Where Are They Now?

What Our Residents Are Doing Now

At Western New England University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, we're committed to developing residency programs that truly prepare and inspire the next generation of advanced pharmacy practitioners. Our goal is to help our graduates grow into lifelong learners, dedicated leaders, and compassionate professionals who are ready to make a real difference. Hear from past residents of the Walgreens and Big Y programs and how their experience prepared them for after graduation!

Walgreens Residents

Zachary Lanza, PharmD

Class of 2025
Specialty Pharmacist
Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy (MA & CT)

Residency has provided me with the opportunity to continue my education, expand my network, better myself as a pharmacist, build strong relationships with patients, and to express myself as a reliable team player and compassionate pharmacist.

Ji Yoon “Angie” Kim, PharmD

Class of 2023
Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist
UMass Memorial Medical Center

My PGY1 residency program laid a strong foundation for my career, providing the clinical training and professional growth that prepared me well for a PGY2 in ambulatory care, the BCACP exam, and my current role as an ambulatory care pharmacist. It was a pivotal year that shaped my confidence, adaptability, and patient-centered approach.

Jacob Greenwald, PharmD, RPh, AAHIVP

Class of 2022
Local Specialty Manager
Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy #13969 (New Haven, CT)

The residency allowed me to jumpstart my career and enter a whole new side of community pharmacy I never knew before. It's also provided me with lifelong friendships and experiences I will never forget.

Jessica Hong, PharmD

Class of 2020
Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
Hartford Healthcare

This residency was a crucial part in my growth as a pharmacist. I learned a lot about myself and built on my strengths to become the healthcare provider I am today. I'm so grateful for this program and to all my preceptors!

Jasmine Rivera, PharmD, RPh

Class of 2018
Local Specialty Manager
Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy #21185 (Hartford, CT)

My residency year was invaluable to my growth and development as a pharmacist and had a positive impact on my career overall. It would have been difficult to replicate the exposures and experiences outside of a community-based residency.

Victoria Celetti, PharmD, BCACP

Class of 2017
Clinical Pharmacist
Trinity Health of New England
Clinically Integrated Network

The WNE/Walgreens residency has given me the opportunity to pursue my dream career in ambulatory care. Through my residency, I gained the skills to create a collaborative practice agreement with a local primary care physician group where I specialize in diabetes, hypertension, asthma/COPD, and heart failure. Not only has my residency given me the opportunity for career advancement, but it has also allowed me work-life balance where I get to spend time with my family.

Irini Salama, PharmD

Class of 2016
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Temple Health University Hospital

Completing a PGY1 residency has been instrumental in shaping my career and who I am as a pharmacist. It helped me grow as a leader, and it gave me the chance to sharpen important skills that I still use every day both inside and outside of work. I learned how to manage my time better, think critically, stay calm under pressure, and work effectively as part of a team. It was a challenging but really rewarding experience that helped shape the kind of pharmacist I am today.

Kalani Hornbeak, PharmD, BCACP

Class of 2015
Safeway Pharmacy Manager

I am tremendously grateful for my residency experience. It provided me with the foundation for my pharmacy career and allowed me the opportunity to interact with patients, students, and fellow practitioners. Community Pharmacy is my passion, and I am elated that the residency fostered my continued passion for the field.

Big Y Residents

Julia Mello, PharmD

Class of 2025
Staff Pharmacist
Stop and Shop Pharmacy

Residency has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences I’ve had. The guidance of all my preceptors has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, and I’m incredibly grateful for the people I’ve met along the way. Kam, Christi, Amanda, and the entire Big Y and Western New England teams have created such a supportive, family-like environment. Working at Big Y has truly been the best job I’ve ever had, and I’ll always cherish the connections, mentorship, and sense of belonging I’ve found here.

Shae Martel, PharmD

Class of 2024
Pharmacist at CVS
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Pharmacy Practice
University of New England School of Pharmacy

This residency challenged me to grow both clinically and as a leader. It allowed me to develop professionally and personally, and helped shape the pharmacist I aspire to be. I’m incredibly grateful for the mentorship, opportunities, and growth that my year with WNE and Big Y has provided.

Laura DiVirgilio, PharmD

Class of 2023
Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacist
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

The WNE/Big Y residency program gave me the tools to thrive in ambulatory care, led me to a PGY-2 at UConn Health, and ultimately helped me land my dream job at Dartmouth Hitchcock as a primary care clinical pharmacist. But more than that, it shaped who I am as a clinician and as a person. I will always be thankful for the people, the challenges, and the growth I experienced from this residency program.

Isabelle Dieu, PharmD, RPh

Class of 2022
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Mass General Brigham Specialty Pharmacy

Residency has taught me to stay flexible, speak up for patients, and how to continuously seek improvement.

Abigail Henry, PharmD, CDCES

Class of 2021
Transitions of Care Pharmacist
William W. Backus Hospital

Residency has allowed me to become a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist II (Transitions of Care), a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), and a resident/IPPE/APPE preceptor. Residency enhanced my clinical skills, taught me time management and prioritization, gave me confidence to be a part of the healthcare team, and provided me with lifelong mentors and friends. I would not be who I am professionally or where I am if I had not done my residency with WNE and Big Y.

Ebony Evans, PharmD

Class of 2020
Clinical Assistant Professor
Howard University College of Pharmacy

The WNE residency did so much for me on a personal and professional level. Coming into PGY-1, I wasn’t sure what I wanted my career path to look like, or even what my professional interests were. Through my year there, I not only found my passions in diabetes management and academia, but I was able to gain ample experience in them. I can’t imagine myself working as a Clinical Assistant Professor AND Clinical Pharmacist at a Diabetes Treatment Center if I didn’t get the experience and mentorship that I received through this program.

Maria S. Charbonneau, PharmD

Class of 2019
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

My residency was truly transformative—it pushed me beyond my comfort zone and helped me step into my full potential. I gained a deeper understanding of pharmacy and learned a great deal about myself, as both a clinician and a person, in the process. Surrounded by bright, passionate individuals and supported by outstanding preceptors, I grew through the thoughtful feedback I received. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not reminded of my residency and the invaluable lessons it taught me. It laid the foundation for my career, and I’m deeply grateful for how it shaped my journey.

Arianna L. Bonzagni, PharmD

Class of 2018
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

This residency was a transformative experience that deepened my clinical knowledge, strengthened my patient care skills, and broadened my perspective on the vital role pharmacists play in public health. It challenged me to grow professionally and personally, taught me the value of adaptability and collaboration, and solidified my passion for serving diverse communities. The invaluable experiences I had not only shaped the pharmacist I am today but also laid a strong foundation for my career.

Stephanie Darley (Cloutier) PharmD, CDCES

Class of 2017
Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner
Baystate Endocrinology

The Big Y/WNE PGY1 Community residency program transformed me from a student pharmacist into a confident, well-rounded clinician. It equipped me with the skills and knowledge to provide truly impactful patient care. It provided me with my first job out of residency, continuing with my career at Big Y, and prepared me for my current role as a clinical pharmacist practitioner at Baystate. However, most importantly, this residency program introduced me to some of my best friends and western Mass phamily who I am still very close with to this day. I would not be where I am today without the leadership and mentorship from Kam and all the preceptors who truly made me into the pharmacist I am today!

Amanda Pelland, PharmD

Class of 2016
Pharmacist, MTM Specialist
Big Y Foods

The WNE/Big Y residency opened up the door for an MTM specialist position at Big Y pharmacy for nearly 10 years. After developing a plan for implementing the program into work flow during the residency, I was hired on as the MTM specialist to continue developing the program, as well as completing MTM cases centrally for the entire company. Being exposed to so many different areas of pharmacy (teaching, amb care, community pharmacy) was paramount in helping me determine what avenue of pharmacy was best suited for me!