, he precepts pharmacy students in addition to PGY1 and PGY2 residents at Baptist Health South Florida. His clinical research interests include antimicrobial stewardship in the management of pneumonia, antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring, and HIV.

Kristen de Almeida, Pharm.D., MSc, BCCP, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Nova Southeastern University and Master’s in Biomedical Science at Florida Atlantic University. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy and PGY2 Cardiology residencies at West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. She joined Baptist Hospital Pharmacy team in July 2019 as a Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist/Educator with a focus in transitions of care for heart failure. She precepts pharmacy students from UF, NSU and pharmacy residents at BHM. She is also an active member of the American College of Cardiology’s Cardiovascular Team and ACCP’s Cardiology PRN. Her interests include anticoagulation, valvular heart disease, electrophysiology and advanced heart failure.

Erika Dittmar, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a Clinical Pharmacy Manager and Director of the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at Baptist Hospital of Miami. She graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and completed a Pharmacy Residency at Baptist Hospital of Miami. After completion of her residency training, Erika spent 10 years as an Emergency Department Clinical Pharmacy Specialist supporting numerous initiatives to establish pharmacy services. In her current position, she is actively engaged with mentoring staff, residents, and students and is committed to professional organization involvement.

Maura Falli, Pharm.D., achieved her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2019. She then went on to complete her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Stony Brook University Hospital in 2020, and her PGY2 Cardiology Residency with Capital Cardiology Associates/Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2021. Following residency training, she joined the Baptist Hospital Pharmacy team in August 2021 where she currently works as a Cardiology Clinical Specialist with a focus in cardiac stepdown patients and transitions of care for heart failure. She precepts pharmacy residents from Baptist Hospital of Miami and pharmacy students from Nova Southeastern University and University of Florida. She is also a member of ACCP’s Cardiology PRN and American College of Cardiology. Her interests include research, advanced heart failure, and cardio-oncology.

Yarelys Garcia, PharmD, BSN, DPLA, is a Pharmacy Operations manager at Baptist Hospital of Miami. In 1999, she graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. From 1999-2007, she practiced as a Registered Nurse at Miami Children’s Hospital in the NICU, PICU and Cardiac ICU. In May 2007, she earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy. Upon graduating, she worked as a NICU specialist at South Miami Hospital (SMH) for seven years. In 2016, she transitioned to her first leadership role as the Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Then in 2018, she returned to SMH to work as a Clinical Coordinator. She is part of the 2021 ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Academy graduating class. Her practice interests include administration & sterile compounding.

Mayret Gonzalez, Pharm.D, BCPS, BCOP practices as the clinical pharmacy specialist in Cardio-Oncology and Genitourinary clinics at Miami Cancer Institute. Dr. Gonzalez received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2018 from Nova Southeastern University. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Homestead Hospital, within Baptist Health South Florida. She is an adjunct professor at Larkin University where she teaches Arrhythmia Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy lectures. She is currently an active member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS), and the ICOS Pharmacy Working Group.

Leyner Martinez, PharmD, MS, MHA, FACHE, is the Director of Pharmacy Services at Baptist Hospital of Miami. Dr. Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences from Florida State University. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from LECOM School of Pharmacy. After pharmacy school he completed a PGY1 residency with drug information emphasis at the Poison Control Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He then went on to complete a combined PGY1/PGY2 residency in Health-Systems Pharmacy Administration at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He earned a Master of Science degree in pharmacy administration and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Martinez also completed a Master of Healthcare Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Martinez has certifications in Medication Therapy Management, Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery, and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is also a preceptor to residents and students for health-system pharmacy administration and advance hospital/institutional practice rotations. Dr. Martinez is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP), and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Amy Montes, Pharm.D., MHA, BCPS, obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University (NSU), College of Pharmacy. She then completed post graduate residency training with Broward General in conjunction with NSU. Dr. Montes started as a Clinical Coordinator in 2009 at Westside Regional Medical Center and transferred over to Kendall Regional Medical Center as their Clinical Manager in 2012. In 2017, Dr. Montes transitioned over to Baptist Hospital of Miami (BHM) as a Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Specialists/Educator. Currently she serves as one of the Pharmacy Operations Manager at BHM. She is also an adjunct faculty for NSU and a preceptor to both pharmacy residents and students in Hospital Pharmacy rotation and Medication Use learning experience.

Faaria Quadri, PharmD, BCPS, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in 2007 and continued on at the NSU College of Pharmacy where she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2011. She completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center and subsequently started her career as an Anticoagulation/Transitions-of-Care Pharmacy Specialist in Brooklyn, New York. Faaria joined Baptist Health in 2018 as a Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at BHM and later transitioned to Ambulatory Care Services in 2020 as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist covering the MCVI Cardiology Heart Failure Clinic. She participates as a pharmacist member in several Miami Cardiovascular Institute (MCVI) Committees. She also serves as a preceptor for pharmacy residents, as well as NSU and University of Florida students, and holds certifications in anticoagulation management, medication therapy management and immunization administration.

Payal Patel, Pharm.D., BCCCP, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2015 and Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2017. She then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at UChicago Medical Center in 2018, where she also was a Clinical Instructor at the Chicago State University College of Pharmacy. She also completed a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where she was appointed as an adjunct instructor with the MUSC College of Pharmacy. She then joined Baptist Hospital of Miami in 2019, where she currently serves as the Cardiac ICU Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She participates in the BHM Critical Care Collaborative Committee, the BHSF and BHM CPR committees, MCVI P&T, and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Anticoagulation Sub-Committee. She is also an active member of ACCP’s Critical Care PRN and SCCM’s CPP section. Payal is a preceptor to pharmacy students from both LECOM School of Pharmacy and NSU School of Pharmacy, and precepts PGY1 Pharmacy, PGY2 Cardiology, and PGY2 Critical Care Residents. Outside of work, Payal enjoys traveling, Indian and salsa dancing, going to the beach, and petting dogs.

Marie Rossique-Gonzalez, Pharm.D., BCPP, is the Pediatric Pharmacy Manager at Baptist Children's Hospital. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida (UF) and completed a Pediatric Clinical Pharmacy Residency at Holtz Children's Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. She has over 20 years of experience as a Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist in Pediatric Intensive Care, General Pediatrics, and Neonatology. She is certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support in accordance with the curriculum of the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a member of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group. She has published multiple abstracts and articles in the pediatrics pharmacy and medical literature. Present or past Academic Appointments include voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor Pediatrics: University of Miami/School of Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor at the UF and Nova Southeastern University of Health Sciences.

Annette Vidal, Pharm.D., graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and her PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC). Following residency training, she joined the Baptist Hospital Pharmacy team in July 2021 where she currently works as a Pharmacy Operations Supervisor. She precepts pharmacy residents and students. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and baking.

Thomas Wolfel, Pharm.D., BCCCP, obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 and continued on at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy to obtain his Pharm.D. in 2012. He completed post-graduate residency training at Jackson Memorial Hospital with a focus in critical care at Ryder Trauma Center. Dr. Wolfel joined Baptist Hospital (BHM) in 2013 after residency completion and his current role is the as the Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator for Emergency Medicine and Surgical Services. He serves as the pharmacy clinical representative on a number of local and system-wide committees related to emergency and surgical services in collaboration with Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF) Miami Neuroscience Institute, Transitions of Care, Diabetes Collaborative, Disaster Response Team, Antimicrobial Stewardship Team, Medication Safety Committee, and many others. At BHM, he focuses on medication reconciliation, disease state management, stroke and resuscitation code response, toxicology and bleed reversal, and expansion of emergency medicine pharmacy services across the BHSF system. Dr. Wolfel earned his teaching certificate from the University of Connecticut in 2019 and currently serves as adjunct pharmacy faculty at Nova Southeastern University, University of Florida, and Palm Beach Atlantic University. In addition to this, he provides the didactic pharmacology lecture series for the Nova Southeastern ED Nursing Residency Program. He serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students as well as PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy practice residents for the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in Emergency Medicine at BHSF.