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Residents speak about why they chose Upstate.

Meet the Residents 2023 - 2024

PGY-1

Katherine Bradley, PharmD
Katherine Bradley, PharmD
College: Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: bradleka@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: When looking for a residency program, I wanted a program that would help me achieve my professional goals and aligned with my interests in ambulatory care, psychiatry and academia. There are a wide variety of ambulatory care clinics to rotate through based on specific interests. Being an academic medical center, the residents have numerous opportunities in various areas of practice to work on interdisciplinary teams to provide exceptional patient care. In addition, I knew I wanted to expand upon my research skills and Upstate offers the Clinical Research Microcredential which sets this program apart from most residency programs. Residents also have the opportunity to receive a teaching certificate and precept pharmacy students. I was one of those pharmacy students and completed many of my APPE rotations and knew early on that Upstate was a wonderful place to be. The team is close-knit and fosters a welcoming, supportive environment. Dr. Darko and all of the preceptors truly want the residents to succeed and are extremely flexible in order to reach the needs/wants of the residents. For example, a new psych elective is being created so I can explore my interest in psychiatry. I'm so excited to learn from the amazing pharmacists at Upstate and continue to grow into a competent pharmacist!
Katherine Coli, PharmD
Katherine Coli, PharmD
College: University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: colik@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: While searching for a residency program, I knew that I wanted a program where I felt both challenged and supported, and where I would have exposure to a wide variety of different experiences. As an academic medical center and teaching hospital, I felt that Upstate offered the perfect environment for me. Everyone that I encountered during my time as an APPE student at Upstate, as well as during my interview, was focused on contributing to my learning and personal growth. Upstate also offers a variety of clinical learning experiences that align with my interests, including ambulatory care, geriatrics, psychiatry, and internal medicine. The potential to early commit to one of Upstate's four PGY-2 programs was also very appealing to me. In addition, I was excited to learn about the various microcredential and certificate programs embedded into the residency, including the Clinical Research Microcredential, Teaching and Learning Certificate, Medical Emergency Certificate, and the BCPS Certification Preparatory Program. Finally, as a Syracuse native, I am grateful to have the opportunity to pursue residency at Upstate as a way to make a meaningful impact on my community. I am looking forward to starting my career as a pharmacist and experiencing everything Upstate has to offer!
Alexis DelBalso, PharmD
Alexis DelBalso, PharmD
College: Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: delbalsa@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: I chose to pursue my PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Upstate for a multitude of reasons. There are so many opportunities for growth and development at Upstate including a wide variety of clinical rotation experiences, the Pharmacy Research Microcredential program, the internal medicine focus, and the ability to co-precept pharmacy students. Being at an academic medical center, there is a big emphasis on teaching and learning, and the learning environment is extremely positive and supportive. My preceptors challenge me to expand my critical thinking skills in order to prepare me to become an independent practitioner. There is a strong sense of family and community here at Upstate, and it is very evident that the pharmacists and faculty genuinely care about the residents’ success. My goals are to become exposed to as many clinical experiences as I can to build upon my knowledge and skills, but also to find and pursue my interests in the various fields of pharmacy available to us as residents. The structure of this residency program will allow me to do just that and prepare me for my future career. Upstate drives me to become a more motivated healthcare professional, researcher, teacher, learner, and overall person. I value the rigorous learning environment and clinical expertise of the preceptors I am able to work with here, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow into the clinical pharmacist I aspire to be!
Hien Lam, PharmD
Hien Lam, PharmD
College: University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: lamhi@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: Upstate University Hospital is a regional academic medical center in New York state. In addition to being a level-1 trauma center, the hospital also has a poison control center which serves 54 counties in the state. When I was a pharmacy student, many professors and preceptors often emphasized the strength of the PGY-1 residency program at Upstate University Hospital on both pharmacy training and research. While applying and interviewing for my residency training, I learned more about the program, the pharmacy department, and the hospital. I was captivated by the culture and people working here! I could tell that the previous residents received a lot of support and care from the pharmacists and pharmacy staff. As a pharmacy resident at Upstate University Hospital, I am having many opportunities to experience a variety of pharmacy practicing areas and I am excited to encounter more unique cases to build up my knowledge. I am grateful to have the training here to become a competent clinical pharmacist!
Haseeb Rahman, PharmD
Haseeb Rahman, PharmD
College: Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: rahmanha@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: Ever since I learned about the vast and (quickly) expanding roles of pharmacists when I was in pharmacy school, I knew that I wanted to work in the clinical setting. Being raised by immigrant parents and being part of an immigrant community has shown me many of the disparities of care that plague these communities, and I’ve set my mission to correct them to the best of my ability. I believe the best way for me to accomplish my goal would be through Ambulatory Care practice. Upstate not only offers a PGY-2 in ambulatory care, with plenty of learning experiences in different specialties, but it also has unique provisions to care for the refugees in the area. The focus on having an internal medicine-based program design will allow me to utilize the knowledge I gain on core rotations and further sharpen my clinical skills. Through the Pharmacy Research Microcredential program, Teaching and Medical Emergency certificates, and the BCPS Certification Preparatory Program, I knew that I would be well prepared to practice at the top of my license. The unique longitudinal toxicology experience excites me because it will allow me to expand my pharmaceutical knowledge on a deeper level. Aside from academics, the welcoming staff at Upstate have already made me feel right at home, and I have been reassured that they will help me reach my goals. I look forward to being able to grow and develop my clinical skills during my PGY-1!
Jenna Stasko, PharmD
Jenna Stasko, PharmD
College: Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: staskoj@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: Two main characteristics that were of utmost importance to me when researching residency programs were opportunities to become a well-rounded clinician and the environment of the institution itself. Pharmacists are integrated throughout Upstate as indispensable members of the healthcare team, and as such there is a wide variety of clinical areas available to train and become proficient in. The residency program at Upstate offers rotation experiences that perfectly align with my current interests in infectious diseases and academia, while also broadening my clinical knowledge in other specialties. There are also unique experiences offered through the institution as the region’s only Level I Trauma Center and its affiliation with the only Poison Control Center in upstate New York. A major advantage of Upstate is its designation as a teaching hospital. Learning alongside other healthcare professionals such as medical residents and nursing students offers a unique and vital perspective that cannot be replicated in a classroom environment. The pharmacy department itself is unmatched in the support given to the pharmacy residents starting even before day one. I felt instantly welcomed as a part of the pharmacy team since my days at Upstate as an APPE student, and now that I am officially part of the “Upstate Family” I am very excited to train among such an encouraging, knowledgeable, and overall exceptional group of professionals.

PGY-2

Catherine DeFazio, PharmD - Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident
Catherine DeFazio, PharmD - Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident
Residency: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
College: St. John Fisher University
Email: defazica@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: I chose Upstate to continue my training in ambulatory care because I will have the ability to practice in a variety of different clinics within Upstate. I am excited to begin my year here as I will spend time in our medication management, anticoagulation, rheumatology, inclusive health services, and neurology clinics. This will allow me to get experience with different patient populations and become a well-rounded ambulatory care pharmacist. In addition, this residency also will provide me with the challenge of managing patients with cultural and economic barriers. St. John Fisher University partners with Upstate through this residency to provide me the opportunity to continue strengthening my teaching and precepting skills. This is a skill set I will continue to use throughout my career in ambulatory care as we are always teaching patients and helping providers. I will also be able to participate in teaching the medical residents various disease states each month during a pharmacist run medical resident education lecture. I believe Upstate will provide me with the skills to achieve my goals of becoming a successful ambulatory care pharmacist and I am excited to see what challenges I am faced with this year.
Jiajie Guan, PharmD - Geriatrics Pharmacy Resident
Jiajie Guan, PharmD - Geriatrics Pharmacy Resident
Residency: Upstate University Hospital
College: University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: guanji@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: When applying for PGY-1 residency, I was drawn to SUNY Upstate University Hospital because of the wide variety of opportunities the program has to offer. This includes learning experiences of multiple pharmacy specialties and various microcredential programs. I am incredibly excited to continue my residency training as the PGY-2 Geriatrics Pharmacy Resident. This program offers unique clinical experience in various practice settings, which includes Transitional Care Unit (TCU), geriatric clinic, geriatric emergency department, and transition of care. In addition, the program offers longitudinal learning experiences in research and teaching which would enhance my ability to become a well-rounded pharmacist. Moreover, I am struck by the interprofessional collaborations among different specialties and their dedication to improve care for older adults. I look forward to continuing my training at Upstate with the goal of becoming a board-certified geriatric pharmacotherapy specialist!
Kathleen Hanrahan, PharmD - Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident
Kathleen Hanrahan, PharmD - Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident
Residency: Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital
College: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Email: hanrahak@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: I chose Upstate due to the overwhelming positivity of the program and overarching dedication to the field of medicine, with pharmacy in particular. I had heard nothing but positive things about the program, and was fortunate enough to experience such firsthand during my visit. The program itself provides a wide array of experiences, touching a large patient population with a high degree of diversity of disease states. Overall, Upstate showed to be the perfect balance of strong interpersonal relationships and a robust ID PGY-2 program.
Brianna Schafer, PharnD - Pediatrics Pharmacy Resident
Brianna Schafer, PharnD - Pediatrics Pharmacy Resident
Residency: Lehigh Valley Health Network
College: University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
Email: schafbri@upstate.edu
Why I chose Upstate: I chose Upstate due to the overwhelming positivity that everyone speaks about their experiences here. During my interview I was able to get a glimpse on how closely the team of pediatric pharmacists works together, which was something I admired, especially being a children’s hospital within a larger institution. The program also offers a wide variety of learning experiences such as pediatric intensive care unit and emergency department all the way to ambulatory care clinics. Upstate is also the region’s only children’s hospital, so it supports an extremely diverse patient population. Both of these factors will enable me to develop skills throughout my PGY2 to become a well-rounded pediatric pharmacist in the future. I am excited for all of the opportunities to come this year!
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