PGY-1 Residents

Deena OmarDeena Omar

Email: Deena.Omar@hhchealth.org

Hometown: Rochester, NY

School of Pharmacy: Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St John Fisher College

Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine

Post PGY1 Plans: PGY2 in Emergency Medicine 

What attracted you to Hartford Hospital?
Being a trauma one academic medical center there are many opportunities to learn from many knowledgeable preceptors and work with a diverse patient population. Also, there is a Starbucks within the hospital.

What do you do in your free time?
I like to go shopping and try new restaurants.

What do you love most about Connecticut?
Due to the pandemic I have not been able to explore CT much, but they have awesome restaurants.

Allison GorsethAllison Gorseth

Email: Allison.Gorseth@hhchealth.org

Hometown: Monticello, MN

School of Pharmacy: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Albany, New York Campus

Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious Disease, and Research

Post PGY1 Plans: I plan to either pursue a PGY2 in an area of interest or obtain a clinical pharmacist position at an academic medical center.

What attracted you to Harford Hospital?
Hartford Hospital has a vast array of required and elective learning experiences to choose from which are not available at all residency sites. The unique variety of acute care experiences, busy and involved emergency department, and unique specialties allowed me to spend time in my interest areas while being able to explore other topics. There is a robust team of preceptors that are able to adjust their teaching style to the individual resident. I knew in this environment, I would be able to challenge myself and be able to further my education, research, and clinical skills to set myself up to success.

What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy baking, drinking coffee, trying new wineries and restaurants, and finding a new reality show on Netflix or Hulu to enjoy.

What do you love most about Connecticut?
Connecticut is close to all the scenery one could ask for with major metropolitan areas being a two hour drive to either New York City or Boston while the ocean is just 30 minutes, or less, away. My personal favorite option is the drive through the Berkshires in the fall since of the gorgeous leaf colors.

Jennifer CessarioJennifer Cessario

Email: Jennifer.Cessario@hhchealth.org

Hometown: Burlington, CT

School of Pharmacy: University of Saint Joseph

Professional Interests: Oncology and Infectious Diseases

Post PGY1 Plans: PGY2 in Infectious Diseases or Oncology

What attracted you to Hartford Hospital?
Hartford Hospital is a large academic medical center that provides a diverse learning experience that would help me develop my research skills and clinical knowledge as a pharmacy resident. In addition to the variety of rotations the program has to offer, the staff and preceptors are extremely supportive and friendly!

What do you like to do in your free time?
Hiking, traveling, going on walks with my dog, baking, going to the beach and spending time with friends/family

What do you like most about Connecticut?
I love that it is so close to both Boston and New York City. Also, most of my family is from CT, so I love that I get to be near them.

Kristen MartiKristen Marti

Email: Kristen.Marti@hhchealth.org

Hometown: Windsor, CT

School of Pharmacy Attended: UConn School of Pharmacy

Professional Interests: Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Academia/Teaching and Precepting

Post PGY1 Plans: I plan on pursuing a clinical pharmacist position or a PGY2 position after this year.  I also hope to become a preceptor and pursue a career in academia.

What attracted you to Hartford Hospital?
Hartford Hospital has everything I was looking for in a PGY1 residency program, including diverse inpatient learning experiences, strong resident research projects, and many teaching opportunities.  The fact that it is a large academic medical center and a level 1 trauma center interested me because I knew it would challenge me to learn while caring for high acuity patients.  After completing an APPE rotation as a student at Hartford Hospital, I saw first-hand just how much the preceptors cared about both student and resident teaching.  I appreciate this supportive learning environment and truly feel that the preceptors and staff in the pharmacy department care about my professional development as a pharmacist.

What you like to do in your free time?
I love spending time with my family, friends, and energetic puppy.  In the summer, I enjoy relaxing at the beach or by the pool.  In the winter, I enjoy skiing and snowmobiling.

What do you like most about Connecticut?
Connecticut is my home, which is very important to me and why I love it!  It is conveniently located between Boston and NYC, which both make for fun weekend trips.  Our small state has a lot to offer, including both mountains for hiking and beaches for relaxing.

Anisa XhurxhiAnisa Xhurxhi

Email: Anisa.Xhurxhi@hhchealth.org

Hometown: Diber, Albania

School of Pharmacy Attended: UConn School of Pharmacy

Professional Interests: Critical Care, Cardiology, Internal Medicine

Post PGY1 Plans: I plan to pursue a clinical pharmacist position at an academic medical center.

What attracted you to Harford Hospital?
Hartford Hospital provided various qualities that I wanted in a PGY1 residency such as offering a level 1 trauma center, variety of experience offered to residents, and a positive reinforcement learning environment that extended beyond just pharmacy. As an APPE student at Hartford Hospital, I enjoyed the interactions I had with my preceptors and always felt that they had my best interest in allowing me to improve as a student. I felt that Hartford Hospital would allow me to enhance my clinical skills and help me develop into a well-rounded clinical pharmacist while providing a positive learning experience.

What you like do in your free time?
I like the spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy watching new movies, doing outdoor activities like going to the beach or hiking.

What do you like most about Connecticut?
CT offers something different during each season of the year which makes me look forward to something new every day. Additionally, I also enjoy being close me my friends and family.