Learn about the many career possibilities within oncology pharmacy. Resident and Student Members of HOPA are encouraged to sign up for one (or all) of the Zoom events to ask career questions to HOPA members across the field. These 75 minute sessions will use rotating breakout rooms to chat directly with our speakers in small groups.
Clinical Pathways – January 10, 2023, 6pm CST
View Clinical Speaker Bios:
- Dr. Erin Hickey Zacholski, PharmD, BCOP earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, followed by a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy in Richmond, VA. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy and PGY-2 Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy residencies at the University of Kentucky HealthCare in Lexington, KY. In 2019, Dr. Zacholski joined VCU School of Pharmacy’s faculty as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, where she teaches students didactically and experientially, conducts scholarship to improve teaching, learning, and the care of oncology patients, and serves patients at the VCU Massey Cancer Center as a Clinical Oncology Pharmacy Specialist. In her clinical practice site, she subspecializes in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies, providing patient and provider education, chemotherapy management and supportive care, and the improvement of patient care.
- Benjamin Andrick, PharmD, BCOP is an Assistant Director Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy assistant professor, clinical research within the Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes. He completed his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Subsequently, he completed his PGY1 and PGY2 oncology residency training at Augusta University Medical Center, in collaboration with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, in Augusta, GA. He has a particular interest in hematological malignancies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as pharmacy practice services. Additionally, his clinical research interests include hematological malignancies/HCT supportive care, vaccines and the impact of the hem/onc pharmacist on clinical and pharmacoeconomic outcomes. Currently, he serves in an administrative role responsible for 4 inpatient hem/onc sites, 6 hem/onc pharmacies serving 12 hem/onc clinics and an oral chemotherapy clinic program serving cancer patients across central and northeastern Pennsylvania.
- Jolynn Sessions, Pharm.D., BCOP, FHOPA is an Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Provider. She is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Through pharmacy school, she worked as an intern and technician at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, and it was there that her passion for oncology pharmacy began, with the help of excellent mentors. She completed a PGY1 residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and then a PGY2 residency at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Following PGY2 training, Jolynn implemented clinical and operational services at Grady Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by almost a decade of service as the oncology PGY2 residency director, clinical pharmacist, and oncology clinical coordinator at Emory Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2008, Jolynn practices at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina as an oncology clinical pharmacist provider, and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Education with the University of North Carolina College of pharmacy. She is a member, and past treasurer of the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) and board of directors, and is HOPA President-elect in 2023. She is also a member of the North Carolina Oncology Pharmacists Association (NCOP). Special interest include pharmacogenomics and population health.
- Lee Amaya, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP is the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist of Infectious Diseases (ID) in the oncology patient population with a focus in malignant hematology and blood & marrow transplantation (BMT) at the Miami Cancer Institute (MCI) of Baptist Hospital of Miami (BHM). He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico. He then went on to obtain his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2018. After graduation, he completed his PGY1 pharmacy training at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and then his PGY2 ID pharmacy residency training at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. His interests include viral infection reactivation, invasive fungal infections, febrile neutropenia, antibiotic allergies, HIV, healthcare informatics, and personal development. He serves as the co-chair of the MCI Antimicrobial Stewardship (ASP) Collaborative where he works with the interdisciplinary team to develop and implement institutional antimicrobial use guidelines, protocols, and policies. He also serves as a preceptor for pharmacy interns and residents for a rotation in Immunocompromised Infectious Diseases.
- Amy Morrow Horowitz, BCOP – South Texas Veterans Health Care System
Industry Pathways – January 11, 2023 6pm CST
View Industry Speaker Bios:- Brandy S Snyder, PharmD, MBA, BCOP is a medical science liaison specializing in hematology for Bristol Myers Squibb field-based in Florida. Prior to this role she practiced at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Health for ~ 14 years, and her most recent role was Pharmacy Director for the Hematology/Oncology and Investigational Drug Services Pharmacy Department. During her tenure there she also supported the initiation of a new Phase I and Infectious Disease clinical trials unit and initiated a specialized Investigational Pharmacy Residency Program. In addition to developing and implementing new programs to support advancement of pharmacy services, educational programs, quality, and safety. She has also been a preceptor for pharmacy students and adjunct professor at several Schools of Pharmacy. She has been a leader in clinical trials research and presented at several local and national meetings in addition to being an active member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association.
- Becky Borgert, PharmD, BCOP is an Oncology Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomic Specialist at Amgen. She is an oncology pharmacist who is focused on delivering clinical and pharmacoeconomic data to various stakeholders within the US oncology landscape including payers, compendia organizations and oncology pathways. Prior to joining Amgen, Becky worked for Magellan Rx Management focusing on oncology management programs and reimbursement tools for health plan clients. Additional previous roles include clinical oncology specialist within an academic medical center (Shands at the University of Florida) and serving as a hospice pharmacy director.
- Shanada Monestime, PharmD, BCOP is currently the Director of Community Engaged Research at the GO2 for Lung Cancer. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and completed a two-year hematology/oncology postdoctoral residency with FAMU and Bristol Myers Squibb. Shortly after, Dr. Monestime was appointed to serve as an assistant Professor of Hematology/Oncology at the University of North Texas where she taught over 45 lectures annually, managed the pharmacy investigational drug services department, implemented new billable telehealth oncology services, and secured grant funding as the PI for several research projects in health equity supported by NHLBI and NIMHD. She has published 10 scientific articles within 3 years in a variety of journals such as AJHP, JCO, and JAPhA. Dr. Monestime also served as a clinical specialist in oncology at the Miami Cancer Institute, offering direct patient care and providing oral chemotherapy education and management. Dr. Monestime gives back to her profession through her active involvement in the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. In her current role at GO2 for Lung Cancer, she leads community-based participatory research to address lung cancer disparities in marginalized populations as it relates to biomarker testing, clinical trial enrollment, and lung cancer screening. Her ultimate goal is to ensure marginalized populations have equitable access to quality healthcare.
- Mike Vozniak works at Merck as a Scientific Director of Medical Affairs on the Health Systems Oncology team. Mike has been at Merck for over 5 years and has held a few different roles in Oncology Medical Affairs during this time. Additionally, he co-directs the 2-year Oncology Global Medical Information/Global Medical Affairs Fellowship Program. Prior to working at Merck, Mike worked at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and first worked as an Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and then as an Associate Director of Pharmacy. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and completed his PGY1 residency training at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and his PGY2 oncology residency training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Mike is a Past President of HOPA and achieved the designation as a Fellow of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (FHOPA) in 2017.
- Julia Matjec, PharmD, BCOP is a Senior Medical Science Liaison at AstraZeneca focusing on gastrointestinal tumours. She stared at AstraZeneca in April of 2016 but has been an oncology pharmacist since 2003. She got her first job as a clinical oncology pharmacist shortly after obtaining my PharmD in 2003. While working as an oncology pharmacist she became Board Certified in Oncology and eventually started as a Senior Medical Science Liaison at Amgen in 2007. Julia spent 5 years at Amgen then moved over to focus on liquid tumours at Jazz Pharmaceuticals in 2012 and finally landed where she is now, AstraZeneca. She’s worked for two large companies and a small company; each experience has given her valuable insights into how she wanted to shape her career. As a medical science liaison, Julia’s also had the opportunity to work on projects allowing her to interact with all phases of drug development from molecule identification through commercialization.
- BeiBei Ding is a senior manager on the US Oncology Payer Marketing team at Sanofi supporting market access preparations, including execution of launch readiness tactics and development of payer campaigns to appropriately communicate economic and clinical value to drive patient access. Prior to her current role, she has experience working in global pharmaceutical marketing, hospital managed care, and clinical consulting.
Nontraditional Pathways – January 12, 2023 6pm CST
View Nontraditional Pathways Speaker Bios:- Nicole Watts is a board-certified oncology pharmacist and the new Director of Strategic Partnerships for HOPA. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency at University of Virginia Health followed by 10 years of oncology pharmacy experience. Prior to her move to HOPA, she was a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and the Residency Program Director for the PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Program. In Nicole’s new role, she provides oversight and coordination of collaborative opportunities across HOPA by identifying potential collaborations and building strong relationships with industry, foundations, non‐profit and for‐profit organizations, advocacy, and public policy groups to support HOPA’s long‐term vision.
- David DeRemer, Pharm.D., BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA is a Clinical Professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and serves as the Assistant Director of Experimental Therapeutics Group at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center (UFHCC). He graduated from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Pharmacy in 2002 and completed PGY1 and PGY2 (Oncology) residencies at the UK Chandler Medical Center. Following residency training, he completed a 1-year oncology drug discovery fellowship. From 2006-2017, he was clinical practice faculty member at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy who specialized in BMT/hematological malignancies in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Currently, he serves as a collaborating co-investigator on early phase clinical trials at UFHCC. His research interests include mechanisms to ameliorate immunotherapy response, biomarker development, supportive care treatments in cancer patients, cardiotoxicity associated with cancer therapies, and drug development.
- Lauren McBride, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, is an Oncology Safety Evaluator in the Division of Pharmacovigilance at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Rhode Island and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Boston Medical Center and her PGY2 Oncology Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Prior to joining the FDA in 2018, Dr. McBride practiced as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in Blood and Marrow Transplant at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and in outpatient oncology at The National Institutes of Health and Kaiser Permanente.
- Ann Schwemm is an Associate Director of Clinical Oncology at Flatiron Health, Inc. In her role at Flatiron Health, Inc she is responsible for ensuring care quality and equity across product development as well as development of safe clinical content and intuitive workflows. Prior to joining Flatiron Health in 2019 she practiced as a clinical oncology pharmacist at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center as well as the University of Washington Seattle Cancer Care Alliance starting in 2011. She has also worked as a consultant for clinical development for MyMeds, Inc a medication adherence start up. Schwemm is a member of the Minnesota Society of Health System Pharmacist, the Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association, Inc. She currently chairs the Quality Oversight Committee for the Hematology Oncology Pharmacist Association. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2005 and the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Master of Public Health degree in 2009. After completing her PharmD/MPH, she pursued a PGY1 and PGY2 in oncology at the University of Michigan Health System. In her free time she enjoys spending time outside exploring, hiking and biking around Minnesota with her husband and two sons, Emmett and Henry.
- Dr. Laura R. Bobolts is a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist who specializes in oncology managed care and population-based research using real-world data. At OncoHealth, she develops clinical strategies to support high-quality, cost-effective cancer care, tailored to a cancer patient's unique needs. She also works to innovate oncology utilization management for over 15 payers, covering over 8.3 million member lives, analyzing payer claims and utilization management data to identify key oncology trends and actionable clinical insights. She helps develop new products for the company and leads real-world data oncology research projects. She serves as an oncology clinical subject matter expert for sales, marketing, analytics, and life sciences. Dr. Bobolts began her oncology career at Moffitt Cancer Center, specializing in malignant hematology, then breast and gynecologic oncology after completing a pharmacy practice residency at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. She established the role of the first clinical oncology pharmacist positioned in the Women’s Oncology Clinic at Moffitt Cancer Center. She also practiced pediatric oncology at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital prior to joining OncoHealth, where she currently focuses on all adult malignancies. She is a peer-reviewer for JAMA Oncology, and published in Lancet Oncology.
- Megan Hartranft, PharmD, BCOP, is Clinical Lead at Labcorp Diagnostics. As a part of the Clinical and Digital Solutions team, Megan serves as a subject matter expert advising on oncology and pharmacogenomic products. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she first became interested in cancer care thanks to an internship with Via Oncology (now Elsevier's ClinicalPath). She completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at the University of Michigan and PGY2 oncology residency at Augusta University Health System. Megan began her career as a clinical and academic pharmacist, spending four years as a faculty member at Rosalind Franklin University, with a practice appointment at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where she established an oral chemotherapy clinic. Before making her recent jump to diagnostics, Megan also spent time in Pharma, first as an hematology-oncology MSL and later as associate director for training at Sanofi.
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