Program Leadership & Preceptor Biographies
Rajan Desai, Pharm.D., MBA
Director of Pharmacy Services
Residency Program Sponsor
Email: RDesai@houstonmethodist.org
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: Genetics - Texas A&M University
- Graduate School: PharmD - Texas Tech University, MBA - Texas A&M University Kingsville
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- System Pharmacy Council
- Houston Methodist Sugar Land Pharmacy P&T, Co-Chair
- Team Leader Hospital-wide Cost Savings Initiatives
- Houston Methodist Sugar Land Leadership Guiding Coalition
- Houston Methodist Specialty Pharmacy Advisory Board
Professional Organization Affiliations and Recent Projects:
- Chairperson - MARCOMM Committee, American College of Healthcare Executives (2020)
- Panel presenter - Texas State of Reform Conference, Austin, TX Measuring value in the PBM and Pharmacy Space (2020)
- Houston Methodist High Impact Director Recognition (2020)
- Council Member - Houston Community College Technician Program Advisory (2018 - Present)
- Pharmacy SME for Kaizen Project impacting 100+ Hospital clients Cardinal Health (2017)
Personal Information: Dr. Desai grew up in 3 different counties (U.K., India, and U.S.A) but has called Houston home for the past 20 years. In his personal time, he enjoys watching and playing various sports, reading non-fiction, and listening to finance and political podcasts.
Gordana Isajloska-Jasmak, RPh, BCPS
Clinical Manager
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Director
Email: GIsajloska@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Management
Academic Background:
- Graduate School: University "Cyril and Methodius" School of Pharmacy, Skopje, Macedonia
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- Houston Methodist Clinical Collaborative 2022/23 co-chair
- Houston Methodist P&T
- Houston Methodist Sugar Land P&T
- Houston Methodist Medication Safety Committee
- Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee
- Houston Methodist Sugar Land Tactical; Patient progression BT02
- Cardiology; OB-Gyn; Bariatric Committee; Cancer Committee; Critical Care; Delirium Diabetes Action Committee; Pain Committee; Emergency Medicine; Stroke
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Time to initiation of optimal antimicrobial in gram-positive bacteremia and fungemia
- R-EPOCH Outpatient Implementation and Kaizen project related to the implementation
- Lead and oversee multiple cost savings initiatives
- Medication reconciliation / medication history process at Houston Methodist Sugar Land
- System Quality and Safety Peer Award (2017)
- System Quality and Safety Award (2021)
Personal Information: Mrs. Isajloska-Jasmak was born and raised in Macedonia. She loves to spend her free time with her family. She loves to travel and enjoys food tasting, good books, and music.
Tintu Thankachan, Pharm.D.
Operations Manager
Email: TThankachan@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Pharmacy Management
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: St. John's University
- Graduate School: St. John's University
Professional Organization: Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP)
HMSL and System Committee Assignments:
- System USP 797/800 Workgroup
- Pharmacy Operations Collaborative
- HMSL Narcotic Diversion Committee
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Patient Assistance Optimization
- NICU Turnaround Time Quarterly Review
- Pharmacy and Technician Workflow Guides
- Pharmacy Rover Implementation
- Pharmacist and Technician Productivity Metrics
- Infusion Center Inventory Control
Personal Information: I am born and raised in NYC and lived there for 29 years until moving to Houston, TX in 2015. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, cooking, fitness, music and dance, and playing poker as well as spending time with family.
Meghan Thibeaux, Pharm.D., BCPS
Senior Clinical Specialist
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Coordinator
Email: MNThibeaux@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Internal Medicine, Medication Safety
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at Texas A&M University
- Graduate School: Texas A&M University College of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital (PGY1)
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), ASHP/ISMP Medication Safety Certificate, University of Houston Preceptor Certificate
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- Pharmacy Education Council
- Continuous Quality Improvement Board
- Pharmacy Residency Preceptor Development
- Residency Advisory Committee
- Local and System Medication Safety Committee
Professional Organizations: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP), Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists (GCSHP)
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions on Antimicrobial Utilization in Asymptomatic Bacteriuria
- Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Initiated Falls Consult for Elderly Patients
- Cefiderocol Containing Regiments Compared with Best Available Therapy for the Treatment of Infections Caused by Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp.
- Fentanyl Patch Continuous Quality Improvement Projects
- Tolvaptan and Conivaptan Continuous Quality Improvement Projects
Personal Information: Dr. Thibeaux enjoys the outdoors especially hiking, biking, and swimming as well as spending quality time with family.
Sapana Desai, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Specialist Leader
Email: SDesai@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Medication Safety
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: University of Texas Austin
- Graduate School: University of Texas Austin College of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Houston Methodist Hospital (PGY1 and PGY2-Critical Care)
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- Local and System Medication Safety Committee
- Local and System Diabetes Action Council
- System Pain Committee
- CPOV Integration
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Information technology and medication safety process improvement initiatives on the system level
- Clinical research initiatives and continuous quality improvement projects
- Cost-Saving initiatives
- Award: Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) Innovation Collaborative Practice Award (2014)
- Award: Texas Society of Critical Care Medicine Alan I. Fields Critical Care Trainee Category (2010)
- System Quality and Safety Award (2021)
Professional Organizations: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP), Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists (GCSHP)
Personal Information: In her spare time, Dr. Desai likes to travel, experience new cuisines, and enjoys the outdoors.
Edward McLean, Pharm.D., BCOP, BCSCP
Clinical Specialist Leader - Oncology
Email: ETMcLean@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Oncology
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: University of Florida
- Graduate School: LECOM-Bradenton, College of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Houston Methodist Hospital - Texas Medical Center (PGY1, PGY2 - Oncology)
- Certifications: Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist, Board Certified Sterile Compounding Pharmacist
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- HM System Oncology Collaborative
- HMSL Cancer Committee
Professional Organizations: Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
Personal Information: In his spare time, Dr. McLean enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, two sons, and daughter.
Aileen Korulla, Pharm.D., BCPS
Senior Clinical Specialist
Email: AKorulla@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Internal medicine, NICU
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: University of Houston
- Graduate School: University of Houston
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- Member, Residency Advisory Committee
- Chair, System NICU and Pediatric Collaborative
- Maternal and NICU Quality Assurance and Process Improvement Committee
- Pharmacy Education Council
- HMSL Pharmacy Events Committee
- HMSL Staff Choir
Professional Organization: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
Project and Research Involvements:
- Time to initiation of optimal antimicrobial in gram-positive bacteremia and fungemia
- Tylenol IV cost saving initiative
- Coordination of APPE student orientation
Personal Information: Dr. Korulla was born and raised in Kuwait and moved to Houston after high school. She loves to read, travel, and spend time with family. She is active in church ministries: singing in church choir, teaching Bible classes (9th grade Sunday school teacher) and Young Families Fellowship.
Brittany Yalamanchili, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Specialist
Email: BYalamanchili@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Internal Medicine, Continuity of Care
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: Rutgers, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
- Graduate School: Rutgers, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Penn Medicine, Princeton Medical Center
- Certifications: Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- Delirium Committee; Road to Recovery
- COPD Re-admissions Program
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
Professional Organization: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP), American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- The Impact of Pharmacist-Led Discharge Medication Review on Readmission Rates
- Evaluation of a Pharmacist Driven Falls Consult for Elderly Patients
- Medication Reconciliation/Medication History Program
- IVIG Usage and Cost-Savings Initiative
Personal Information: Dr. Yalamanchili grew up in New Jersey and recently moved to Texas. In her spare time, she loves to watch football (Fly Eagles Fly!), and enjoys anything pumpkin spice.
Nitha Chou, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Specialist
Email: NKChou@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Internal Medicine
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: University of California, Davis
- Graduate School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Worsceter
- Residency Background: St. Anthony's Hospital of Baycare Health System (PGY1)
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
HMSL and System Committee Involvement: Medication Safety Committee
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Standard Dose Heparin Protocol CQI Project
- Epoetin Alfa Cost Saving Initiative
- Procalcitonin and Respiratory Tract Infections
- Inpatient Management of Hyperglycemia
Personal Information: Dr. Chou lived in Vietnam, California, Massachusetts, and Florida. Houston is now her home where she enjoys exploring local cuisine and travel destinations with family.
Jessica Kay, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Specialist
Email: JKay@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Internal Medicine
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: St. John's University
- Graduate School: St. John's University
- Residency Background: Northport VAMC
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
HMSL and System Committee Involvement: Bariatric Committee
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Prothrombin Complex Concentrate cost-savings initiatives and quality improvement
- Bio-K Project
Personal Information: Dr. Kay loves to travel, experience new cuisine, cook, and spend time with family.
Hubert Tse, Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Specialist
Email: HTse@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Internal Medicine
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
- Graduate School: Husson University School of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center (PGY1)
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)
Professional Organization: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
Personal Information: Dr. Tse enjoys traveling (often to tropical climates, sporting events, or places of cultural/historical significance) in addition to many water and winter sports.
Punit Shah, Pharm.D., BCIDP
Clinical Specialist
Email: PJShah@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Infectious Diseases
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: Butler University
- Graduate School: Butler University
- Residency Background: Northshore University Health System (PGY1), St. John's Hospital (PGY2-Infectious Diseases)
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP)
HMSL and System Committee Assignment: Local and system Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee
Project and Research Involvements:
- Lead and implement various antimicrobial stewardship projects and initiatives
- Sputum Culture Deescalation Project
- Real-time bacteremia/candidemia alerting
- C.difficile and probiotics
- Asymptomatic bacteriuria
- Cost savings projects
- Conduct various medication use evaluations
- System Quality and Safety Award - 2019
- Multiple publications in various journals and posters at national conferences
- Diabetic foot infections chapter in Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Program
- Dermatophytosis in the 9th edition of Pharmacotherapy Casebook: A patient-focused approach
Personal Information: In his spare time, Dr. Shah enjoys playing various sports and spends time with family.
Mina Phlamon, Pharm.D., BCCCP
Senior Clinical Specialist
Email: MPhlamon@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Critical Care
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: CUNY York College
- Graduate School: South College School of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: University of Toledo Medical Center (PGY1), Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center (PGY2-Critical Care)
- Certifications: Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP)
HMSL and System Committee Involvement: Chair of Pharmacy Critical Care Collaborative
Professional Organization: Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), International Fluid Academy (IFA)
Project and Research Accomplishments: Dr. Phlamon completed several initiatives such as:
- Implemented code blue policy to include pharmacists at all code blues
- Research Preceptor for: Midodrine utilization practices as a vasopressor liberation agent for patients with septic shocks in the intensive care unit
- Neurologic outcomes of epinehprine in non-shockable rhythm cardiac arrest
- Outcomes of sodium bicarbonate use during in-hospital cardiac arrests
- Comparison of Short-Course and Prolonged Antimicrobial Therapy in the Management of Intra-Abdominal Infections (published)
Personal Information: Dr. Phlamon is Coptic Orthodox Egyptian from Queens, NY. He enjoys serving in church, fishing, running, cooking, reading, writing, making short films, and spending time with friends and family. He recently bought a sewing machine so he has enjoyed altering his own clothing.
Lilian Ooi, Pharm.D., BCCCP
Clinical Specialist
Email: LFooi@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Critical Care
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: The University of Texas Austin
- Graduate School: University of Houston College of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Intermountain Medical Center - Murray, UT (PGY1), Nebraska Medicine - Omaha, NE (PGY2-Critical Care)
- Certifications: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP)
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- HMSL Critical Care Committee
- HMSL Code Blue Committee
- HMSL CV & Thoracic Surgery Committee
- System Pharmacy Critical Care Collaborative
- System Titration / Accreditation Committee
- System Critical Care CMPI
- System DKA Diagnosis and Management Subgroup
- System Sepsis CMPI
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Vasopressor, inotrope, and cardiac surgery postop ICU infusion optimization
- Impact of midodrine initiation and discharge on readmission rates (in-process)
Professional Organizations: Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), Society of Critical Care Medicine - Texas Chapter (SCCM-TX)
Personal Information: Dr. Ooi worked in clinical informatics prior to changing careers to become a pharmacist. She enjoys traveling, trying different cuisines, practicing yoga, and spending time with family. Recently she has picked up gardening and hopes to have a green thumb.
Hannah Chan, Pharm.D., BCCCP
Clinical Specialist
Email: HYChan@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Emergency Medicine
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: University of Houston
- Graduate School: University of Houston College of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center (PGY1, PGY2 - Critical Care)
- Certifications: Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP)
HMSL and System Committee Assignments:
- HMSL Emergency Medicine Committee
- HMSL Sepsis Committee
- HMSL Emergency Medicine Shared Governance Council
- HMSL ICU Nursing Enrichment Course
Professional Organizations: Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), Society of Critical Care Medicine - Texas Chapter (SCCM-TX), American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
Project and Research Accomplishments:
- Utilization of long-acting lipoglycopeptide agents for skin and soft tissue infections in the emergency department
- Establishment of clinical pharmacy services in the emergency department
Personal Information: In her spare time, Dr. Chan enjoys traveling, fishing, and cooking/baking new recipes with her family and friends. She also enjoys spoiling her rescue puppies - Beau and Pippin!
James Cox, Pharm.D., BCOP
Senior Clinical Specialist
Email: JECox@houstonmethodist.org
Residency Preceptor, Area of Focus: Oncology/Hematology
Academic Background:
- Undergraduate School: Baylor University
- Graduate School: University of Texas College of Pharmacy
- Residency Background: University Health System - San Antonio (PGY1), Nebraska Medical Center (PGY2 - Oncology)
- Certifications: Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist
HMSL and System Committee Involvements:
- HM System Oncology Collaborative
- HMSL Cancer Committee
- HM System Cancer Stewardship Committee
Professional Organizations:
- Eculizumab/Ravulizumab use and REMS compliance CQI
- Olanzapine vs. Fosaprepitant for CINV prophylaxis in patients receiving single-day, high-dose Melphalan
- Extended duration letermovir in allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Personal Information: In his spare time, Dr. Cox enjoys traveling to National Parks and spending time with his wife, two daughters, and son.