Program Faculty Members
Maria Devivo, PharmD, MPA, BCPS, BCACP
Director of Pharmacy Services
maria.devivo@rwjbh.org
Education: B.S. Pharm Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, Long Island
University
Pharm. D. Shenandoah University
MPA Rutgers University
Practice Area/Research Interest: Pharmacy Management
Health Care Finance
Health Care Regulatory Affairs
Best advice: “Put yourself in the other person’s shoes”
Being empathetic is vital to providing compassionate care to our patients
as well as fostering collaboration between members of the health care team.
Sandy Moreau, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Coordinator
PGY-1 Residency Program Director
sandy.liu@rwjbh.org
Education: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest:Clinical management and optimizing pharmacy extenders
Health system standardization
Pharmacy clinical service metrics
Pharmacy residency research
Best advice: “When you deliver a presentation, you have to tell a story.”
This advice always helped me ground my perspective during public speaking
preparation and guide my presentation delivery.
Leo Batongbakal, PharmD, BCPP
Psychiatry Clinical Specialist
leo.batongbakal@rwjbh.org
Education: Belmont University School of Pharmacy
Jersey City Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: acute psychiatric and mood disorders, long-acting injectables antipsychotics, reducing anticholinergic burden, and decreasing mental health stigma
Best advice: "You can't pour from an empty cup." — Burnout is a serious issue among health care professionals. Developing a strong work-life balance is essential for being the best you can be and preventing burnout.
Lindsay Brust-Sisti, PharmD, BCPS
Rutgers Faculty Internal Medicine Clinical Specialist
lindsay.brust-sisti@rwjbh.org
Education: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
James J. Peters VA Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Clinical Assistant Professor – Internal Medicine
Clinical/Research Interests: Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Heart Failure,
Anticoagulation, Patient Counseling, SBAR Communication Technique
Best advice: Learn by teaching others.
Michelle Mercadante, PharmD, BCCCP
Critical Care Clinical Specialist
michelle.mercadante@rwjbh.org
Education:Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Practice Area/Research Interest:Critical Care/Trauma
Best advice:When treating patients, remember that every person is different; always treat the patient, not the disease, with empathy, dignity and without judgement. I always refer to my patients by name instead of room number, reason for admission or category and remember they are someone’s friend or family member and should be treated as I would want my own to be. You can learn a little something from every patient case, which can always help your next.
Sheryl Darville, PharmD
Information Technology Specialist
sheryl.darville@rwjbh.org
Education: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
ASHP Pharmacy Informatics Certificate Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Pharmacy Informatics
Best advice: “Live and enjoy the present moment. Don’t stress over what is to come in the future.”
Christine Dimaculangan, PharmD, BCACP
Rutgers Faculty Ambulatory Care Clinical Specialist
christine.dimaculangan@rwjbh.org
Education: SOP Alma Mater: Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of
the Sciences
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center/MCPHS University, PGY-1 Pharmacy
Residency Program
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Practice Area of Interest: Ambulatory Care
Research Interests: Research in academia, infectious diseases in ambulatory
care, primary care, transgender health
Best advice: Out of all the amazing advice I've gotten throughout these past few years, I would say that the most important things I have taken away from it all is:
- Do it all with a smile :)
- Take the time to learn everyone's names (as best you can). Taking that time from the get go will help you become the best team player that you can be.
Matthew Lamb, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP
Emergency Medicine Clinical Specialist
Pharmacy Residency Coordinator
matthew.lamb@rwjbh.org
Education: The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
Boston Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program
University of Chicago Medical Center, PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy
Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Emergency medicine / trauma / toxicological emergencies
Antimicrobial stewardship in the emergency department
Pain management and opioid stewardship
Best advice: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending a night with a mosquito.” In reality, small efforts every day can create large results. The other piece of advice would be to always ask why. It's amazing what you will learn and improve when you keep asking yourself why.
Nicole Leonida, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Specialist
RWJBH Residency Ambassador
nicole.leonida@rwjbh.org
Education: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University
Jersey City Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine
Best advice: It does not matter how big or small of a difference you make in practice. At the end of the day, you just want to be able to tell yourself that you impacted patient care in a positive way and made sure patients received safe and effective medication therapy.
Neeki Patel, PharmD, BCPS
Med/Surg Unit-Based Clinical Specialist
neeki.patel@rwjbj.org
Education: Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Internal Medicine – Patient education, medication regimen optimization, resource for medicine and surgical teams
Best advice: “Every time you speak to a patient, treat that patient like they are your own family member.” This piece of advice has always helped me to bring empathy into my counseling sessions.
Slava Plotkin, PharmD
Med/Surg Unit-Based Clinical Specialist
slava.plotkin@rwjbh.org
Education: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Baystate Medical Center, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program
Practice Area/Research Interest: Internal Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Medication Safety
Best advice: First APPE preceptor on IM1 rotation: “You know more than you think you know and you definitely know more about medications than the medical residents. Be confident in your interactions.”
Muhammad Shahid, PharmD, BCOP
Oncology Pharmacy Manager
muhammad.shahid@rwjbh.org
Education: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences