Michele Wysocki
Email: michele.wysocki@hhchealth.org
School of Pharmacy: Western New England University
Professional Interests: ambulatory care, acute care
PGY-1 Residency Research Project: Intravenous vs inhaled steroids in COPD exacerbations
MUE Topic: Comparing TPNs by site and indication
CE Topic: Myasthenia gravis
Why did you choose Backus Hospital for your PGY-1 Residency: During my P4 year, I completed my institutional APPE at Backus Hospital, where I had the opportunity to shadow pharmacists from various practice areas such as ambulatory care, emergency medicine, acute care, and oncology. During these 6 weeks, I really enjoyed meeting the team and getting to know why and how they got their passion for what they do. I felt like every preceptor I had really cared about my learning and made sure I made the most out of my time. The ambulatory care aspect of the program especially drew me in, since this is the field I want to pursue in the future.
What really stood out to me was the close-knit community and the care that every member possessed. I knew that I wanted to stay local, and it was important for me to complete a residency where I was making an impact in my own community.
Person interests: I love being outside, especially taking walks during sunrise or sunset. After a busy day, I usually find something creative to do like painting, photography, or pottery. I also like to make gifts for family/friends instead of buying them (Pinterest is my favorite website for inspiration).
Jaden Richardson
Email: Jaden.Richardson@hhchealth.org
School of Pharmacy: University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy and PA Studies
Professional Interests: Ambulatory Care, Critical Care, Oncology
PGY-1 Residency Research Project: Comparing furosemide doses in patients with acute heart failure exacerbations
MUE Topic: Albumin Use
CE Topic: HIV PrEP and PEP
Why did you choose Backus Hospital for your PGY-1 Residency: Choosing Backus Hospital as my PGY-1 residency practice site felt like a no-brainer for many reasons. First and foremost, Backus was where I had my first experience with hospital pharmacy as an IPPE student, and that experience opened my eyes to the many opportunities within the profession. I immediately appreciated the culture surrounding pharmacy at the hospital, as well as my preceptor’s dedication to teaching and commitment to helping students and residents grow. Three years later, when I returned to interview for a residency position, I felt that same energy and welcoming culture as if I had never left. It reaffirmed my belief that Backus is a place where I can continue to learn, develop my clinical skills as a pharmacist.
I was also particularly drawn to the rotations of the residency program. The longitudinal ambulatory care opportunities across various Hartford HealthCare clinic sites stood out to me, along with the opportunity to complete oncology and critical care as core rotations. These experiences align well with my professional interests while providing a broad range of experiences.
Lastly, I was attracted to Backus because of its smaller institutional environment. I believe this allows residents to build meaningful relationships with the pharmacy team and other healthcare professionals while having the opportunity to make a tangible impact. Even within one year, I feel that I can contribute to the department, the patients we serve, and the community while growing into the pharmacist I aspire to become.
Personal Interests: Football, Videogames, Family, Swimming