Biographical Sketches of Residency Preceptors

Amy Becker, Pharm.D., BCOP

Dr. Becker is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Hematology/Oncology and an Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She serves as a preceptor to residents in the outpatient clinic and the hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation inpatient care units of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Becker received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Iowa, and completed a residency in Advanced Clinical Pharmacy at Ohio State University. Her areas of interest include the treatment of hematologic malignancies, antiemetic therapy, and pain management.

Elizabeth Beltz, Pharm.D.

Dr. Beltz is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine/Medical Intensive Care Unit and Infectious Diseases. She is also an Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She serves as a preceptor to residents in the medical intensive care unit. Dr. Beltz received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from Purdue University and completed an ASHP-accredited residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Her areas of interest include sedation in ventilated patients, the use of neuromuscular blocking agents in the ICU setting, and treatment strategies for sepsis.

Roy 'Cam' Davis, Pharm.D.

Dr. Davis is a Clinical Pharmacist in Pediatrics and Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He serves as a preceptor for Pharmacy Practice Residents and Pharm.D. students. Dr. Davis received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas and Pharm.D. degree from Duquesne University. His areas of interest include pediatrics and cardiology.

Dena Behm Dillon, Pharm.D., AAHIVE

Dr. Dillon is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Her primary practice site is the Anticoagaulation Case Management Service at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and she is an HIV consultant for the Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center. She serves as a preceptor to residents in the Anticoagulation Clinic and lectures students on the topic of HIV at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She earned her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Michigan, then completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida and an Infectious Diseases/Critical Care Specialty Residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Her areas of interest include the use of alternative medicine and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Michael E. Ernst, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Ernst is an Associate Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and precepts residents and PharmD students in the Family Medicine clinic. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and completed a Specialty Pharmacy Residency in Family Medicine at the University of Iowa. Dr. Ernst lectures on numerous pharmacotherapy topics to students in the College of Pharmacy. He has authored over 40 publications, and maintains active practice and interdisciplinary research interests in the areas of geriatrics, hypertension, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Brett Faine, Pharm.D.

Dr. Faine is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine. He serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D. students in the Emergency Treatment Center. Dr. Faine received his Pharm.D degree from the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His areas of interest include pain and sedation for trauma patients, toxicology and infectious diseases in the Emergency Department.

Jill Fowler, Pharm.D.

Dr. Fowler is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Psychiatry and an Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. Her primary practice site is the inpatient Medicine Psyciatry service, with collaborative particpation in the care of patients admitted to the UIHC psychiatry service. She serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students. Dr. Fowler received her Pharm.D from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed an ASHP-accreditted Residency in Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and Affiliated Institutions. She will also be receiving her Master's degree in Pharmacy Practice and Administration with an Emphasis in Mental Health Outcomes from The University of Texas at Austin in December 2009. Her primary interests include mood disorders, management of acute and chronic medical conditions in the context of mental illness, and outcomes research involving psychotrophic medication adherence.

Michelle Fravel, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Fravel is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Anticoagulation Clinic and the Renal/Hypertension Clinic. She serves as a preceptor to residents in both of these clinical settings. Dr. Fravel received her Pharm.D. from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and completed a two-year Specialized Ambulatory Care Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. She is also an Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy with primary teaching roles in the Pharmacy Practice Lab series and the Non-Prescription Pharmacotherapy elective course.

Ryan Hobbs, R.Ph.

Mr. Hobbs is a Clinical Pharmacist in Cardiology. He serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D. students in cardiology and cardiovascular intensive care. Mr. Hobbs received his B.S. degree from the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His areas of interest include emergency and critical cardiac care and pharmacy and multidisciplinary process improvements to improve patient outcomes.

Katie Horner, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Horner is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care and an Assistant Professor (Clinical) in Ambulatory Care. Her primary practice sites include the Anticoagulation, Internal Medicine, and Geriatrics Clinics. She serves as a preceptor for residents and Pharm.D. students in these clinical settings. Dr. Horner received her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Iowa and completed ASHP-accredited PGY1 and PGY2 residencies in Primary Care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In addition to her areas of practice, her other interests include management of hypertension and diabetes.

Ryan Jacobsen, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Jacobsen is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Pharmaceutical Care. His primary practice sites include Internal Medicine, Anticoagulation, Pharmaceutical Case Management, Geriatrics, and Renal/Hypertension clinics. He serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D. students. He is also an Assistant Professor (Clinical) with the University of Iowa and teaches in various courses at the College of Pharmacy. Dr. Jacobsen received his Pharm.D. degree from the Creighton University School of Pharmacy and completed an ASHP-accredited Specialized Residency in Ambulatory Care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In addition to his areas of practice, his interests include multidisciplinary collaborative care, vitamin D deficiency, cardiovascular disease, and motivational patient interaction.

Sarah Johnson, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Johnson is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the area of Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Management. Dr. Johnson serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students for the Infectious Diseases rotation. She received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Iowa and completed a pharmacy residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Her areas of interest include pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, antimicrobial stewardship, and outcomes research.

Lee Kral, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Kral is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Pain Management. Her practice includes the acute pain service, palliative care service and the chronic pain medicine clinic. She serves as a preceptor for pharmacy and medical residents, pain fellows, and Pharm.D. students in this area. Dr. Kral received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees at the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She holds adjunct assistant professor appoinments at both the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. In addition to her principal areas of practice, her other interests include internal medicine and neurology.

Michelle Krummel, R.Ph., BCPS

Ms. Krummel is a Clinical Pharmacist in the Ambulatory Care Pharmacies and Anticoagulation Clinic. She serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents in the Anticoagulation Clinic. She received her B.S. degree from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. Her areas of interest are hyperlipidemia and patient education.

Lisa A. Mascardo, Pharm.D.

Dr. Mascardo is the Assistant Director for Ambulatory Pharmaceutical Care. She serves as a preceptor for residents on the Pharmacy Management rotation. She received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Iowa. Her areas of interest include patient safety initiatives, quality improvement, pharmacy management and oncology.

Deanna McDanel, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. McDanel is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care and an Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She is also the Program Director of the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at UIHC. Her primary practice sites include the Internal Medicine, Anticoagulation, and Allergy/Immunology Clinics. She serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D. students. Dr. McDanel received her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited Specialized Residency in Primary Care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In addition to her areas of practice, her other interests include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular medicine.

Gary Milavetz, Pharm.D.

Dr. Milavetz is a clinical pharmacist in the Division of Allergy and Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, UIHC and an Associate Professor, Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. The Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonary Clinic is an ambulatory care site seeing primarily patients with asthma, rhinitis and cystic fibrosis. He is a preceptor to residents and Doctor of Pharmacy students. Dr. Milavetz received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Minnesota. He completed a research fellowship at UIHC. His areas of interest include pediatric pharmacotherapy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. He is active in local, regional and national pharmacy organizations. He is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Doug Morgan, M.S., R.Ph.

Mr. Morgan is a Clinical Pharmacist in Pediatric Intensive Care, and serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D. students in this area. He received his B.S. and M.S. (Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy) degrees from the University of Iowa, and completed an ASHP-accredited residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His areas of interest include pain management, sedation strategies, medication administration methods, and medication safety measures in pediatric intensive care.

Joan Murhammer, R.Ph.

Ms. Murhammer is a Clinical Pharmacist in the Drug Information Center and an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She serves as a preceptor for residents and Pharm.D. students for the Drug Information rotation and educates residents and students on answering drug information calls, literature evaluation, and on-line retrieval systems. Ms. Murhammer received her B.S. degree from the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Her areas of interest include drug information resources, immunizations, and dietary supplements.

Steven P. Nelson, M.S.

Mr. Nelson is Senior Associate Director in the Department of Pharmaceutical Care. He also serves as Adjunct Associate Professor in the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. Mr. Nelson received his B.S. in Pharmacy and M.S. in Hospital Pharmacy from North Dakota State University and completed an ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. His areas of interest include computer systems, automated dispensing systems, human resources management, medication safety, and quality improvement.

Ellen Nickel, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Nickel is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She serves as a preceptor to residents in the areas of surgery, surgical intensive care and the operating room. Dr. Nickel received her B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin and her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her major areas of interest include sedation and pain management, the appropriate use of neuromuscular blockade, pharmacokinetics and nutrition support in the critically ill. Dr. Nickel has an adjunct faculty appointment in the Department of Anesthesia and serves as the pharmacist for the Lung Transplant Team. She also is the pharmacy consultant to the Hyperbaric Medicine Service.

Dr. Jeff Reist is an Assistant Professor (Clinical) and coordinator of the Pharmacy Practice Laboratory at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He also practices as a Clinical Pharmacist in Ambulatory Care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the areas of geriatrics and anticoagulation. Prior to returning to the College to teach full-time, Jeff worked in hospital, community and long-term care pharmacy practices in the Cedar Rapids area and served as adjunct faculty precepting pharmacy students. He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy (BS Pharm) and a 2007 graduate of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy (PharmD). Jeff is a member of the American Pharmacists Association, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Iowa Pharmacy Association.

Ms. Ross is the Assistant Director for the Drug Information, Medication Use Evaluation and Research Center. Ms. Ross received her B.S. degree from the University of Iowa and her M.B.A. degree from Eastern Michigan University. Her areas of interest include evaluating the utility of electronic/computerized drug information resources, disease state management, pharmacoeconomics, and the development of concurrent, interventional medication use evaluations that improve patient outcome.

Jamie Smelser, Pharm.D.

Dr. Smelser is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) program and Adjunct Associate Professor with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Graduate Program in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. Dr. Smelser serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D. students. She received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited ambulatory care specialty residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center. Dr. Smelser lectures Pharm.D. students in the College of Pharmacy and graduate students in the College of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. She has contributed to several pharmacy publications. Her areas of interest include anticoagulation, evidence-based medicine, guideline development and implementation, pharmacoeconomics, and outcomes research.

Mark Sorenson, R.Ph.

Mr. Sorenson is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Pediatrics and serves as a preceptor to residents in the area of pediatrics. His clinical practice sites include the pediatric bone marrow transplantation unit and the pediatric hematology/oncology services. Mr. Sorenson received his B.S. degree from the University of Iowa and completed an ASHP-accredited residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His areas of interest include treatment of infectious diseases in immunocompromised children and therapy of pediatric oncology disorders. He is actively involved in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) as the Chair of the Pharmacy Committee and a member of the Pharmacy, ALL, and Supportive Care Committees.

Kim Spading, R.Ph.

Ms. Spading is a manager in Ambulatory Pharmaceutical Care, which includes outpatient pharmacies in General Hospital, Pomerantz Family Pavilion, and the Ambulatory Surgery Center; as well as a Medication Assistance Pharmacy and the Westlawn Pharmacy at Student Health Service. In addition, she serves as the Pharmacy contact for ambulatory clinics throughout the hospital. Ms. Spading serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students. She received her B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 1996, and has worked in a number of areas at UIHC over the past 10 years.

David Thomsen, R.Ph.

Mr. Thomsen is a Clinical Pharmacist in Solid Organ Transplantation. He serves as a preceptor for pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students taking the surgery/solid organ transplantation rotation. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Iowa. His interests include immunology, immunosuppressants, patient education, and latex allergy concerns.

Sarah Tierney, Pharm.D.

Dr. Tierney is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D students. Dr. Tierney received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University, her Pharm.D. from the University of Iowa, and completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Her major areas of interest include pain management, treatment of infectious diseases, and prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Chad Triplett, Pharm.D., BCPS

Dr. Triplett is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care and an Adjunct Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. His primary practice site is the Priamry Care Clinic North which serves the state's Iowa Care population. He serves as a preceptor to residents and Pharm.D students. Dr. Triplett received his Pharm.D. degree from Creighton University and completed an ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee, WI. In addition to his practive area, his other interests include diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular medicine.

Dave Weetman, R.Ph., M.S.

Mr. Weetman is Assistant Director of the Acute Pharmaceutical Care Service. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Iowa, completed an ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and received his Masters in Business Administration degree from The Johns-Hopkins University. His areas of interest include continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings and medication safety.