Our Preceptors
Christopher Dailey, PharmD
Director of Pharmacy Operations
Christopher Dailey, PharmD earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Dailey currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy Operations since joining the team in January of 2020. He is an active member of the Medication Safety Committee, Therapeutics Committee, Pharmacy Council and teaches an introduction to Pharmacy for newly hired nurses.
He is currently a preceptor for PGY 1 residents for Management Topic Discussions.
Heather Daly, PharmD, BCGP
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Heather Daly, PharmD, BCGP earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Highland Hospital.
Daly oversees the Highland Hospital Intern Program and serves as a committee member on Highland Hospital's Hospital Acquired Conditions Committee, Delirium Committee, and Residency and Student Advisory Committee.
Daly serves as a preceptor for interns, APPE students and residents. She is a preceptor for the residency program's Internal Medicine rotations and Advanced Pharmacy Practice elective.
Emily Hollfelder, PharmD, BCCP
Critical Care Pharmacy Specialist
Melanie Lintala, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Melanie Lintala, PharmD, BCPS, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy. Upon graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Highland Hospital. Following residency, she worked at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago, IL for three years, first as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist and then Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, before returning to Highland Hospital as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist.
She serves as a preceptor for APPE students and PGY1 residents in Internal Medicine, as well as Pharmacy Practice rotations.
Alexandra Mancuso, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Alexandra Mancuso, PharmD, BCPS, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and American Sign Language at Niagara University followed by a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy. Upon graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Highland Hospital.
Mancuso is a preceptor for APPE students and PGY1 residents in Internal Medicine.
Christopher K. Nyiri, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
He began his career at F.F. Thompson Hospital and has been with Highland Hospital since December 2020. In July 2023, he earned his Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS).
Chris enjoys working with pharmacy students and residents, serving as a preceptor for both IPPE and APPE students as well as PGY1 residents in the Highland Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program.
His clinical interests include diabetes management, perioperative medication support, and optimizing the eRecord medical record system.
Michelle Opipari, PharmD. BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist and PGY1 Residency Program Coordinator
Michelle Opipari, PharmD, BCPS, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy. She completed a PGY1 Community Pharmacy Residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center at Strong Memorial Hospital. She is now board certified in Pharmacotherapy.
Opipari has worked at Highland Hospital since 2016 as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist. She served as the Residency Program Coordinator for 7 years and transitioned into the Residency Program Director in 2025. She also serves on the Resident and Student Advisory Committee and the Gynecologic Oncology Quality Committee.
For the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, she has been a preceptor for Orientation, Internal Medicine, Advanced Pharmacy Practices, and various longitudinal learning experiences.
Nick Polito, PharmD, BCEMP
Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Specialist
Nick Polito, PharmD, BCEMP, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy. He completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Highland Hospital.
Polito works as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist in the Emergency Department at Highland Hospital. He is a preceptor for pharmacy students at St. John Fisher University as well as the PGY1 Emergency Medicine elective rotation at Highland Hospital.
Katelyn Quartuccio, PharmD, BCPS
Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Specialist
Katelyn Quartuccio, PharmD, BCPS, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She completed a PGY1 and PGY2 Residency at the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. After completing her residency, she served as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy.
Quartuccio joined the Pharmacy department in 2017 and practices as an Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist. She serves as the Chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Highland Hospital and is a member of the Infection Prevention Committee and URMC Antibiotic Subcommittee. She works closely with colleagues at Strong Memorial Hospital to coordinate stewardship initiatives across the healthcare system.
Quartuccio is actively engaged in the education of medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff. She is a preceptor for PGY1 and PGY2 residents in Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship rotations.
Leigh Ann Reid, PharmD, BCPS
Transitions of Care Pharmacy Specialist
Leigh Ann Reid, PharmD, BCPS, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Upon graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Strong Memorial Hospital. She has worked as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist at Strong Memorial Hospital and Kenmore Mercy Hospital (Catholic Health) in Buffalo. In 2015 she started a new role as a Transitional Care Pharmacist at Strong Memorial Hospital.
In 2020 she transitioned to Highland Hospital and practices as a Transitional Care Pharmacist and precepts PGY1 residents in Transitions of Care rotations.
Valerie Riggs, RPh, BCGP
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Upon graduation, Valerie returned to Rochester and accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Highland Hospital. Her career spans multiple areas of pharmacy practice, including home infusion, compounding, retail, and nursing home consulting.
Currently, Valerie is a member of the Medication Safety Committee, ALC Interdisciplinary Team, and the Pharmacy Operations team. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, she serves as an educator for Highland's Nursing Residency Program, where she provides continuing education on safe medication practices.
Valerie has precepted IPPE students from a multitude of Pharmacy Schools and is a Pharmacy Practice Longitudinal Preceptor for PGY1 pharmacy residents.
Amy Thein, PharmD, BCGP
Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Amy Thein, PharmD, BCGP, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Northeastern University- School of Pharmacy / Harbor Health Services- Elder Service Plan in Boston, MA.
Thein is an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Highland Family Medicine and Geriatric & Medicine Associates.
She serves as a preceptor for Ambulatory Care elective rotations.
Ephiram Yeataihe, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Ephiram Yeataihe, PharmD, BCPS, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Temple University School of Pharmacy.
Yeataihe is currently a Clinical Staff Pharmacist at Highland hospital. He serves as a member of the Clinical Quality Service Committee for Orthopedic Surgery.
He precepts APPE students from St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy and University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Caitlin Zhushma, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
Caitlin Zhushma, PharmD, BCPS received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Following graduation, Caitlin worked for 6 years as a Clinical Pharmacist at Unity Hospital in Greece, NY and is now a Clinical Staff Pharmacist at Highland Hospital. Caitlin participates as a member of the Pain Management Committee at Highland Hospital.
Caitlin precepts IPPE students from St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy and precepts pharmacy residents in the Pharmacy Practice Longitudinal rotation.