Pharmacy Preceptors

Bryan Carlson, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Operations Manager

Dr. Carlson graduated with his doctor of pharmacy degree in 1998 from University of the Pacific. He has been practicing pharmacy in the Central Valley ever since.  Practice settings have included inpatient clinical pharmacy, Home Infusion pharmacy, IT and Informatics pharmacy and community-based pharmacy. He has been in a variety of leadership roles over his career and is now practicing as the Operations Manager for Valley Children’s Healthcare.

He has always enjoyed teaching and mentoring students and has been active in the past using simulation to enhance the training experience. As an adjunct professor for University of the Pacific and California Health Sciences University, he looks forward to working with students and residents as they come to Valley Children's.

Melissa Chase, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Director

After completing pharmacy school at University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, in 1999, Dr. Chase completed a PGY1 General Pharmacy Practice residency at Washoe Medical Center in Reno, NV. Dr. Chase returned to the Central Valley and held numerous positions at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare facility in Fresno, CA (VACCHCS). Positions included: Clinical Pharmacist inpatient, Ambulatory Care (Advanced Scope of Practice in HIV), Clinical Coordinator and Pharmacy Director (2006-2015).

An accomplishment that she is very proud of is starting the first PGY1 ASHP Accredited residency at VACCHCS. She joined Valley Children’s Hospital in 2015 as the Medication Safety and Compliance Pharmacist and currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy.

Dr. Chase is currently a preceptor for PGY1 pharmacy residents and students for the Administration and Leadership experiences. She is an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice for Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific in Stockton, CA, as well as for University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles, CA. She currently has memberships with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacy and the California Pharmacists Association.

Jacqueline Crouch, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS, Clinical Manager

Dr. Crouch is a Valley native who has been with Valley Children’s Hospital since 2012. After completing her studies at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, she accepted a PGY1 position at Presbyterian St. Luke’s and The Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver. She then came back to Valley Children’s to complete a PGY2 focused in Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care. She has worked as a staff pharmacist and PICU Lead Pharmacist, and is now tackling her newest role of Pharmacy Clinical Manager.

She is an Assistant Clinical Professor for University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy and an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice for Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific, Stockton, California. She enjoys teaching students and residents and challenges them to learn something new every day!

Renzio M. B. Apostol, PharmD, NICU Lead Pharmacist

Dr. Apostol was born in the Philippines and was raised in the Central Valley. He attended the University of California, Irvine, where he earned his bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical sciences, and the California Health Sciences University - College of Pharmacy, where he received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree. He went on to complete his PGY1 pharmacy residency here at Valley Children's.

Dr. Apostol is the primary preceptor for pharmacy residents and students in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after becoming the lead NICU pharmacist in April 2022. The NICU holds a special place in his heart given that his son was born prematurely and had to stay in the NICU for 3 months.

He is an active member of the Pediatric Pharmacy Association, California Pharmacists Association and California Society of Health System Pharmacists. 

Danielle Herrmann, PharmD, Garden Lead Pharmacist

Dr. Herrmann is the General Medicine Lead Pharmacist and Cystic Fibrosis Pharmacist at Valley Children's Hospital. She serves as a preceptor for PGY1 pharmacy residents and students and is an adjunct professor at the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific.

Dr. Herrmann received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas in 2013. She then went on to complete a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Valley Children’s Hospital in 2014.

Huma Ibrahim, PharmD, Pharmacy Supervisor

Dr. Ibrahim comes to Valley Children’s with 15 years of experience in the practice of pharmacy. She graduated from Thomas J. Long school of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of the Pacific (Pharm.D.). Her experience ranges across multiple aspects of pharmacy, including community, management, administration, academia and hospital practice.

She has held multiple roles, including pharmacy owner/manager, director of experiential education and assistant professor of clinical and administrative sciences at California Health Sciences University and clinical pharmacist specialist.

In her current role as pharmacy supervisor, her responsibilities include: supervisory expertise, leadership and support in the planning, organization and day-to-day operations of the pharmacy department. She is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Clinical Sciences for California Health Sciences University in Clovis.  

Brenik Kuzmic, Pharm.D., Infectious Disease Pharmacist

After completing his academic work at Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID, Dr. Kuzmic joined the team at Valley Children’s Hospital. Here he completed a PGY1 in general pediatrics followed by a PGY2 with an emphasis on pediatric infectious disease.

He earned his Antimicrobial Stewardship Certificate from the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists and continues to practice with the infectious disease team by serving as the Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist and co-chairs the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP). With the ASP he worked to help Valley Children’s become an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence as designated by the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Wenee Liu Lopez, Pharm.D., Residency Program Director

Dr. Lopez has been with Valley Children’s Hospital since 1999. After completing pharmacy school at the University of California, San Francisco, she was the first pediatric pharmacy resident at Valley Children’s and then stayed to further develop the resident and student program.

Currently, she serves as a preceptor for PGY1 pharmacy residents and students, coordinating both IPPE and APPE for pharmacy schools throughout California. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor for the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy; Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific in Stockton, CA; Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Touro University College of Pharmacy; and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice for Western University of Health Sciences.

She currently has memberships with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacy, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and California Society of Health System Pharmacists – Sierra Society Chapter, where she is the Resident CE Coordinator.

Nicole Martinez, Pharm.D., Lead Oncology Pharmacist

Dr. Martinez has been part of the Valley Children’s team since 2012. She was born and raised in the Central Valley. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Fresno State, she completed her pharmacy education at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. She fell in love with pediatric pharmacy while on APPE rotations at Valley Children's Hospital and subsequently completed the PGY1 residency with electives in oncology and infectious disease.

She became the Lead Oncology Pharmacist in 2018 and has been a voting member of Children’s Oncology Group (COG) since 2013. Her Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Poster submission was awarded second place and she presented “Etoposide Desensitization Protocol After Hypersensitivity Reaction During Etoposide Phosphate Drug Shortage” at the 2018 COG Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Martinez currently has active memberships with the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacy, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the California Society of Health System Pharmacists – Sierra Society Chapter.

Nicole Rivera, Pharm.D., BCPS, Pharmacy Supervisor

Dr. Rivera is a homegrown pediatric pharmacist from the Central Valley. She has been with Valley Children’s Hospital since 2006. She completed her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco and a PGY1 Pediatric Residency at Valley Children’s Hospital.

She served as the lead pediatric pharmacist in the General Medicine area with a subspecialty in pediatric palliative care for five years. Currently, she serves as Pharmacy Supervisor as well as a preceptor for PGY1 pharmacy residents and students.

She is an Assistant Clinical Professor for the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy; Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific in Stockton; and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Touro University College of Pharmacy

Ashley Thomas, Pharm.D., BCPPS, Medication Safety and Regulatory Compliance Pharmacist

Dr. Thomas was born and raised in the Valley with dedicated service to Valley Children’s Hospital since 2007 as a Pharmacy Intern. She obtained her B.S. degree in Biology from California State University, Fresno in 2006 and a Pharm.D. degree from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in 2010. Following graduation, she completed an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pediatric pharmacy residency here at Valley Children’s in 2011.

After her residency training, she stayed with the hospital and accepted a position as a clinical pediatric pharmacist, then later became the Lead NICU Pharmacist. Dr. Thomas served as a lead for four years and accepted the Medication Safety and Regulatory Compliance Pharmacist position in 2018.

In addition to her interest in neonatology and medication safety, Dr. Thomas is an Assistant Clinical Professor for University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy; Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific in Stockton; Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Touro University College of Pharmacy; and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice for Western University of Health Sciences.

Rosie Tjarks, Pharm.D., BCPPS, Clinical Pharmacist

Dr. Tjarks received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Washington State University in 2013. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in 2014 and a PGY2 fellowship in Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care at Valley Children’s Hospital in 2015.

Dr.Tjarks is a clinical pharmacist in the PICU and NICU. She serves as a preceptor for PGY1 pharmacy residents and students. She is an adjunct professor at the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of Pacific and serves as an assistant clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy.

She is a member of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group.

Kc D. Yovino, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS, PICU Lead Pharmacist

Dr. Yovino was born and raised in Oregon and received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from California Health Sciences University in Clovis, CA. She went on to complete her PGY1 pharmacy residency at Valley Children’s Hospital where she also completed her PGY2 critical care pharmacy fellowship.

Dr. Yovino is the lead PICU pharmacist and serves as the primary preceptor for the PGY1 residency, PGY2 fellowship and pharmacy students who rotate through the PICU. Her previous experience includes serving as a staff pharmacist, working in the NICU, PICU and ED primarily. She also has an interest in palliative care and serves as a palliative care pharmacist as needed.

She is board certified in both pharmacotherapy and pediatric pharmacy. She is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacy, the California Society of Health System Pharmacists – Sierra Society Chapter and the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group.