Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital –
St. Joseph Campus PGY1 Pharmacy
Residency Program

Meet Our Preceptors

Bridget Manning, PharmD, BCPS

is a clinical staff pharmacist at Ascension SE-WI Hospital- Elmbrook Campus. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Midwestern University- College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove in 2017. She completed a PGY-1 residency at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus and has since worked at several hospitals within the Ascension Wisconsin system. Her clinical interests include internal medicine and women's health. She currently serves as co-preceptor for the internal medicine rotation and precepts APPE students as well. She loves having the opportunity to teach residents and students and finds precepting very rewarding.

Jeffrey Yochum, PharmD, BCPS

earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. He has been a clinical staff pharmacist at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee since 2010 and has specialized in emergency medicine since 2012. He is a co-preceptor for emergency medicine for PGY-1 residents and has precepted APPE students for CUW, MCW, UW-Madison, Rosalind Franklin, and Midwestern schools of pharmacy. He is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacy, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin. He completed his Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy in 2013. His clinical interests include emergency medicine, critical care, toxicology, and medication safety.  

John Day, PharmD, BCPS

is a clinical pharmacist and the investigational drug pharmacist at Ascension SE WI Hospital- St. Joseph. He received his B.S. degree in Biology in 2013 from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and his PharmD from Midwestern University- Chicago College of Pharmacy in 2017. He completed a Pharmacy Practice PGY1 Residency at  Ascension SE WI Hospital- St. Joseph. He has been a pharmacist at St. Joseph Hospital upon completing residency in 2018. Currently, he is the primary preceptor for the NICU/Women's Health rotation for APPE students and PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residents. John's professional interests include neonatal intensive care, women's health, infectious diseases, and nutrition. In addition to caring for preterm infants, one of his favorite parts of his job is precepting students and residents and witnessing their growth throughout his rotation.  

Karina Sundar, PharmD, BCPS

earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Temple University prior to moving to Wisconsin to complete her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Concordia University of WI in 2017. She then went on to do her PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Froedtert Hospital and is currently a preceptor for the Emergency Medicine rotations for PGY-1 Residents and APPE students. In her spare time, Karina enjoys traveling, hiking, lake activities, relaxing with her cats, and looking into newly approved drugs on Lexicomp.

Katie Valdovinos, PharmD, BCPS

earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University in 2004.  She then went on to complete a PGY1 pharmacy residency with Aurora Health Care at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center.  She became board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2008.  Katie worked as a clinical pharmacist at several hospitals within the Aurora Health Care System and at Concordia University Wisconsin's School of Pharmacy before beginning her role as a clinical staff pharmacist at Ascension Elmbrook Memorial Hospital in 2014.  She precepts the geriatrics rotation and co-precepts the cardiology rotation. She also serves as a preceptor for APPE students from Concordia University Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She is a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.  Her clinical interests include internal medicine, geriatrics, and neurology.  

Kyle Piscitello, PharmD

is the regional pharmacy lead for antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases - he has precepted the antimicrobial stewardship/infectious diseases rotation since 2016. Kyle graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy with his PharmD in 2014. He also completed two years of residency, first at legacy Wheaton Franciscan St. Joseph Campus (PGY-1), and then at UnityPoint Health - Meriter (PGY-2 infectious diseases).  His practice sites include the following Ascension Hospitals in SE Wisconsin: St. Joseph Hospital, Elmbrook Memorial Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, Franklin Hospital/Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, Columbia St. Mary's Milwaukee, and Columbia St. Mary's Ozaukee. In addition to regional responsibilities, Kyle manages Ascension Wisconsin antimicrobial stewardship with his colleague, Jim Davis, and is a voting member of the Ascension Health Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee (AHAS). Kyle plans to take the BSP-ID exam in 2021 and will eventually pursue a Masters in Public Health in the upcoming years.

Rida Abbasi, PharmD

earned her Bachelor of Science in Physiological Sciences at Marquette University in 2009. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014. She then went on to complete her PGY-1 Pharmacy residency at Ascension St. Francis Hospital. Throughout her residency, she was inclined towards drug policy and administration which led her to apply for PGY-2 Health System Pharmacy residency. She completed her PGY-2 residency year with Ascension Wisconsin which gave her wide experience in finishing projects and protocols for different Ascension Wisconsin hospitals. Her clinical and administration interests include internal medicine, informatics, medication safety and operations.

Robert Mueller, PharmD, BCPS

is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacist at Ascension St. Joseph campus.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Portuguese Studies in 2008 as well as his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2012 from the University of Minnesota.  He completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residency at Froedtert Hospital in 2013, and became board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2014. At St. Joseph hospital, Robert is a preceptor for the internal medicine rotation.  His professional interests include Spanish for pharmacy professionals, preceptor development, and clinical topics related to internal medicine.  

Zoe Smith, PharmD

is a clinical staff pharmacist at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy in 2019 and completed her PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus in 2020. Zoe is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin. Zoe’s clinical interests include oncology, emergency medicine, and acute care medicine.