Javier Vázquez, Pharm.D., MS

Director, Inpatient Pharmacy at Johns Hopkins Bayview
Director, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Javier Vázquez, Pharm.D., MS, director of pharmacy at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree from the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Pharmacy. Upon graduation, he pursued a master's of science degree at The Ohio State University in Health-System Pharmacy Administration (HSPA). During that time, he also completed PGY1 and PGY2 HSPA residencies at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Vázquez serves as a pharmacist faculty member and coordinator for the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University. He is a preceptor for APPE students and PGY1 residents in practice management rotations, as well as for PGY1 and PGY2 HSPA residents from the Johns Hopkins Hospital completing elective rotations as Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Additionally, serves as commissioner of the Maryland Board of Pharmacy representing the acute care setting.

Paul Ortiz, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCGP

Program Director (Interim), PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Paul Ortiz, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCGP, is a clinical pharmacy specialist in internal medicine and geriatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He earned a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. After graduation, he completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and a PGY-2 Geriatric Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Ortiz is involved in various committees within the institution and currently serves as the Residency Program Coordinator for the PGY-1 residency program. He also is an active member of Maryland Chapter of American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (MD-ASCP). His clinical interests include geriatrics, transitions of care, dementia and medication safety.

Navya Varshney, Pharm.D., BCPS

Residency Program Coordinator, PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Navya Varshney, Pharm.D., BCPS is a clinical specialist in internal medicine and geriatrics. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in Ann Arbor, MI. After graduation, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the University of California, San Francisco and PGY-2 residency in ambulatory care and family medicine at the University of Colorado.

Dr. Varshney is active within the institution as the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program Coordinator, Co-Chair of the Diabetes Clinical Practice Committee, Secretary of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, and Point of Care Test Trainer for the Anticoagulation Clinic. She is also a member of ASHP and MSHP. Her interests include cardiology, diabetes, geriatrics, population health, and student and resident education.

Nazeer Ahmed, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCGP, CDCES

Nazeer Ahmed, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCGP, CDCES, graduated from University of Madras, India with a bachelor's in pharmacy. He later earned a doctorate degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Pharmacy. He is board-certified in pharmacotherapy and is a certified geriatric pharmacist.

Dr. Ahmed is a clinical specialist in internal medicine and geriatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Dr. Ahmed is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and sees patients at the Bayview Endocrinology clinic.

Dr. Ahmed is a member of both ASHP and MSHP and plays an active role in educating and mentoring both student pharmacists and PGY1 residents on his internal medicine rotation. He is highly recognized by his internal medicine faculty and nurses and is involved with various committees focused on improving the health and safety of medicine and geriatric patients. Dr. Ahmed has received recognition from the Medical Center for his many contributions to safe patient care.

Olivia Berger, Pharm.D, BCPS

Olivia Berger, PharmD, BCPS is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Pain and Palliative Care at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She earned her doctorate of pharmacy degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. After graduation, she completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Carolinas Medical Center, followed by a PGY-2 Pain Management and Palliative Care Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Berger is involved in various committees within the institution, including the Anesthesia and Analgesia Specialty Panel and the Opioid Stewardship Clinical Community. She is an active member of the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Her clinical interests include pain management, palliative care, and substance use disorders.

Jessa R. Brenon, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP

Jessa R. Brenon, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) at the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2014. Upon graduation, she went on to complete a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. She then went on to practice full time as an inpatient clinical pharmacist at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York, where she helped to create the institution’s first formal Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, while also working part-time as a Telepharmacist for PipelineRx where she was engaged in telehealth antimicrobial stewardship services. In 2020 she completed her PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York before moving to Maryland to pursue her career at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Brenon is active within the institution as a member of the OPAT Oversight Committee, Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, and Residency Advisory Committee(s). She is also an active member of SIDP. Her clinical and research interests include outpatient antimicrobial stewardship, OPAT program outcomes, COpAT, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials.

Mariela Cardona González, Pharm.D., BCCCP

Mariela Cardona González, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacy specialist in the Burn and Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, followed by a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Dr. Cardona's clinical interests include clinical nutrition, glycemic control, and sedation and analgesia. She is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Burn Association (ABA), and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM).

Jessica Crow, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, CNSC, FCCM

Jessica Crow, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, CNSC, FCCM, earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from The University of Texas at Austin, a doctor of pharmacy degree from Texas Tech University, and is currently completing a master of public health degree at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed PGY1 pharmacy residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, followed by PGY2 critical care pharmacy residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital. In addition to her leadership role, she maintains a practice site as a clinical pharmacy specialist in cardiovascular surgical intensive care at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Crow’s passion is to improve patient outcomes through interdisciplinary creation of best practice policies and protocols that can be applied broadly. She has received several awards in pharmacy practice including the MSHP Excellence Award, MSHP Preceptor of the Year Award, ASPEN Clinical Nutrition Team of Distinction Award, STS First Place Research Poster Award, Johns Hopkins Medication Safety Star Award, Texas Tech University Distinguished Alumni Award, and was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Critical Care Medicine. She currently serves as SCCM Baltimore Chapter President.

Dr. Crow chairs the JHBMC Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Committee and the Anticoagulation Clinic Committee, and is actively involved in the Johns Hopkins Health System Intensive Care Unit Clinical Community and the Formulary Management and Medication-Use Policy Committee. Dr. Crow serves as a preceptor for APPE students and PGY1 residents in practice management rotations at JHBMC.

Bryna Delman Ewachiw, Pharm.D., BCOP

Bryna Delman Ewachiw, Pharm.D., BCOP, oncology pharmacy coordinator at Johns Hopkins Bayview, earned a bachelor's and doctorate of pharmacy degree from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has practiced in the field of oncology for over 15 years, among the top cancer programs in the region at The University of Maryland Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She holds clinical interests in supportive care, geriatric oncology and improving patient outcomes as a member of the oncology multi-disciplinary team.

Dr. Ewachiw also serves as clinical assistant professor at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She precepts at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Shenandoah University, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, and Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Additionally, Dr. Ewachiw is active in both the Hematology and Oncology Pharmacists’ Association (HOPA) and the Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP).

Heather Folz, Pharm.D., BCACP

Heather Folz, Pharm.D., BCACP is a clinical specialist in ambulatory care.  She earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree at Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences in Buies Creek, NC.  After graduation, she completed a PGY-1 in community pharmacy with Kroger and Union University in Jackson, TN followed by a PGY-2 in ambulatory care with an emphasis in academia and disease prevention and wellness with Butler University in Indianapolis, IN.

Dr. Folz currently practices in outpatient internal medicine as a member of the ambulatory care pharmacy team within the Johns Hopkins Community Physicians group at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.  She also serves as a clinical assistant professor at Notre Dame of Maryland University and preceptor for APPE students and Hopkins Bayview Medical Center pharmacy residents.  She also enjoys teaching interactive small group sessions with the medical residents.  Her interests include, diabetes management, disease prevention, immunizations, and innovative teaching and learning.

Stefanie Houseknecht, Pharm.D., BCOP

Stefanie Houseknecht, Pharm.D., BCOP, is a clinical specialist in oncology. She earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree at the University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. After graduation, she completed an acute care PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, California, followed by a PGY-2 oncology residency at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD).

Following residency, Dr. Houseknecht stayed at UCSD’s Moores Cancer Center where she worked in the infusion center and served as a preceptor to students and residents of UCSD’s school of pharmacy and PGY-1 and PGY-2 residency programs. In 2016, she became a clinical pharmacy specialist in thoracic oncology, and later moved to Maryland to continue her career at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center as a clinical pharmacy specialist in ambulatory thoracic malignancies. Her role is to improve access to oral targeted therapies, assist with the management of toxicities from these agents and improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer.

Angela Helder, Pharm.D., BCPS

Angela M. Helder, Pharm.D., BCPS, is the medication safety coordinator at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Dr. Helder earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree from The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Upon graduation, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY-2 pediatric specialty residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Medication Safety Officers Society, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Maryland Society of Health Systems Pharmacists.

Dr. Helder’s primary responsibility is investigating medication-related events and helping develop system changes that promote the safe use of medications within the hospital and health-system. In addition, she is a member of various hospital committees and workgroups supporting patient and medication safety and quality and serves as the co-chair of our medication safety committee.

Catherine Kiruthi, Pharm.D., BCPS

Catherine Kiruthi, Pharm.D, BCPS is a cardiology clinical pharmacy specialist for the cardiac intensive care unit as well the progressive care unit cardiology service. She earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. After graduation, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.

Dr. Kiruthi is a clinical associate professor for the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and precepts pharmacy students for the school, as well as Notre Dame of Maryland University and Shenandoah University. She also precepts the PGY2 cardiology pharmacy residents from Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a member of the American College of Cardiology, Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She holds clinical practice interests in cardiology critical care and anticoagulation.

Caroline Liang, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS

Caroline Liang, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS, is a clinical pharmacy specialist in maternal and child health at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. Afterwards, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY-2 residency in pediatric pharmacy at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT.

Dr. Liang is active within the institution as a member of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Clinical Practice Committee and the Maternal Child Health Joint Practice Council. She is also a member of PPAG, ASHP, and ACCP. Her clinical interests include neonatal intensive care, pediatric antimicrobial stewardship, and medication safety.

Elaine Liu, Pharm.D.

Elaine Liu, Pharm.D. is an infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship clinical pharmacy specialist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She earned her doctorate of pharmacy degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. Following graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey and then a PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. She is a member of The Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). Her passions include infective endocarditis, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and multidisciplinary education.

Mayrim Millan-Barea, PharmD, MBA, BCPS

Mayrim Millan-Barea, PharmD, MBA, BCPS is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations and Medication Use Systems at JHBMC. She earned her doctorate pharmacy degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University her Masters of Business Administration degree from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Mayrim completed a combined PGY1/2 Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Millan-Barea’s professional interests are academia, infectious diseases, employee professional development, data driven operational decision making, and drug shortage management. She serves as the Pharmacist Chair for the MSHP Pharmacy Technician Committee and precepts APPE students from Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, and Shenandoah University. She also precepts PGY1 Residents at JHBMC and PGY2 Informatics Resident from The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Jim Monolakis, Pharm.D.

Jim Monolakis, Pharm.D. is the Manager for the Investigational Drug Service at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific, School of Pharmacy in Stockton, CA. After graduation, he completed a 2 year post-doctorate fellowship in critical care medicine and research at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT.

Dr. Monolakis is active within the institution managing the Investigational Drug Service along with a Research Pharmacy for the Johns Hopkins University, Department of Psychiatry in substance abuse research. Additionally, as a member of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, Dr. Monolakis is the liaison to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Institutional Review Board and is the primary preceptor for the Investigational Drug Service elective rotation. He is also a member of MSHP. His interests include pain management, infectious diseases, critical care pharmacy along with student and resident education.

Finnella Morgan, Pharm.D.

Finnella Morgan, Pharm.D. is an emergency medicine clinical pharmacy specialist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She earned her doctorate of pharmacy degree at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Afterwards, she completed her PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC followed by her PGY-2 in emergency medicine at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Her interests include resuscitation, toxicology and neurologic emergencies. She is a member of ASHP and ACCP.

Charlie Twilley, Pharm.D., MBA

Charlie Twilley, Pharm.D., MBA, is a clinical specialist in ambulatory medicine/anticoagulation management. He earned a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Maryland and an MBA at the University of Baltimore. He has worked at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

In addition to serving as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland and precepting at the College of Notre Dame in Maryland, Dr. Twilley also precepts ambulatory care medicine and drug information & policy for the PGY-1 Residency Program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Colleen Whyte, Pharm.D., BCCCP

Colleen Whyte, Pharm.D., BCCCP is a clinical specialist in neurosciences and neurocritical care. She earned a doctorate of pharmacy degree from Concordia University – Wisconsin School of Pharmacy in Mequon, WI. After graduation, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, WI and PGY-2 residency in critical care at Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE. She is active within the institution in a variety of committees, as well as a member of ASHP, MSHP, SCCM, and NCS. Her interests include status epilepticus, meningitis/encephalitis, transitions of care, and student/resident education.

Henry Yeh, Pharm.D., BCCCP

Henry Yeh, Pharm.D., BCCCP, is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Pharmacy and completed residency training at West Virginia University Medical Center.

Dr. Yeh has been a clinical pharmacy specialist since beginning his career at Johns Hopkins Bayview after his residency. He is responsible for patient care activities in the Medical Intensive Care Unit and has been involved with many quality improvement initiatives. He continues to work on departmental projects in many areas throughout the Medical Center.

Dr. Yeh is the primary preceptor for the MICU rotation for the PGY1 program and is committed to teaching residents, nurses and providers on various critical care topics. He also serves as the pharmacy representative for the MICU and technology committees, and has been responsible for developing and reviewing protocols for sepsis, insulin management and improving patient care with technology. Dr. Yeh has been recognized by the MICU and CICU staff for his commitment to patient care.