Faculty

Program Director

Alexandra S Wolff, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty:  Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant
Pharmacy School: West Virginia University School of Pharmacy 
PGY1 Residency: West Virginia University Medicine 
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: West Virginia University Cancer Institute and School of Pharmacy
About Dr. Wolff: Dr. Wolff joined LCI in February 2017 after 4 years with the WVU Cancer Institute as the outpatient BMT specialist and Director of Stem Cell Collections. Her professional interests include lymphoma and leukemia, cellular therapy, leadership and professional development, oncology pharmacy organization involvement, and resident development.

Preceptors

Arnall, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty:  Classical Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies
Pharmacy School: UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy 
PGY1 Residency: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center 
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center 
About Dr. Arnall: Dr. Arnall joined the CMC team in August 2016, and has worked as a clinical specialist with the Levine Cancer Institute as well as (currently) the Specialty Pharmacy Service. His professional interests include bleeding disorders, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and thrombotic microangiopathies, as well as innovations in pharmacy practice and hematology pharmacy education. He is an active member in HOPA, ACCP, ASTCT, and NCOP. His primary practice sites include the CMC inpatient hematology consult service and specialty pharmacy service bleeding disorders and hematology service lines.

Ryan Bender, PharmD

Specialty: Investigational Drug Services
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute 
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University – Mylan School of Pharmacy 
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center 
About Dr. Bender: Dr. Bender joined Atrium Health in 2007 as a pharmacist resident. He then transferred to working primarily within the surgical trauma ICU and medical ICU while also serving as a medication safety pharmacist for the inpatient pharmacy. He transferred to IDS in 2009 and currently serves as the supervisor for IDS to coordinate clinical drug studies for a variety of disease states across Atrium Health.

Miranda Benfield, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School:Wingate University School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
About Dr. Benfield: Dr. Benfield joined Levine Cancer Institute in July 2021 after completing her residency. Her interests include solid tumor oncology such as gynecology oncology where she focuses in her primary outpatient clinic practice site.

Ali Cook, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant
Pharmacy School: South Carolina College of Pharmacy - University of South Carolina
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: University of Tennessee Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
About Dr. Cook: Dr. Cook joined LCI in August of 2017. Her professional interests include acute leukemias, blood and marrow transplant, and infectious diseases in immunocompromised hosts. 

Jessica Michaud Davis, PharmD, BCOP, CPP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute 
Pharmacy School: Medical University of South Carolina
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Boston Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: University of North Carolina Hospitals and Clinics
About Dr. Davis: Dr. Davis joined the Department of Pharmacy at CMC in August 2016. Her primary interests include solid tumors, such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, and immunotherapy.

Grace Elsey, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: Medical University of South Carolina
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Wake Forest Baptist Health
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Wake Forest Baptist Health
About Dr. Elsey: Dr. Elsey joined Levin Cancer Institute in July 2021 after completing her residency training. Her interests include hematologic malignancies, anticoagulation, infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients, and the adolescent and young adult population.

Amy Ellenburg, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Site: Levine Children’s Hospital
Pharmacy School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: (pediatric-focused): Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
About Dr. Ellenburg: Dr. Ellenburg joined the pharmacy department in January 2021 after spending almost three years practicing in pediatric hematology and oncology at Geisinger Medical Center. Her professional interests include benign and malignant hematologic disorders, bone marrow transplant, and supportive care in pediatric oncology patients.

Mei Ka Fong, PharmD, BCOP, CPP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: University of Rhode Island
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Northport
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
About Dr. Fong: Dr. Fong joined the department of pharmacy at CMC in 2015 after four years as a clinical pharmacy specialist in medical oncology and two years as the PGY2 oncology residency program director at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY. She has a particular interest in gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine cancers, and health literacy.

Tsion Gebru, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute 
Pharmacy School: Wingate University School of Pharmacy
About Dr. Gebru: Dr. Gebru is clinical coordinator at Levine Cancer Institute regional site. Professional interests include multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Sarah Hanson, PharmD

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: UNC Eshleman School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Carolinas Medical Center/Levine Cancer Institute
About Dr. Hanson: Dr. Hanson joined Levine Cancer Institute in July 2021 after completing her residency training. Her interests include solid tumors such as gastrointestinal malignancies, pharmacogenomics, supportive care, and pharmacy practice advancement. Her primary outpatient oncology clinic practice site is the GI Clinic.

Hailey Hill, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: UNC Eshleman School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Carolinas Medical Center/Levine Cancer Institute
About Dr. Hill: Dr. Hill joined Levine Cancer Institute in August 2020 after completing her residency training. Her interests include hematology malignancies, stem cell transplant, and anticoagulation in the cancer population.

Allison Karabinos, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: The University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Residency: Methodist University Hospital
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Levine Cancer Institute
About Dr. Karabinos: Dr. Karabinos joined the LCI team in August 2019. Her professional interests include hematologic malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, infectious diseases in the immunocompromised patient population, and pharmacogenomics.

Lesli Lavery, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Levine Cancer Institute – Ballantyne
Pharmacy School: University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Kaiser Permanente – Valley Service Area
About Dr. Lavery: Dr. Lavery joined the Department of Pharmacy in 2015 after five years as an ambulatory care pharmacist in oncology at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. Her interests include research, cost-containment strategies, medication safety, and expanding the role of pharmacists.

Julie Ziegengeist, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
About Dr. Ziegengeist: Dr. Ziegengeist joined Levine Cancer Institute in July 2019 after completing her residency training. Her interests include solid tumors such as breast cancer, which is her primary outpatient oncology clinic practice site.

Jessica McElwee, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: Wingate University School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Residency: Medical University of South Carolina
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Medical University of South Carolina
About Dr. McElwee: Dr. McElwee joined the LCI team in September 2020. Her professional interests include hematologic malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and infectious diseases in the immunocompromised patient population.

Shelby Merchant, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy
PGY1 Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
About Dr. Merchant: Dr. Merchant joined the oncology pharmacy team at LCI in July 2021 after spending two years as a thoracic oncology pharmacy specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Merchant works primarily in the thoracic and head/neck outpatient oncology clinics. Her professional interests include precision medicine, palliative care, and immuno-oncology. 

Meghan D. Michael, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Site: Levine Children's Hospital
Pharmacy School: University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Medical College of Georgia/University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
About Dr. Devine: Dr. Devine joined the pharmacy department at CMC in July 2013. Her interests include acute leukemias, osteosarcoma, oncologic emergencies, and lymphoma.

Donald Moore, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, DPLA, FCCP

Specialty: Hematology/Oncology, Administration/Oncology
Site: Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
PGY1 Residency: Steward St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center
About Dr. Moore: Dr. Moore joined Atrium Health and Levine Cancer Institute in 2016. His clinical interests include lymphoma, multiple myeloma, chronic leukemias, ITP, and thrombotic microangiopathies as well as pharmacovigilance, professional writing, and research. He is an active member of ACCP, ASHP, HOPA, and APSHO. He is also a graduate of the ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Leadership Academy and a Fellow of ACCP.

Allison Morse, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant
Pharmacy School: University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
PGY1 Residency: Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
PGY2 Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
About Dr. Martin: Dr. Martin joined the CMC team in September 2017. Her professional interests include hematologic malignancies, bone marrow transplantation, pharmacogenomics in oncology practice, and pharmacy practice advancement.

Jai Patel, PharmD, BCOP, CPP

Specialty: Cancer/Pharmacogenomics Research
Site: Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Fellowship: Oncology/Pharmacogenomics Postdoctoral Fellowship at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Center for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy
About Dr. Patel: Dr. Patel joined the Levine Cancer Institute in 2013 and currently serves as Chair of the Department of Cancer Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics and Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Patel’s research focuses on translational and clinical pharmacogenomics and pharmacokinetics of anticancer therapies. He serves as a part-time palliative medicine clinical pharmacist and also has research interests in supportive oncology and management of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients.

Dragos Plesca, PharmD, PhD, BCOP, DPLA

Specialty: Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila,” Bucharest, Romania
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Molecular Biology specializing in Cancer Biology: Kent State University and Cleveland Clinic
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Cleveland Clinic
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Cleveland Clinic
About Dr. Plesca: Dr. Plesca joined the Department of Pharmacy at CMC in 2011. He has special interests in malignant hematology, including acute myeloid and lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid and lymphocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas and bone marrow transplant. He is also interested in clinical and basic cancer research.

Meagan Griffin Reinfried, PharmD, BCOP

Specialty: Adult Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Site: Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Cancer Institute
Pharmacy School: The University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Hematology/Oncology: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
About Dr. Reinfried: Dr. Reinfried joined Levine Cancer Institute in 2020 after four years as a bone marrow transplant clinical specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her professional interests include acute leukemias, bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapies, and management of post-transplant complications.

Cindy Riddagh, BS, PharmD

Specialty: Administration/Oncology 
Site: Levine Cancer Institute 
Pharmacy School: St. John’s University School of Pharmacy (BS); University of Florida (PharmD) 
About Dr. Riddagh: Dr. Riddagh joined Atrium Health in April 2010 as the supervisor of the sterile compounding area at Carolinas Medical Center. Her current role is oncology pharmacy manager for the 16 Levine Cancer Institute regional sites. In 2016, Dr. Riddagh completed the ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Academy. Her interests include process improvement and leadership development.

Kelly Slovak, PharmD, MBA

Specialty: Administration/Oncology
Pharmacy School: Drake University 
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency: Suburban Hospital, Bethesda MD
About Dr. Slovak: Dr. Slovak joined the pharmacy department at Atrium Health Cabarrus in 2011, working primarily in the emergency department. In 2013 she transitioned into her current role with the Levine Cancer Institute as one of the Oncology Pharmacy Managers. Her interests include process improvement and leadership development.