Meet Our Preceptors 

These are the professionals who guide our resident

Dr. Jason Graham obtained his B.S. in Biology from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The University of Georgia. Dr. Graham went on to obtain a Master of Health Services Administration degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern University). Dr. Graham has been with SJCHS since 2001 when he started as a pharmacy technician. He has also served as a clinical pharmacist and as pharmacy manager. Dr. Graham currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy for SJCHS. Dr. Graham is an active member in ASHP and GSHP.  

Dr. Derek Gaul, the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director, obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. He then completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Greenville Health System: Greenville Memorial Medical Center in South Carolina. Dr. Gaul is Coordinator of Clinical Education and a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine. He is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and is a member of ASHP, ACCP, MAD-ID, and GSHP. He is BLS/ACLS certified, holds the Advanced Antimicrobial Stewardship certificate from MAD-ID and is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS). 

Dr. Erica Merritt, the PGY2 Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director, received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Dr. Merritt is one of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialists in Emergency Medicine at St. Joseph’s/Candler, and continues to be involved in the development and advancement of clinical pharmacy services in the emergency departments at St. Joseph's/Candler. Dr. Merritt is BLS, ACLS, PALS and ASLS certified and responds as part of the hospital wide code team. She is an adjunct clinical assistant professor with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and is a member of ACCP, ASHP, GSHP and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS).

Dr. Chelsea Keedy, the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program Director, received her B.S. in Biology and Doctor of Pharmacy from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY2 in Ambulatory Care at St. Joseph’s/Candler. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. Dr. Keedy is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care at SJ/C Medical Group – Eisenhower. She is a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) and holds a collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) agreement. She is a member of ASHP, GSHP, and AACP and was selected as the GSHP Outstanding New Practitioner of the Year in 2020. She previously helped establish the health system’s Hepatitis C treatment clinic.

Dr. John Carr, the PGY2 Critical Care Residency Program Director, obtained his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in Athens. He then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Specialty Residency at St. Joseph's/Candler. He stayed with SJ/C after graduating from his PGY2 to practice as a clinical pharmacy specialist, where he practices in the critical care specialist at Candler Hospital. He is a member of ACCP, SCCM, and ASHP, certified in BLS, ACLS, and PALS, and board certified in pharmacotherapy (BCPS) and critical care (BCCCP).

Dr. Chris Jones obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy from University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. After graduation he worked as a staff pharmacist for St. Joseph's Hospital. He then became the Director of Pharmacy at Candler County Hospital in Georgia. Dr. Jones obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. He returned to Savannah, and worked as a Clinical Pharmacist with St. Joseph’s/Candler before becoming the Pharmacy Manager of the St. Joseph's Hospital campus. Dr. Jones serves as the pharmacy liaison to the St. Joseph’s/Candler Center for Clinical Research and is a member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

Dr. Paul King obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy from South University school of Pharmacy in Savannah, GA. He worked as a pharmacy technician at East Georgia Regional Medical center during undergraduate coursework and then for two years for Memorial Health University Medical Center during pharmacy school. After graduating he worked in retail pharmacy for 2.5 years before joining St. Joseph’s/Candler as a clinical pharmacist. He worked as a clinical pharmacist for eight years prior to becoming Pharmacy Manager at the Candler campus. Dr. King is a current member of Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee and GSHP.

Dr. Ashley Woodhouse received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at SJ/C and is currently the Manager for the St. Joseph’s/Candler Centers for Medication Management, Pharmacists of SJ/C Primary Care Physician Network, and the Candler Prescription Center. She serves as the Residency Program Coordinator for our Ambulatory Care PGY2 and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She is a preceptor for Mercer University, University of Georgia, and South University Schools of Pharmacy.  Dr. Woodhouse holds an Ambulatory Care board certification (BCACP) and a CDTM license with the state of Georgia. Dr. Woodhouse is an active member of the legislative and pharmacy practice committees for the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists. 

Dr. Bruce M. Jones received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from East Tennessee State University Gatton College of Pharmacy in Johnson City, Tennessee. He then completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System. He is an Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System practicing in the Savannah City-Wide Antimicrobial Management Program. He also serves as an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor for the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and a Clinical Preceptor for Mercer University, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, and South University Schools of Pharmacy. Dr. Jones is a member of IDSA, GSHP, ACCP, SIDP, and the Southeastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE-45). Dr. Jones currently serves on the BPS Pharmacotherapy Specialty Council and is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Geneen Gibson received her BS in Zoology from the University of Georgia and Master of Science in Microbiology from the University of Florida. She was employed as a microbiologist for 15 years with the VA Medical Center in Gainesville and Bay Pines, Fl. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Florida and completed a Pharmacy Practice and Infectious Disease Specialty residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Gibson is board certified in Pharmacotherapy with additional qualifications in Infectious Diseases (BCPS AQ-ID). Dr. Gibson is the Coordinator of the Antimicrobial Management Program and an Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System. She is a member of ASHP, GSHP, ACCP, ASM, SHEA and MAD-ID.

Dr. Sabrina Croft obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia. After residency, Dr. Croft spent six years as a clinical pharmacist at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina and one year as a clinical pharmacist at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas City. Dr. Croft is Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at St. Joseph's. She is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS) and BLS/ACLS/PALS/ASLS certified and a member of ACCP, ASHP, and GSHP.

Dr. Hal Richards obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. After graduation he completed a specialty residency in Critical Care/ Nutritional Support at University of Arizona in Tucson. Upon graduation he became a clinical pharmacist on the Kidney-Liver-Pancreas Transplant Team at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Richards is the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care and Nutritional Support at St. Joseph's/Candler. His academic appointments are to University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy and South University School of Pharmacy. Dr. Richards is board certified in nutrition (BCNSP). Dr. Richards is currently serving his first term on the board of directors for The Board of Pharmacy Specialties as a nutrition support specialist member.

Dr. Rie Avino obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Shands Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida. She has been practicing in the area of Oncology Pharmacy for the past 15 years. Dr. Avino is board-certified in Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP) and is currently an Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for St. Joseph's/Candler. She is an active member of various state and national pharmacy organizations.

Dr. Carrie Cooper obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South University School of Pharmacy in Savannah, Georgia. She then completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler. She is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine. Dr. Cooper is a member of the Opioid Stewardship Team, an adjunct clinical assistant professor with University of Georgia College of pharmacy. She maintains membership with ACCP, GSHP and ASHP and is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Julie Boatright obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and was employed for several years as a clinical pharmacist at St. Joseph’s/Candler prior to completing her PGY1 residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Dr. Boatright was instrumental in developing our Non-Traditional PGY1 program and was our first resident graduate of this program. Dr. Boatright is now the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for Pediatrics at Candler Hospital and serves on the Safe Kids of Savannah committee. She is a member of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Pediatric Section, GSHP, ASHP and is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Emilee Robertson received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler and is the second graduate of the Non-Traditional PGY1 Residency Program. Dr. Robertson is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine at St. Joseph’s/Candler.  She has completed the SIDP Antimicrobial Stewardship Certification Program. Dr. Robertson has been recognized as an APPE preceptor of the year. She is a member of ACCP, ASHP, GSHP and is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Rachel Musgrove received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Harris Health System in Houston, TX and completed a PGY2 in Infectious Diseases through the University of Houston/Cardinal Health residency program. Dr. Musgrove is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases at St. Joseph’s/Candler, and participates in the Savannah City-wide Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (CAMP). She is a member of ACCP, IDSA, SIDP, GSHP and the Southeastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE-45). She completed the Advanced Antimicrobial Stewardship Training Program through MAD-ID and is board certified in Infectious Diseases (BCIDP). 

Dr. Sara Anne Meyer received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South University School of Pharmacy and her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Georgia Southern University. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System and a PGY2 in Academic Administration at South University School of Pharmacy with additional clinical practice and training at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Dr. Meyer is a Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at St. Joseph's Hospital, covering the CCU/CVICU, cardiac cath lab, and EP lab. Dr. Meyer is BLS and ACLS certified. She is a member of ACCP, ASHP, GSHP, ACC and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS).

Dr. Amanda Winslow received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from South University School of Pharmacy in Savannah, GA. She went on to complete a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler. She is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine with additional roles in oncology and informatics. She is Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS). She completed the Advanced Antimicrobial Stewardship Training Program through MAD-ID. She is an active member of ASHP and GPhA.

Dr. Wes Arrison received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. He completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN. He then completed a PGY2 in Emergency Medicine at St. Joseph's/Candler. Dr. Arrison is one of the Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialists at St. Joseph’s/Candler. He is BLS/ACLS/PALS/ASLS certified and responds as part of the hospital wide code team. Dr. Arrison is a member of ACCP, ASHP, GSHP and is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Dustin Orvin received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. He then completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Dr. Orvin is a Clinical Pharmacist in Internal Medicine at Candler Hospital and serves as the health system’s Formulary Liaison to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. He is a member of ASHP and GSHP. He is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Melissa Johnson received her Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State University and then completed her PharmD at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy in Glendale, AZ. She then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency with St. Joseph's/Candler Health System (SJCHS). Her PGY2 was in Pharmacy Practice and Academic Administration through South University with an ambulatory care practice site at the primary care clinics within SJCHS. Dr. Johnson enjoys the interdisciplinary nature of ambulatory care and the diverse patient population and disease states seen in the primary care setting. 

Dr. Kristen Pierce received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Dublin VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia. She then completed a PGY2 in Ambulatory Care at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System. Dr. Pierce is an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She is a member of ASHP and GSHP and is a board certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP).

Dr. Abigail Hamlin received her degree from the University of Georgia. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) at St. Joseph's/Candler Health System. Dr. Hamlin is a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist in Internal Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital and serves as a preceptor of both students and residents. She is board certified in Pharmacotherapy.

Preceptors-In-Training

Dr. Caroline Alter received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in Athens, GA. She went on to complete a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis in Memphis, TN and a Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) Pharmacy Practice Residency in malignant hematology/oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Oncology Pharmacy and practices in both inpatient at St. Joseph’s/Candler and outpatient at the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. She is an active member of HOPA and ASHP.

Dr. Devon Burhoe received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University.  She completed her PGY1 residency as well as her PGY2 Emergency Medicine (EM) residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy/ UI Health in Chicago, Illinois. While in residency, she served as a clinical instructor for pharmacy students teaching Toxicology and assisting in critical care recitation.  After completing residency, she started Emergency Medicine pharmacy services at Augusta University, and is currently an EM clinical pharmacy specialist at St. Joseph’s Emergency Department.  She participates in hospital wide code response and is BLS/ACLS/PALS and ASLS certified.  She serves as the preceptor member on Cirriuclum Committee and also as Adjunct Faculty at South University’s School of Pharmacy.  She is a member of ACCP and GSHP and is board certified in pharmacotherapy (BCPS). 

Dr. Kim Friend received her doctorate degree from Mercer University and completed a PGY1 residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.  She specialized in emergency medicine with a PGY2 from Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson where she also worked as adjunct clinical faculty teaching toxicology for Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.  Post residency training, Dr. Friend worked as an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist at the Mayo Clinic and is currently an EM clinical specialist for St. Joseph’s/Candler.  She serves as an item writer for the board certification emergency medicine specialty exam and is BLS/ACLS/PALS/ENLS/ASLS/EOC FEMA certified.

Faculty Practitioners

Dr. Chris Bland received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of South Carolina. He is a Clinical Professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Southeast campus in Savannah, GA Dr. Bland spent nearly 15 years at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, GA as a clinical pharmacy specialist prior to accepting his position with the University of Georgia. Dr. Bland's primary practice areas include Infectious Diseases where he practices at St. Joseph/ Candler Health System. Chris has published recently in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Pharmacotherapy, and Clinical Infectious Diseases. He also provides live NAPLEX review courses for pharmacy schools nationally on many clinical topics. Chris has been awarded Fellow of both the Infectious Diseases Society of America as well as the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and was named the UGA College of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year for 2018. Dr. Bland is co-founder of the Southeastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE-45) - a practice, based research network of nearly 50 hospitals primarily in the Southeast. He is board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).

Dr. Misha Thomason Watts, received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of South Carolina. She completed a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center. Dr. Watts is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Geriatrics at St. Joseph’s/Candler.  She serves on faculty at the University of Georgia as the Campus Director for Pharmacy Practice Experiences for Southeast Georgia.