Preceptors

Alyssa Augst, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota Duluth College of Pharmacy (2009)
• Professional Memberships: HOPA
• Practice Interests: Oncology, infectious disease, anticoagulation
• Rotations Offered: Oncology

Dr. Augst provides clinical pharmacy services to ambulatory patients receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy at Centracare Plaza. She is a pharmacy representative on the Coborn Cancer Center Practice Committee. Prior to her current position, Dr. Augst worked as an inpatient clinical pharmacist at St. Cloud Hospital for 8 years. She serves as the resident preceptor for the ambulatory component of the oncology rotation. Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys cooking, reading, shopping, and spending time with family.

Mike Akers, PharmD, Transitions of Care Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (2011)
• Residency: PGY1, University of Minnesota – Essentia Health (Ambulatory Care), Duluth MN (2012)
• Practice Interests: Transitions of care, heart failure, teaching, research
• Rotations Offered: Transitions of care

Dr. Akers provides clinical pharmacy services in transitions of care. He also oversees a five-week patient care APPE rotation and is a primary preceptor for a PGY-1 ambulatory care pharmacy residency program through the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Aker’s exceptional precepting abilities have been recognized over the years. In 2016, he received the Preceptor of the Year Award, (Parliament of Distinction Award) from University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy for his preceptorship of residents within the PGY-1 Ambulatory Care residency program. In 2017, he received the Preceptor of the Year award from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy for his preceptorship of APPE students. And in 2022, he received the Preceptor of the Year award for his work with the PGY1 residents at CentraCare.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and taking on do-it-yourself projects at home.

Charmin Amundson, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions (2013)
• Residency: PGY1, University of Minnesota – St. Cloud VA Medical Center (Ambulatory Care) (2014)
• Practice Interests: Internal medicine, anticoagulation, pharmacokinetics
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg

Dr. Amundson provides clinical pharmacy services to neurology units, medical units and surgical units. She also provides pharmacy services to surgery patients by staffing the operating room pharmacy satellite. Dr. Amundson has precepted APPE students. Outside of work, Charmin enjoys hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, camping and traveling.

Patricia Aubert, RPh, BCPS, BCOP, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy - University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (1989)
• Professional Membership: HOPA, ACCP, MSHP
• Practice Interests: Oncology, anticoagulation, performance improvement
• Rotations Offered: Oncology

Patti provides clinical services to oncology, orthopedics, neurology, surgical units and emergency trauma center. In her free time, Patti enjoys time on the river, hiking, traveling and following Minnesota Golden Gopher football.

Austin Brandes, PharmD

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Drake University (2019)
• Residency: PGY1, St. Cloud Hospital (2020)
• Practice Interests: Cardiology, Inpatient Pharmacy Practice and Operations
• Rotations offered: Cardiology, Staffing (Longitudinal)

Dr. Brandes provides clinical pharmacy services in the cardiac care areas and emergency trauma center. He graduated with the third residency class from the St. Cloud Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program and is excited to now be serving as a preceptor for the Cardiology and Longitudinal Staffing rotations. Outside of work, Austin enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Jennifer Clark, PharmD, BCCCP, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (1996)
• Residency: PGY1, Hennepin County Medical Center (1997)
• Professional Memberships: MSHP, ASHP
• Practice Interests: Critical care, kidney disease, emergency medicine
• Rotations Offered: Critical Care

Dr. Clark provides clinical pharmacy services to patients in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care units (adult, pediatric and neonatal). She also serves as the pharmacist member of several St. Cloud Hospital Critical Care Committees. Dr. Clark has a passion for caring for complex critical care patients and teaching. Dr. Clark's dedication to the intensive care unit earned her the Intensive Care Colleague of the Year for 2019. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with her husband and three children.

Piper Cleveland, PharmD

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (2020)
• Residency: PGY1, St. Cloud Hospital (2021)
• Practice Interests: Internal medicine, infectious disease
• Rotations offered: Mega MedSurg

Dr. Cleveland is a 2021 graduate of the St. Cloud Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program. She provides clinical pharmacy services to a variety of areas in the hospital, including surgical, medical and neurology units. Outside of work, Piper enjoys spending time with family, watching/attending sporting events, exploring new coffee shops and traveling.

Sarah Eklund, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University (2013)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP
• Practice Interests: Internal medicine, oncology, infectious disease
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg

Dr. Eklund provides clinical pharmacy services to a variety of areas of the hospital, including neurology units, medical units and surgical units. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys traveling, reading, craft beers and spending time with family and friends.

Kaylee Erickson, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy(2018)
• Residency: PGY1, St. Cloud Hospital (2019)
• Professional Memberships: MSHP, ASHP
• Practice Interests: Emergency medicine, internal medicine, oncology, infectious disease
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg and Emergency Medicine

Dr. Erickson provides clinical pharmacy services to a variety of areas of the hospital, including the Emergency Trauma Center, neurology units, medical units, surgical units, oncology units and orthopedics units. Kaylee graduated with the second class of residents from the St. Cloud Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program in 2019.

Since completing residency training, Kaylee has precepted pharmacy residents, APPE students, IPPE students and served as a pharmacy residency mentor. Outside of work, Kaylee enjoys going to concerts, traveling, hiking, playing sports and spending time with family, friends and her yellow lab, Bentley.

Jesse Greenlee, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (2013)
• Residency: PGY1, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI (2014)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, MSHP
• Practice Interests: Anticoagulation, pharmacokinetics, process improvement
• Rotations Offered: Pharmacy Management & Leadership

Dr. Greenlee started his management role in Fall 2022. Prior to this, he precepted Mega Medicine, providing clinical pharmacy service for primarily medical patients requiring general and progressive care. Dr. Greenlee was honored to receive the Preceptor of the Year award from the resident class of 2020-2021. Outside of work, Jesse enjoys all things coffee, watching movies, trying new restaurants and travelling.

Victoria Hammond, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy (2015)
• Residency: PGY1, Fargo Veterans Affairs Health Care System (2016)
• Practice Interests: Critical care, emergency medicine, cardiology, pharmacy education
• Rotations Offered: Emergency Medicine

Dr. Hammond practices in the intensive care (adult, pediatric, and neonatal), emergency medicine and cardiac care areas. She finds working with students and residents and serving as a residency mentor particularly rewarding. She was honored to receive the Preceptor of the Year award from the PGY1 class of 2022-2023. When not at work, Victoria enjoys crocheting, playing piano at church, gardening and hiking

Alex Hasek, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University (2010)
• Practice Interests: Emergency Medicine, Inpatient Pharmacy Practice.
• Rotations Offered: Emergency Medicine

Dr. Hasek provides clinical pharmacy services in the Emergency Trauma Center. He is a preceptor for emergency medicine rotation of the PGY-1 residency program. He also precepts APPE pharmacy students. Outside of work, Alex enjoys wakeskating, beekeeping, marathon running, swimming, spear fishing and ultimate frisbee.

Jennifer Hiemenz, PharmD, Program Director- PGY1 Pharmacy Residency (Ambulatory Clinics)

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University (2016)
• Residency: PGY1, University of Minnesota – Coborn’s Pharmacy/Family Medical Center Clinic (Ambulatory Care), Little Falls, MN (2017)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, MPhA, MSHP
• Practice Location: River Campus Pain Center, St. Cloud
• Personal Interests: I enjoy baking cakes and cookies, craft projects - especially crochet and Cricut, golf, Beyoncé and exploring local farmer’s markets.
• Rotations Offered: Ambulatory Care

Paul Huiras, PharmD, BCPS, Program Director – PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (2008)
• Residencies: PGY1, Boston Medical Center (2009); PGY2 Critical Care, Boston Medical Center (2011)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, MSHP, ACCP
• Practice Interests: Internal medicine, quality improvement, pharmacy and medical education
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg, Pilot Rotations

Dr. Huiras provides clinical pharmacy services for the Family Medicine Health Center Inpatient Medicine Service. This teaching service is staffed by the Family Practice Medicine Residents and Faculty. Over his pharmacy career, Dr. Huiras has precepted numerous IPPE and APPE students — as well as PGY1 and PGY2 residents and has a passion for mentoring, teaching and writing. He currently serves as Director of the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program at CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital.

Paul is a member of the St. Cloud Hospital P&T Committee and serves locally as Secretary of the Minnesota Society of Health-systems Pharmacists and Professional Buddy Committee. Outside of work, Paul enjoys cooking, traveling, wine tasting, hunting and fishing.

Danielle Kokett, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University (2015)
• Practice Interests: Internal, emergency and psychiatric medicines, oncology
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg and Emergency Medicine

Dr. Kokett provides clinical services in the emergency department, medical and surgical units and oncology floors. She enjoys teaching pulmonary and cardiac rehab classes to patients. To wind down after the day’s hustle and bustle, she hits the streets for long runs and walks, takes it to the tennis courts and soaks up the sun.

James Mahowald, PharmD, Senior Director – Pharmacy Services

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions (1994)
• Residencies: PGY1, University of Minnesota Medical Center – Fairview (1995)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, MSHP
• Practice Interests: Inpatient pharmacy practice, quality improvement, automation, staff and student development, regulatory compliance
• Rotations Offered: Pharmacy Management & Leadership

Dr. Mahowald is the Senior Director of Pharmacy Services. He serves on a variety of multi-disciplinary committees and strives to continually advance pharmacy practice at CentraCare. Outside of work, Jim enjoys spending time with family, golfing, coaching and traveling.

Lance McNab, PharmD, BCCCP, Manager – Clinical Pharmacy Services

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy (2002)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, MSHP
• Practice Interests: Hemodynamic and renal replacement support in critically ill patients, toxicology and overdose management, performance improvement
• Rotations Offered: Pharmacy Management & Leadership

Dr. McNab is the coordinator of clinical pharmacy services, overseeing the clinical activities of our growing department. Dr. McNab is a pharmacy representative on multiple hospital committees and plays an integral role in electronic medical record maintenance and order set development.

Prior to assuming this role, Dr. McNab spent many years as a clinical pharmacist specializing in critical care medicine. He is currently a preceptor for APPE students and residents rotating though pharmacy management and enjoys teaching about the role of leaders in improving patient care. Outside of work, Lance enjoys boating, fishing, golf, and escaping the cold weather during the winter.

Sara Olson, PharmD, BCCCP, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (2000)
• Practice Interests: Critical care, infectious disease, pediatrics
• Rotations Offered: Critical Care

Dr. Olson has over 20 years of hospital pharmacy experience. She provides clinical pharmacy services to patients in the adult intensive care unit as well as cardiac, pediatric and neonatal patients. She also provides pharmacy services to surgery patients by staffing the operating room pharmacy satellite. Outside of work, Sara enjoys spending time with family, traveling, hiking and reading.

Ryan Ragan, PharmD, BCPS, DPLA, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC-Chapel Hill (2019)
• Residency: PGY1 Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL (2020); PGY2 Admin and Leadership, United Hospital, St. Paul, MN (2021)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, ACCP
• Practice Interests: Oncology, anticoagulation, cardiology, process and quality improvement
• Rotations offered: Oncology

Dr. Ragan provides clinical pharmacy services to ambulatory patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other infusions at the CentraCare Plaza. He serves as co-preceptor for the ambulatory component of the oncology rotation and a clean room lead for our Plaza Infusion Pharmacy team. Outside of work he enjoys playing and watching all kinds of sports, spending time with friends and family, traveling, playing video games and cooking.

Kaia Ringwald, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (2003)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP
• Practice Interests: Anticoagulation, pediatrics
• Rotations Offered: Pediatrics & Neonatal Medicine, Cardiology and Emergency Medicine

Dr. Ringwald provides clinical pharmacy services for a variety of areas. These include the adult intensive care unit, cardiology intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit - as well as the emergency trauma center. She is the preceptor for the pediatric rotation, cardiology rotation and emergency medicine rotation of the PGY-1 residency program. She also precepts APPE pharmacy students. Outside of work, Kaia enjoys time with family, going to the cabin, running and biking.

Samantha Shoop, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota (2004)
• Professional Membership: MSHP, ASHP
• Practice Interests: Internal medicine, emergency medicine, oncology
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg

Dr. Shoop provides clinical services in the emergency department, medical units, surgical units and oncology floors. She has been a preceptor to multiple pharmacy students and residents. When not at work, Samantha enjoys gardening, traveling, reading and camping.

Ted Simper, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, Pediatric Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy (2007)
• Residency: PGY-1, Children's Minnesota (2008)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, ACCP
• Practice Interests: Pediatrics (critical care, emergency medicine), pharmacy education
• Rotations Offered: Pediatrics and Neonatal Medicine

Dr. Simper provides clinical pharmacy services to the pediatric ICU, pediatric general medicine unit, neonatal ICU and family birthing center. He has over 10 years of experience as a pediatric pharmacist, practicing in a variety of settings, from the emergency department to medical and surgical units. He has been a preceptor to multiple pharmacy residents and students.

Ted remains active in didactic education as a lecturer in the Pediatric Course at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. He recently completed a teaching certificate program through ACCP. When not at work, Ted enjoys traveling, hiking, mountain biking, playing piano and spending time with his wife and three kids.

Hannah Thompson, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist, Program Coordinator - PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University (2017)
• Residency: PGY1, St. Cloud Hospital (2018)
• Professional Memberships: ASHP, MSHP
• Practice Interests: Infectious disease, quality improvement
• Rotations Offered: Mega MedSurg, Staffing

Dr. Thompson provides clinical pharmacy services to the medical, surgical and oncology patients. Hannah was a graduate of the first class of residents of the St. Cloud Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program and has continued to be a pioneer for our department through her involvement in a variety of quality improvement projects. Hannah is a member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and currently serves as the Residency Program Coordinator. Outside of work, Hannah enjoys taking on DIY projects and spending time with her family and two dogs.

Joy Ward, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (2005)
• Professional Memberships: ACCP
• Practice Interests: Oncology, infectious disease and emergency medicine
• Rotations Offered: Oncology

Dr. Ward provides clinical pharmacy services to a variety of areas of the hospital, including the Emergency Trauma Center, oncology, orthopedics, neurology and surgical units. She serves on the Antibiotic Stewardship committee and precepts students and residents. While not at work Joy enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as yoga, cooking and gardening.

Tony Wieland, PharmD, BCPS, Medication Safety Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University (2012)
• Professional memberships: ASHP, MSHP
• Practice Interests: Medication safety, critical care, emergency medicine
• Rotations offered: Medication safety and Introduction to Informatics

Dr. Wieland serves as the Medication Safety Pharmacist for CentraCare with the goal of improving patient safety. He has previous experience in a number of different pharmacist roles within CentraCare, primarily in critical care. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, time with friends and family and being outdoors.

Ann Wigton, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, Antimicrobial Stewardship / Infectious Disease Pharmacist

• Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions (2010)
• Residencies: PGY1, Sanford University of South Dakota Medical Center (2011); PGY2 Infectious Disease, Abbott Northwestern Hospital (2012)
• Professional Memberships: ACCP
• Practice Interests: Infectious disease, critical care, education
• Rotations Offered: Infectious disease

Dr. Wigton is heavily involved with the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital and is involved with initiatives to improve antimicrobial stewardship throughout the hospital. Dr. Wigton also co-chairs the St. Cloud Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, which includes representation from CentraCare regional facilities. She is also a member of several other hospital committees, such as the P&T Committee, Clinical Pathways Committee and the Infection Prevention and Control Committee.

Dr. Wigton was honored to receive the Preceptor of the Year award from the resident class of 2019-2020. Outside of work, Ann enjoys spending time with family, reading, crocheting, traveling and biking.