The PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Program at Danbury Hospital is a 12-month (June – June) post-graduate training program. The program structure may be subject to change in order
to meet individual interests, goals, and needs of the resident as determined by the Residency Advisory
Committee (RAC).

Required Core Learning Experiences
Hospital/Pharmacy Orientation and Central Operations
Infectious Disease
Critical Care
Transitions of Care
Internal Medicine
Emergency Medicine

Required Longitudinal Learning Experiences
Teaching Certificate
Ambulatory Care
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Practice Management
Oncology

Elective Learning Experiences
Medication Safety
Pharmacy Informatics
Academic Leadership
Sterile Products
Cardiology

Additional Residency Experiences
BLS/ACLS certification
Research project
Attendance and presentations at regional and national conferences

Name: Angela Courgi, PharmD
angela.courgi@nuvancehealth.org

Hometown: New Fairfield, CT but born in Toronto, Canada!

Pharmacy School: The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy

Professional Interests: My professional interests include psychiatry, emergency medicine, and geriatrics. I enjoy the dynamic nature of inpatient care, especially supporting patients in high-acuity situations. I’m also passionate about promoting diversity within the pharmacy profession and advocating for expanded pharmacy practice rights to help pharmacists better serve their communities!

Personal Interests: Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, whether that’s exploring new places together or just relaxing over good food. I’m a self-proclaimed sweet treat connoisseur, I am always looking for new bakeries, desserts, and anything sugary enough to raise myblood sugar to unholy levels. I also love swimming; I was a competitive swimmer for seven years and a lifeguard for four!

Why Danbury Hospital PGY-1 Residency: Having spent the past two years as a pharmacy intern at Danbury Hospital, I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience the culture here firsthand, and I can confidently say it’s one I truly value and admire. The pharmacists are not only dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care, but they also create an environment where learning and growth are genuinely encouraged. What sets Danbury Hospital’s PGY-1 program apart is its commitment to building a strong, well-rounded residency experience from the very start. Even as a new program, there is a clear focus on providing residents with dedicated mentorship, meaningful challenges, and a supportive environment. The sense of community, teamwork, and patient-centered care at Danbury Hospital are exactly what I was looking for in a PGY-1 residency program.

Advice for Students/Pharmacists Interested in applying to a residency: For those considering a PGY-1 residency, my strongest advice is to simply pursue it. The knowledge and experiences gained through residency are invaluable. This opportunity offers a structured and supportive environment designed to foster both personal and professional growth. Ultimately, it allows for the quick development of advanced skills and expertise that enhances your ability to provide exceptional patient care. You will never regret the opportunity to expand your knowledge—especially as a pharmacist!

Name: Shawn P. Cherian, PharmD
shawn.cherian@nuvancehealth.org

Hometown: West Hartford, CT

Pharmacy School: University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy

Professional Interests: My journey in pharmacy started with a fascination for neuroscience and pharmacology. I’ve always wanted to know the “why” behind every therapy. Seven years in retail pharmacy gave me a solid foundation, but I craved more. I want to face real-time clinical challenges,explore various care settings, and delve into research and preventive care. I want to understand how medications, supplements, and lifestyle changes aect long-term outcomes. How do we take all this knowledge and make it personal for each patient? My goal is to integrate evidence-based medicine with practical, real-world strategies that enable people to take control of their health in sustainable and meaningful ways.

Personal Interests: Outside of pharmacy, I’m Dr.CherryOnTop—a musician, producer, and sound design geek. Jazz is my home base, but I love experimenting, whether I’m jamming on piano, ute, or sax, or building up a high-energy playlist for DJing. I value athleticism because it demonstrates how we can push our limits and be creative in going beyond what we think we can do. This fascination with human movement inspires me to appreciate the incredible ways our bodies can perform. I believe movement is medicine. I’m in awe of the rhythm and ow of watching a basketball game, the aerial precision of MMA, and the raw energy of breakdancing battles. It’s about celebrating what we can achieve when we challenge ourselves and explore new possibilities.

Why Danbury Hospital PGY-1 Residency: What stood out to me about Danbury Hospital was the supportive vibe from the team. From my first conversation, I felt a real sense of support and teamwork. The program strikes a great balance between structure and flexibility, and Danbury just felt right because of its vibrant culture, diverse experiences, and welcoming atmosphere. I love that I can rotate through various clinical settings, including the ED, inpatient, and community settings. The team values leadership and encourages growth in both clinicians and educators, promoting interdisciplinary teamwork, the kind of environment I want to be a part of.

Advice for Students/Pharmacists Interested in applying to a residency: Stay curious, stay consistent, but remember to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. Be yourself and be present. Don’t just submit your application and hope for the best; put yourself out there and go to information sessions, talk to preceptors, and introduce yourself to the residency director. Let them see who you are and what matters to you. You don’t have to know everything on day one. What matters most is your willingness to learn and your ability to ask good questions. Make the most of the resources available to you while also finding your rhythm and structure. Show up prepared and give yourself some grace when things aren’t perfect.

Sylvia Narciso, PharmD, MS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist/Residency Program Director
Pharmacy School: University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: Waterbury Hospital
Hobbies: Traveling, real estate, baking, spending time with family
Clinical Interests: Emergency Medicine, Medication Optimization
Rotation(s) Offered: Emergency Medicine

Rafay Ali, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist 2
Pharmacy School: University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy
Hobbies: Going to the gym, flying, and traveling
Clinical Interests: Acute care, emergency medicine, critical care
Rotation(s) Offered: Hospital/Pharmacy Orientation, Anticoagulation Clinic

Jamie Chadwick, PharmD
Pharmacy Manager
Pharmacy School: University of Connecticut
Hobbies: Traveling (as long as it is to somewhere warm), reading, spending time with family and friends
Clinical Interests: Operations, Management, Diabetes
Rotation(s) Offered: Practice Management

Kimberly Clarke, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist 2
Pharmacy School: Long Island University
Hobbies: I love Pilates, discovering new foods places, traveling, and spending time with friends doing fun activities
Clinical interests: Transition of care, Ambulatory care
Rotation(s) Offered: Transitions of Care

Tim Conboy, PharmD, BCPS, MSHI
Informatics Pharmacist IV
Pharmacy School: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
Hobbies: Watching sports, my dog, reading
Clinical Interests: Automation, infusion pumps, other clinical technology
Rotation(s) Offered: Pharmacy Informatics

Michelle D’Aprile, PharmD, BS
Clinical Pharmacist 2
Pharmacy School: Northeastern University (B.S. Pharmacy) and St. John’s University (PharmD)
PGY-1 Residency: New England Medical Center
Hobbies: Cooking, reading, traveling, playing with my two dogs, learning to speak Italian, and appreciating wine
Clinical Interests: Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Pharmacokinetics, Critical Care
Rotation(s) Offered: Infectious Disease

Carolyn Gingras, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist 1
Pharmacy School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston
Hobbies: Going to the gym, going on walks with my dog, spending time with family (especially my nieces!) and friends
Clinical Interests: Acute care/internal medicine, cardiology
Rotation(s) Offered: Internal Medicine

Sophia Hanisch, PharmD
Informatics Pharmacist II
Pharmacy School: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
Hobbies: Baking, weightlifting, reading
Clinical Interests: Informatics, cardiology, retail pharmacy
Rotation(s) Offered: Pharmacy Informatics

Nowshin Islam, PharmD, BCPS
Pharmacy Professional Development Specialist
Pharmacy School: University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
PGY-2 Medication Use Safety and Policy Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital
Hobbies: Volunteering, concerts / comedy shows, board games, coffee shops
Clinical Interests: Pharmacy Education, Clinical Research, Population Health
Rotation(s) Offered: Teaching & Learning Certificate, Academic Leadership

Krista Katers, PharmD, BCPS
Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services
Pharmacy School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
PGY-1 Residency: Aurora Health Care (Milwaukee, WI)
Hobbies: Traveling, outdoor activities, reading, chasing my toddler!
Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Drug Information
Rotation(s) Offered: Practice Management

Jessica Lewis, PharmD, BCPS
Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist
Pharmacy School: University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
PGY-1 Residency: Westchester Medical Center
Hobbies: Spending time with my family and friends, skiing, dancing, reading
Clinical Interests: Diabetes, infectious disease
Rotation(s) Offered: Ambulatory Care

Kelcey Noble, PharmD, BCIDP
Antibiotic Stewardship Pharmacist
Pharmacy School: LECOM School of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
PGY-2 Residency: Infectious Diseases James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, Bronx, NY
Hobbies: Gardening, hiking, camping, crafting
Clinical Interests: Diagnostic stewardship, implementation science, pharmacist drive antimicrobial optimization
Rotation(s) Offered: Antimicrobial Stewardship

Stephanie Peck, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist 2
Pharmacy School: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center
Hobbies: Hiking, boating, and spending time with family
Clinical Interest: Critical Care
Rotation(s) Offered: Critical Care

Danielle Pritchard
Medication Safety Officer
Pharmacy School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy – Boston
PGY-1 Residency: Sibley Memorial Hospital- Johns Hopkins Medicine
Hobbies: Running, hiking, camping, eating delicious foods, traveling to National Parks and Disney
Clinical Interests: Medication safety, pain management, perioperative pharmacology
Rotation(s) Offered: Medication Safety

Monica Stanton, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist 2
Pharmacy School: West Virginia University School of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Residency: General Practice Residency Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx NY
Hobbies: Reading a good book on the beach, entertaining friends on the weekends, watching my son play baseball and swim
Clinical Interest: Oncology
Rotation(s) Offered: Oncology

Louis Tuccitto, RPh
Director of Pharmacy
Pharmacy School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
Hobbies: Cooking/trying new recipes, health and self-care, spending time at the beach, enjoying time with friends and family
Clinical Interests: Pain Management, Sterile compounding
Rotation(s) Offered: Practice Management

Melanie Weiss, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist 2
Pharmacy School: Northeastern University, Bouve College of Health Sciences
Hobbies: Playing sports with my children, traveling with my family, going to the beach
Clinical Interest: Oncology
Rotation(s) Offered: Oncology

Competitive stipend

• Travel reimbursement for professional meetings
• BLS and ACLS certifications
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Free parking
• Access to gym facilities

Is the program accredited?
We are currently in the candidacy phase of accreditation through the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacist (ASHP).

How many positions are there?
There are two PGY-1 pharmacy residency positions

What is the stipend?
$60,000

How is the resident’s schedule determined?
The resident’s schedule is built in discussion with the RPD and residency advisory committee. The finalized schedule is based on program requirements as well as the resident’s interests and goals.

Will the residents participate in multi-disciplinary rounds?
Yes, you will participate in various multidisciplinary rounds such as ICU, internal medicine, and infectious diseases.

Does Danbury Hospital support travel to conferences?
Yes, residents will be reimbursed for travel to ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and a regional residency conference.

When do residents need to be licensed by?
Residents are required to sit for both the NAPLEX and CT MPJE by July 15. However, we highly encourage our residents to sit for their exams prior to the start of the program in order to maximize the most of their residency experience as fully licensed practitioners.

When is the application deadline?
January 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

Is an interview required?
Yes, interviews are required. Interviews allow the opportunity to meet and interact with the program director and preceptors and to tour the facility.