To produce compassionate and scholarly oncology pharmacists who will become leaders in their field.

he University of North Carolina Medical Center (UNCMC) offers a one-year specialty residency in oncology. The residency program aims to provide comprehensive training supported by advanced practice models in a variety of oncology care settings. The postgraduate training program fosters a culture of innovation that supports opportunities for residents and encourages the development of practitioners who demonstrate the attributes of a leader. Additionally, we promote an atmosphere of curiosity that encourages residents to engage in scholarly pursuits, fosters compassionate delivery of health care, and promotes preceptor development. Lastly, we aim to provide a collegial environment where residents feel supported through mentorship.

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T h e U N C M C s p e c i a l t y oncology residency experience is a 12-month program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and is focused in an adult population. The residency program is tailored to the interests and career goals of each resident.

In addition to core and elective rotation experiences outlined on page 2, required activities include the completion of a research project

and presentation of findings, the provision of an ACPE-accredited continuing education presentation, a n d t h e submission of a manuscript draft to a peer-reviewed journal. Additional-ly, 400 hours of staffing are required, which equates to approximately every third weekend and 15 weekday shifts per year. Activities include both operations and clinical experiences.

Each resident will earn an appointment as a clinical instructor with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (ESOP). Residents also have the opportunity to participate in teaching and/or leadership certificate programs during their time at UNCMC. Additionally, residents may participate in hospital committees.

Orientation (July)

Research (December)

Adult Acute Care Malignant Hematology

Adult Acute Care Medical Oncology

Adult Benign Hematology

Adult Bone Marrow Transplant

Adult Ambulatory Supportive Care

Adult Ambulatory (of choice)

Oncology Administration

*Core rotations are 4-week blocks

Adult Gynecologic Oncology

Adult Ambulatory Thoracic Oncology

Oncology Clinical/translational Research

(January-June)

Adult Ambulatory Leukemia

Adult Ambulatory Lymphoma & Myeloma

Adult Ambulatory Breast & GI

Acute Care Palliative Care

Pediatric Oncology

Oncology Infusion Center

Oncology Specialty Pharmacy

* Any of the above listed core experiences

may also be used as elective rotations.

As a clinical instructor with UNC ESOP, residents serve as a teaching assistant for the Pharmaceutical Care Lab for one semester, which involves leading a small group of third-year pharmacy students in a variety of core therapeutic topics and hands-on learning exper iences. Residents will also serve as a teaching assistant for either the hematology/oncology pharma-cotherapy module, oncology elec-tive, or the pharmacogenomics elective for one semester.

Opportunities for residents to participate in and lead didactic lectures are abundant.

Teaching experiences are also integrated within patient care experiences through the layered learning practice model (LLPM). This innovative practice allows res idents to foster the i r preceptorship skills by developing one-on-one cooperative learning activities in an experiential environment.

Dr. Bates is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in malignant hematology at UNCMC and an Assistant Professor of Clinical E d u c a t i o n a t t h e U N C ESOP. She received her Master of Science in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Northern Illinois University and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of I l l ino i s a t Ch icago . She completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY2 specialty residency in oncology at

Duke Univers i t y Med ica l Center. Dr. Bates’ practice and research interests focus on educational research (including patient education) and optimizing medication use in a malignant hematology population. She is the proud mother of Alex and Payton. In her free time, Dr. Bates enjoys telling people about the best city in the world, Chicago, running, gardening and cheering on Da Bears!

Contact

Jill S. Bates PharmD, MS, BCOP

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Malignant Hematology University of North Carolina Medical Center Residency program Director, PGY2 Oncology Specialty Residency Assistant Professor of Clinical Education, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

101 Manning Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: 984.974.8241 Jill.bates@unchealth.unc.edu

Maurice Alexander PharmD, BCOP, CPP Bone Marrow Transplant

Lindsey Amerine PharmD, MS, BCPS Assistant Director of Pharmacy

Jessica Auten PharmD, BCPS Inpatient Malignant Hematology

Jill Bates PharmD, MS, BCOP Ambulatory Lymphoma & Myeloma

Cassidy Beach PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, CPP Ambulatory Pediatric Oncology

Jenna Bognaski PharmD Inpatient Pediatric Oncology

Sheh-li Chen PharmD, BCOP Benign Hematology

Stephen Clark PharmD, BCOP Inpatient Malignant Hematology

Brian Crandell PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Oncology (Hillsborough)

Dan Crona PharmD, PhD Ambulatory Genitourinary Malignancies

Aimee Faso PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Breast/GI Malignancies

Michelle Gardiner PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Infusion Clinic

Meredith Keisler PharmD, CPP Ambulatory Supportive Care

Katherine Morgan PharmD Inpatient Medical Oncology

Benyam Muluneh PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Leukemia

Amber Proctor PharmD

Ambulatory Thoracic Oncology

Jon Ptachcinski PharmD, MA, BCPS Bone Marrow Transplant

Kamakshi Rao PharmD, BCOP, CPP, FASHP Ambulatory Bone Marrow Transplant

Ryan Shaw PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Inpatient Bone Marrow Transplant

John Valgus PharmD, MHA, BCOP, CPP Clinical Manager Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Services

Shippee B, Bates J, Richards K. The role of screening and monitoring for bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. J Oncol Pharm Practice. 2015: DOI: 10.1177/1078155215574294.

Morgan KP, Snavely AC, Wind LS, Buie LW, Grilley-Olson J, Walko CM, Weiss J. Rates of renal toxicity in cancer patients receiving cisplatin with and without mannitol. Ann Pharmacother 2014;48(7):863-869.

Proctor AE, Thompson LA, O’Bryant CL. Vismodegib: an inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. Ann Pharmacother. 2014;48(1):99-106.

Kam T, Alexander M. Drug-induced immune thrombo-cytopenia. J Pharm Pract. 2014;27(5):430-9.

Chow E, Rao KV, Wood WA, et al. Effectiveness of an algorithm-based approach to the utilization of plerixafor

in patients undergoing chemotherapy-based stem cell mobilization.Biol Blood Marrow Transplant.2014;20(7):1064-8.

Crona DJ, Keisler MD, Walko CM. Regorafenib: a novel multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor for colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Ann Pharmacother. 2013;47(12):1685-96.

Bradley AM, Valgus JM, Bernard S. Converting to transdermal fentanyl: avoidance of underdosing. J Palliat Med. 2013;16(4):409-11.

Bradley AM, Deal AM, Buie LW, van Deventer H. Neutropenia-associated outcomes in adults with acute myeloid leukemia receiving cytarabine consolidation chemotherapy with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Pharmacotherapy. 2012;32(12):1070-7.

Bates J, Buie LW, Woodis BW. Management of

menorrhagia associated with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in women with hematologic malignancy. Pharmacotherapy. 2011;31:1092-1110.

Valgus JM, Faso A, Gregory KM, Jarr S, Savage S, Caiola S, Walko CM, Kim J, Bernard SA. Integration of a clinical pharmacist into the hematology-oncology clinics at an academic medical center. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011;68(7):613-9.

Muluneh B, Buie LW, Collichio F. Vemurafenib-Associated Pancreatitis: Case Report. Pharmacotherapy. 2013;33(4):e43-e44.

1. Additional information related to our residency program can be obtained by visiting our program website, our

booth at the ASHP Midyear Residency Showcase, or by contacting Jill Bates at jill.bates@unchealth.unc.edu.

2. The deadline to submit an application to our program is January 1st, 2016.

3. The application process can be completed using the Phorcas system (Link: http://www.ashp.org/phorcas).

4. Required materials for the application include:

Components detailed through the Phorcas application

Supplemental application essays

5. An onsite interview is required for acceptance into the program.

Our core oncology team values innovation at all levels within our program and strives to foster a culture of

innovation. Our team nourishes the imagination to generate creative solutions to advance education, research and

healthcare. Through these efforts, our innovative practices have been recognized nationwide.

American Society of Health-system Pharmacists (ASHP) Best Practice Awards

Our oncology team has developed practices that have been recognized with three Best Practice Awards (Link: http://

www.ashp.org/menu/AboutUs/Awards/BestPracticesAward) conferred by the ASHP.

1. Maximizing the Impact of Pharmacists Across Transitions of Care: Hematopoietic Cell Transplant as a Best

Practice Opportunity for Clinical Pharmacists (Link: http://www.ashpadvantage.com/

bestpractices/2012_papers/Rao.htm)

2. Advancing into Unchartered Territory: Impact of an Innovative Factor Stewardship Program on Drug Expense,

Patient Care, and a Pharmacist’s Role (Link: http://www.ashpadvantage.com/bestpractices/2013_papers/

Poppe.htm)

3. Impact of an Integrated, Closed-loop, Pharmacy-led Oral Chemotherapy Program on Clinical and Financial

Outcomes (Link: Pending)

External Funding Awards

Our team consistently seeks opportunities to apply for external funding resources that can be applied to advance our

practice. We have been the recipients of external funding from the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association as

well as Pfizer, Inc.

Innovative Practice Models

Our team offers cutting-edge services to enhance care that our patients receive through collaborative practice

agreements in both acute and ambulatory care. In the acute care setting, our practitioners assist with chemotherapy

management as Limited Oncology Prescribing Practitioners (LOPP). Our ambulatory care practitioners function as

Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPP) offering a wide array of pharmacy services in a variety of practice settings.

The layered learning practice model (LLPM) is a novel pharmaceutical care system, which redeploys pharmacy care

from a model where the clinical pharmacist specialist was the major driver of outcomes to the clinical specialist evolv-

ing into an attending pharmacist who leads a pharmacy team to drive direct patient care outcomes. The LLPM serves

to provide a higher level of care to patients and education for learners through direct patient care

services.

The UNC post-graduate year 2 residency in oncology pharmacy practice was founded in 1996 by Dr. Celeste Lindley.

Our graduates are truly leaders in oncology pharmacy practice nation and worldwide.

YearYear Graduate(s)Graduate(s) Current PositionCurrent Position

1997 Jeannine McCune Associate Professor, University of Washington

1998 Donald Harvey Associate Professor, Emory Winship Cancer Institute

1999 Stacy Shord Clinical Pharmacology Reviewer, FDA

2000 Imad Treish Chief Operating Officer, King Hussein Cancer Center

2001 John Valgus Manager, UNC Medical Center

2003 Rebekah Hough Manager, Cone Health

2004 Christine Walko Research Scientist, Moffitt Cancer Center

2005 Hillary Prescott Clinical Pharmacist, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

2006 Stacy Epstein Clinical Pharmacist, Carolinas Medical Center

2007 Larry Buie Clinical Pharmacist, Memorial Sloan Kettering

2009 Mark Brown Clinical Pharmacist, Hamilton Health Sciences

2010 Kelly Gregory Hawks Clinical Pharmacist, Virginia Commonwealth University

2011 Amber Bradley Jennifer Neal

Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacist, UVA Health System

2012 Maurice Alexander Benyam Muluneh

Clinical Pharmacist, UNC Clinical Pharmacist, UNC

2013 Eric Chow

Teresa Kam Clinical Pharmacist, Carolinas Medical Center

Clinical Pharmacist, IU Health University Hospital

2014

Meredith Keisler Katherine P Morgan

Brittney Shippee Theresa Stehmer

Clinical Pharmacist, UNC Clinical Pharmacist, UNC

Clinical Pharmacist, University of Alabama Birmingham Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, Duke University Medical Center

2015

Katie Kaminski (Gatwood) Amber Proctor

Jonathan Ptachcinski Lucas Wind

Clinical Pharmacist, Vanderbilt Clinical Pharmacist, UNC Clinical Pharmacist, UNC

Clinical Pharmacist, Duke University Medical Center

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (the School) is an integral piece of our residency program. In partnership

with the School, we offer many opportunities for our residents to gain teaching experience in various capacities.

We teach teachers.

Didactic Teaching

Residents serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for a course with content that aligns with oncology pharmacy practice (1 semester)

Residents assist with the pharmaceutical care lab (PCL) for the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy third-year students (1 semester)

Residents present an ACPE-accredited continuing education program

Lecture opportunities for residents are bountiful

Experiential Teaching

UNC Medical Center hosts learners at many different places in training. Our institution is a leader in developing the

layered learning practice model (LLPM). Through this innovative practice, opportunities exist for one-on-one

cooperative learning activities in an experiential practice setting

Teaching Certificate Program

UNC offers the opportunity to apply to our teaching certificate program. This program prepares residents in their

role as a teacher. The program is a hybrid of online and classroom didactic material coupled with development of a

teaching portfolio. Participants of the certificate program also complete small group teaching, large group teaching,

and precepting experiences. Please email Kelly Scolaro for further details: kelly_scolaro@unc.edu.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

~William Ward

Our program requires completion of a longitudinal research experience. Our preceptors understand how to support

the residency research program to make it a rich and rewarding experience founded in collaboration. We strive to

offer projects that are innovative and generate meaningful contributions to science. We have diverse resources

available amongst many areas within pharmacy practice so residents have choices and the ability to explore their

interests and passions.

Quotes from Residency Graduates:

“When I think about my research experience at UNC, one word comes to mind, “collaboration.” Taking the lead

on a research project that involved collaborating with an attending physician, a hematology/oncology fellow,

and a residency preceptor, my research experience taught me the importance of communication, organization,

and leadership.” -Eric Chow Class of 2012-2013

“The research program provides a positive environment to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment while

supporting your research process through mentorship.” -Katie P. Morgan Class of 2013-2014

“I really enjoyed my residency research experience at UNC. I was able to work with an interdisciplinary group of

physicians, pharmacists, and nurses to have a direct impact on patient care through process improvement related to

transitions of care in the malignant hematology population. My research mentors were extremely helpful throughout the

entire research process.” -Lucas Wind Class of 2014-2015

“The oncology preceptors at UNC work closely with residents to foster each resident’s research ideas and skills.

Residents can propose their own research project idea or choose from a list of research ideas developed by the preceptors.

Each resident is expected to design his or her research study, seek IRB approval, collect and analyze data, present his

or her findings at a national meeting, and submit a manuscript for publication by the completion of the residency year”

-Rachel Lebovic Class of 2015-2016

Maurice Alexander, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Bone Marrow Transplant

Dr. Alexander attended UNC for undergrad and received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 in Hematology/Oncology at UNC Hospitals. Dr. Alexander practices in the Stem Cell Transplant outpatient clinic and enjoys precepting students and residents in this clinic. His professional interests include stem cell transplant, cellular and immunotherapy, malignant and benign hematology, and practice development. His wife, Brianna, is also a UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy graduate and is a Clinical Specialist in Internal Medicine at Duke University Hospital. He is a proud tarheel and, outside of work, enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing basketball, traveling, and working out.

Lindsey Amerine, PharmD, MS, BCPS Assistant Director of Pharmacy

Dr. Amerine received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy and Masters degree/PGY2 Residency in Health System Pharmacy Administration from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC Medical Center. Dr. Amerine serves as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy for Hematology/Oncology Service Line, Infusion Services, Clinical Services, and Investigational Drug Services. She is an active member of ASHP and HOPA. Her personal interests include spending time with her husband, traveling, working out, and cheering for Nebraska football and UNC basketball.

Jessica Auten, PharmD, BCPS Inpatient Malignant Hematology (Teaching Service)

Dr. Auten attended UNC for undergrad and received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 Hematology/Oncology Specialty Pharmacy Residency at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, VA. Dr. Auten practices in malignant hematology and precepts students and residents on the inpatient malignant hematology teaching service. Dr. Auten’s primary interests include hematologic malignancies, immunotherapy, patient education, and infectious diseases. Her husband, Chad, is also a UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy graduate. Outside of pharmacy, Dr. Auten enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spoiling her four-legged, gray, fluffy son/cat, Simba!

Jill Bates, PharmD, MS, BCOP Ambulatory Lymphoma and Myeloma

Dr. Bates is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in malignant hematology at the UNC Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She received her Master of Science in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Northern Illinois University and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY2 specialty residency in hematology/oncology at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Bates’ practice and research interests focus on educational research (including patient education) and optimizing medication use in a malignant hematology population. She is the proud mother of Alex and Payton. In her free time, Dr. Bates enjoys telling people about the best city in the world, Chicago, running, gardening and cheering on Da Bears!

Cassidy Beach, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, CPP Ambulatory Pediatric Oncology

Dr. Beach is a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Pharmacist Practitioner at UNC Medical Center and precepts students and residents in clinic. Dr. Beach received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, TX and PGY2 Hematology/Oncology Specialty Pharmacy Residency at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Beach’s primary interests include relapsed leukemia, neuroblastoma, supportive care management and patient education. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys trying new restaurants, craft cocktails and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals!

Jenna Bognaski, PharmD Inpatient Pediatric Oncology

Dr. Bognaski is a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant Clinical Pharmacist at UNC Medical Center and precepts students and residents for the pediatric inpatient service. Dr. Bognaski received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in Ann Arbor, MI. She completed her PGY-1 pediatric-focused residency at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. Dr. Bognaski's primary interests include leukemias, optimization of supportive care, and patient/family education. Outside of work, she loves the Michigan Wolverines, football, hockey, and golden retrievers.

Sheh-Li Chen, PharmD, BCOP Benign Hematology

Dr. Chen has settled in North Carolina after departing from tropical Malaysia. She received her Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) from the National University of Singapore, and then proceeded to sunny Florida, where she received her PharmD from the University of Florida. She completed her oncology specialty residency at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. She is now the clinical pharmacy specialist in benign hematology, and the coordinator of the clotting factor stewardship program. Her interest is in the care of patients with hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, and the management of venous thromboembolism (you’d notice she does not go far without the coagulation cascade in her hands), and she is not called the ‘Factor Gestapo’ for nothing. Her practice was recently highlighted as a 2013 ASHP Best Practice Awardee. Her personal interest is reading, and she will be able to tell you where to get GREAT Chinese food in the triangle area!

Stephen Clark, PharmD, BCOP Inpatient Malignant Hematology (APP Service)

Dr. Clark is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in malignant hematology at the UNC Medical Center. He completed a PGY2 Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Residency at Georgia Regents Medical Center and the University of Georgia in 2013. He completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, FL and his PharmD at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy. His research interests include supportive cancer care and practice model/pharmacy services implementation. A full list of his publications can be found at Google Scholar. His wife Bethany is a ballet instructor but now thanks to him knows the fine details of residency recruitment and the mechanism of action of rasburicase. Dr. Clark’s hobbies include reading (often to his two sons), ultimate frisbee, cooking, and mentoring middle and high school students.

Brian Crandell, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Oncology (Hillsborough)

Brian Crandell is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at the UNC – Hillsborough Campus. Dr. Crandell received his PharmD at the University of Arizona School of Pharmacy. He completed his PGY1 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN, and his PGY2 Hematology/Oncology residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO. Dr. Crandell previously coordinated a clinical pathways program, and has an interest in the ongoing debate over what value is in cancer. Dr. Crandell is also the pharmacy co-chair of the UNC Chemotherapy Policy Advisory Committee. In his spare time, Dr. Crandell enjoys spending time with his family, watching football, and visiting national parks.

Daniel Crona, PharmD, PhD Ambulatory Genitourinary Malignancies

Dr. Crona is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in genitourinary malignancies at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (ESOP) with a laboratory at UNC’s Genetic Medicine Building, and is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He received his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the UNC ESOP. Dr. Crona also completed an NIH-funded post-doctoral research fellowship in clinical pharmacology through a collaborative training program at UNC ESOP, Duke University, and the Hamner Institute for Drug Safety Sciences. His translational research program focuses on how genetic variations can lead to differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic treatments used in oncology/hematology, and how interindividual differences in clinical pharmacology measures can affect survival and drug toxicity phenotypes. He is particularly interested in tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antibody drug conju-gates and immunotherapies. His personal interests include running, biking, snowboarding (when in Colorado), cheering on the Denver Broncos and Manchester United, and spending time with his lovely wife (Lana) and two dogs (Danger and Sweet Dee).

Aimee Faso, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Breast & GI Malignancies

Aimee Faso is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital (NCCH). She received her masters degree in physiological psychology from Ohio University. After graduate school, she was employed in the pharmaceutical industry where she worked as a project manager and a quality assurance coordinator. She then received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Florida and completed her pharmacy practice residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. After completing her residency, she worked as a clinical pharmacist in medical oncology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and then at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center before joining the University of North Carolina Hospitals. Dr. Faso worked in the outpatient infusion clinic of the NCCH providing chemotherapy education to patients receiving treatment prior to moving into her current role in the Breast and GI Clinics.

Michelle Gardiner, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Infusion Clinic

Michelle Gardiner received her pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill. She is a board certified oncology pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist practitioner. She is a clinical pharmacist in the Adult Oncology Infusion Clinic at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Meredith Keisler, PharmD, CPP Ambulatory Supportive Care

Dr. Keisler is a Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at UNC Medical Center where she precepts students and residents in the Supportive Care clinic. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Dr. Keisler received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 Hematology/Oncology Specialty Pharmacy Residency at UNC Medical Center. Her clinical interests include malignant pain management, head and neck cancers, survivorship, and palliative care. In her free time, she enjoys dinner parties with friends, bon fires in her backyard, and spending time with her husband and new baby girl.

Katherine P. Morgan, PharmD, CPP Inpatient Medical Oncology

Dr. Morgan is a Hematology/Oncology Pharmacist Practitioner at UNC Medical Center and precepts students and residents on the medical oncology service. Dr. Morgan received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 Hematology/Oncology Specialty Pharmacy Residency at UNC Medical Center. Dr. Morgan’s primary interests include solid tumor malignancies, benign hematology, patient education, infectious diseases and supportive care. Outside of pharmacy, Dr. Morgan enjoys photography, cooking and trying new cuisine.

Benyam Muluneh, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Ambulatory Leukemia

Dr. Muluneh received his PharmD from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and completed his PGY1 and PGY2 in Hematology/Oncology at UNC Hospitals. He serves as an integral part of the hematologic malignancy clinic team through providing supportive care, anticoagulation, antibiotic prophylaxis, as well as assisting with transitions of care. Benyam is originally from Ethiopia and has a high level of interest in international health. He is very active in his church and his lovely wife Mimi is currently a pediatric medical resident at UNC Hospitals. Benyam and Mimi are the proud parents of baby boy Lukas, who was born in November. Benyam is also a big Tarheel fan!

Amber Proctor, PharmD, BCOP Ambulatory Thoracic Malignancies

Dr. Proctor is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in the Thoracic Oncology clinics at UNC. Dr. Proctor participates in the care of patients with head and neck, lung, melanoma, and sarcoma malignancies. Dr. Proctor graduated from the University of Colorado with bachelors degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She then spent two years doing bench research for a drug development company in Colorado, but soon got lonely in the lab. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy in Aurora, CO and then traveled to Chapel Hill, NC to pursue a PGY1 residency at UNC Medical Center. She stayed on to complete a PGY2 Hematology/Oncology specialty residency at UNC after appreciating all the program had to offer. Dr. Proctor currently has a shared position between UNC Medical Center and the UNC ESOP, where she coordinates two Hematology/Oncology courses in the PharmD curriculum. Her interests include solid malignancies, pharmacogenomics, translational research, and patient education. In her free time she likes to cook, hike, ride horses, and cheer on the Denver Broncos.

Jon Ptachcinski PharmD, MA, BCPS Bone Marrow Transplant

Dr. Ptachcinski is a clinical pharmacist practitioner in inpatient and outpatient bone marrow transplant at UNC Medical Center. Dr. Ptachcinski received his undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Pittsburgh and his doctor of pharmacy at Duquesne University. He completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky and a PGY-2 hematology/oncology residency at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. Dr. Ptachcinski co-precepts both inpatient and outpatient bone marrow transplant rotations for students and residents. In his spare time, Dr. Ptachcinski enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, competing in triathlons, and rooting for all Pittsburgh sports teams.

Kamakshi Rao, PharmD, BCOP, CPP, FASHP Clinical Manager, Pharmacy Residency Programs Ambulatory Bone Marrow Transplant

Dr. Rao is a BMT Clinical Specialist at UNC Medical Center, with a practice site in the Outpatient Stem Cell Transplant Clinics. She also serves as Clinical Manager over pharmacy residency training programs at UNC. She graduated from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy , then completed a PGY1 residency at Virginia Commonwealth University and a 2-year Oncology/Clinical Research Fellowship at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Prior to coming to UNC in 2005, Dr. Rao was an Oncology Clinical Specialist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Rao also has a background in global health, and has been involved with projects that have taken two PGY2 oncology residents to different parts of Africa to set up and develop oncology pharmacy services. Outside of work, she enjoys all things musical, being a violinist and a pianist, and enjoys outdoor activities, rooting for the UNC Basketball teams, and time well spent with her husband, family, and friends.

J. Ryan Shaw, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Inpatient Bone Marrow Transplant

Dr. Shaw is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Bone Marrow Transplant at UNC Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Washington then completed his PGY-1 residency at MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, WA and his PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency at Duke University Hospital. He spent 4 additional years at Duke working inpatient oncology where he de-veloped specific interest in malignant hematology and bone marrow transplant. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest he loves all things Seattle including strong coffee, the Seahawks, and the occasional rainy day.

John Valgus, PharmD, MHA, BCOP, CPP Clinical Manager, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Service Line

John Valgus is the Clinical Manager of Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Services at UNC Medical Center. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at UNC ESOP, and the UNC Schools of Medicine and Nursing. He is also a member of the UNC Center for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy. Dr. Valgus received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He completed his pharmacy practice and hematology/oncology residencies at UNC Hospitals and Clinics and completed a fellowship in clinical pharmacogenetics at GSK. He received his MHA from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr Valgus served as the Residency Program Director for the Hematology/Oncology Residency from 2004 through 2016. His research and practice interests focus on achieving quality initiatives in oncology and the implementation of personalized medicine. He is the preceptor for the Hematology/Oncology Management Rotation. His personal interests include spending quality time with his wife and three daughters, enjoying the outdoors, and cheering for the Tarheels, Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies.