Congratulations to Tina Khadem, PharmD, BCPS, and Rachel Marini, PharmD, on their appointments to the rank of Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Khadem joined the Division of Infectious Diseases in 2017, serving in the role of Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Pharmacist with the Antimicrobial Stewardship Outreach Program, under the direction of Dr. J. Ryan Bariola. She also serves as Associate Director of the system-wide Antimicrobial Stewardship Outreach Program of UPMC in the ID Division. Thanks to Drs. Khadem and Bariola, this Outreach Program has already identified significant overuse of expensive antimicrobials at UPMC facilities and is in the process of remediating this problem with the anticipated outcomes of reduced cost and toxicity.
Dr. Marini joined the Division of Infectious Diseases in 2016, serving in the role of Clinical Unit-Based Pharmacist in the Infectious Diseases and Antibiotic Management Service-Line. In collaboration with Dr. J. Alex Viehman, Dr. Marini established guidelines for appropriate dosing of daptomycin and she monitors adherence to these guidelines to avoid toxicities. Her tireless efforts have led to significant cost savings from appropriate daptomycin use and has minimized toxicity. Dr. Marini has played an integral role in initiating the much needed vancomycin and aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics service at Presbyterian University Hospital.