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UF Health University of Florida
Winterstein Research Group College of Pharmacy

Alumni

Alumni

Fellows & Graduate students

Our trainees pursue successful careers in academia, industry and regulatory agencies; all with focus on enhancing the effectiveness and safety of medications in real-world populations.

Graduation day. Always bittersweet to see such talented students leave but very rewarding to watch them thrive, build their own programs and mentor their own trainees.

Research & Visiting Faculty & Fellows

  • Junko Nagai, PhD (2022-2023)
    • Visiting scholar, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Japan 
  • Jerry Idigo, PhD (2022-2023)
    • Postdoctoral fellow
    • First position, ORISE Fellow, CDC
  • Sabina Nduaguba, MS, PhD (2019-2021)
    • Postdoctoral fellow
    • First position: Assistant Professor, West Virginia University College of Pharmacy
  • Yan Li, MS, PhD (2019)
    • Postdoctoral Fellow
    • First position: ORISE fellow, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Rheumatology Products, FDA
  • Kiyon Rhew, PhD (2018-2019)
    • Visiting scholar, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea 
  • Amie Goodin, MS, PhD (2017-2018)
    • Assistant Scientist
    • First position: Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, UF
  • Nakyung Jeon, MS, PhD (2017-2018)
    • Assistant Scientist
    • First position: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah
  • Xinyue Liu, MS, PhD (2016-2018)
    • Postdoctoral Fellow
    • First position: Associate Principal Scientist, Epidemiology, Merck
  • Rene Soria Saucedo, MD, PhD (2015-2016)
    • Postdoctoral fellow
    • First position: Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UF
  • Cathy Geason, RPh (2015)
    • Visiting scholar, NIHR Clinical Research Fellow, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital 
  • Daniel Zambrano, PharmD (2015-2016)
    • Postdoctoral fellow
    • First position: Director, Medical Affairs, Merck
  • Dongxiao Wang, MS (2014-2015)
    • Visiting scholar from Chinese PLA Hospital, Bejing, China
  • Wei Liu, MD, MS, PhD (2014-2015)
    • Postdoctoral fellow
    • First position: Scientist, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA
  • Christian Hampp, PhD (2009-2010)
    • Postdoctoral fellow
    • First position:Epidemiologist, Division of Epidemiology, FDA
  • Linda Aagard Thomson, PhD (2005)
    • Visiting doctoral student, University of Kopenhagen, Denmark

Doctoral & MS Students

graduates summer 2023
Phuong Tran graduation
Nicole graduation
  • Nicole Smolinski, PharmD, PhD (2024
    • Thesis title: Clinician preference for the management of pediatric acute otitis media and consequences
    • First position: Research assistant professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida
  • Rupal Aroza, BSPharm, MS (2023)
    • Thesis title: Secular trends and determinants of use of gabapentin during pregnancy among publicly insured pregnant persons in the United States 2000-2015
    • First position: PhD student, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky
  • Phuong Tran, BSPharm, MS, PhD (2023)
    • Dissertation title: Advancing Evidence on Antibiotic Use, their Safety, and Methodology to Deal with Unmeasured Confounding
    • First position: Associate Director in Real-world Data Analytics at Boehringer-Ingelheim
  • Thuy Thai, BSPharm, MS, PhD (2022)
    • Dissertation Title:  Utilization and Safety of Prescription Antiemetic Drugs during Pregnancy
    • First position: Assistant Scientist, University of Florida College of Pharmacy
  • Amir Sarayani, MPH, PharmD, PhD (2022)
    • Dissertation Title: Real-World Evidence for Obesity Medicines: Evaluation of Safety and Risk Minimization Strategies
    • First position: Manager, Global Epidemiology, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen R&D)
  • Xi Wang, MPH, MD, PhD (2020)
    • Dissertation Title: Utilization and Safety of Biologics for Pregnant Women with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • First position: ORISE fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology (OSE)
  • Yasser Albogami, BSPharm, MS, PhD (2020)
    • Dissertation Title: Safety and effectiveness of pharmacological treatments in patients with chronic lower respiratory disease and type ii diabetes
    • First position: Assistant Professor, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Thuy Thai and Almut Winterstein
IMG_0182
Xi and Almut
Yasser and Almut
  • Juan Hincapie-Castillo, MS, PharmD, PhD (2019)
    • Dissertation Title: Evaluating unintended consequences of strategies aimed to control the opioid crisis on acute pain management patient outcomes
    • First position: Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida
  • Yan Li, BSPharm, MS, PhD (2019)
    • Dissertation Title: Epidemiology and Safety of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants and Concomitant Opioid or Psychotropic Medication Use
    • First position: ORISE fellow in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Rheumatology Products (DPARP) at the Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Monica Munoz, MS, PharmD, PhD (2018)
    • Dissertation Title: Direct Reporting to the US Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System: An Evaluation of Reporting Patterns, Impact of Consumer Reporting FormChanges, and Pharmacovigilance Utility
    • First position: Deputy Director, Division of Pharmacovigilance I, FDA
  • Yanmin Zhu, BS, PhD (2018)
    • Dissertation Title: Metabolic Effects of Atypical Antipsychotic Use During Pregnancy
    • First position: Post-doctoral Fellow, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Harvard Medical School
graduating students
YY and Almut
Adel
Juan
  • Yoon Young Choi, BSPharm, MS,PhD (2018)
    • Dissertation Title: Calibration of chronic lung disease severity as a risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations merging multiple data sources
    • First position: Associate Director, Outcomes Research, Merck
  • Adel Alrwisan, BSPharm, MS, PhD (2017)
    • Dissertation Title: Azithromycin: an evaluation of use and safety
    • First position: Special advisor to minister of health, Saudi-FDA
  • Nakyung Jeon, BSPharm, MPH,PhD (2016)
    • Dissertation Title: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs associated acute kidney injury in hospitals
    • First position: Assistant Scientist, University of Florida College of Pharmacy
  • Xinyue Liu, BSPharm,PhD (2015)
    • Dissertation Title: The impact of psychotropic drugs and drug-drug combinations on seizure control in children with epilepsy
    • First position: Postdoctoral fellow, Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida
alumni
Nakyung
Yan
  • Wei Liu, MS, MD, PhD (2014)
    • Dissertation Title: Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors and Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing loss: a post-marketing safety study
    • First position: Epidemiologist, FDA/CDER/OSE/DEPI
  • Caitlin Knox, MPH, PhD (2014)
    • Dissertation Title: The comparative safety of anti-diabetic treatment in pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes
    • First position: Epidemiologist, Healthcore Inc.
  • Efe Odia, BSPharm, MS, PhD (2013)
    • Dissertation Title: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis
    • First position: Epidemiologist, Office for Surveillance and Epidemiology, Office of Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology, FDA
  • Stephan Linden, BS, PhD (2013)
    • Dissertation Title: Risk of Suicide and Suicide Attempt Associated with Atomoxetine Compared to Central Nervous System Stimulant Treatment
    • First position: Global Epidemiologist, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Germany
UF-Grad2
alumni
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
graduation
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • Chih-Ying (Natasha) Chen, BSPharm, MS,PhD (2010)
    • Dissertation Title: Use of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Pharmacological Treatment Following the Public Discussion on Cardiovascular Safety and the introduction of Medication Guides for Central Nervous System Stimulants and Atomoxetine
    • First position: Post-doctoral Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology, Boston MA
  • Christian Hampp, BSPharm,PhD (2009)
    • Dissertation Title: Utility of Current Surveillance Systems to Detect Respiratory Syncytial Virus Seasons and Implications for Immunoprophylaxis
    • First position: Epidemiologist, Office for Surveillance and Epidemiology, FDA
  • Ahunna Onyenwenyi, BSPharm,PhD (2008)
    • Dissertation Title: A Pooled Analysis to Examine Trends in Off-label Prescription of Anticonvulsant Drugs
    • First position: Pharmacoepidemiology Research Manager, The Degge Group, Arlington, VA
  • Tobias Gerhard, BSPharm,PhD (2007)
    • Dissertation Title: Time-dependent confounding in antihypertensive drug studies
    • First position: Assistant Professor, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University & Associate Director Center for Mental Health Therapeutics, Rutgers University
  • Penkarn Kanjanarat, BSPharm, MS,PhD (2005)
    • Dissertation Title: Evaluation of the impact of the 30-Baht healthcare policy on drug utilization in Thailand
    • First position: Lecturer Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand