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Description

POEM is a collaboration between two statewide Collaborative Quality Initiatives – MOQC (Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium) and MICMT (Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation) – and was developed to assist oncology practices with improving patient care and outcomes through integration of clinical oncology pharmacists in direct patient care. Clinical oncology pharmacists will provide clinical care to high-risk oncology patients in oncology practices across the state of Michigan.

Practice Benefits

  • Support in recruiting, hiring, and funding clinical oncology ambulatory pharmacists
  • Opportunity to receive value-based reimbursement (VBR)
  • Share best practices and processes
  • Collaborate in expanding interdisciplinary care and improving disease- and medication-related outcomes

Meet the Pharmacists

Maja Hill, PharmD

Maja Hill, PharmD

Corewell Health

Grand Rapids
Biography

Maja started with POEM in July 2023 and her clinical focus is on oral anticancer medication management. Maja earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toledo in 2021. She then completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI and her PGY2 Pharmacy Oncology Pharmacy Practice Residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Upon completion of her residency, she joined the team at Corewell Health’s Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion as a clinical pharmacy specialist. Outside of work, Maja enjoys reading, running, baking, and spending time with her family.

Emily Johengen, PharmD, BCACP

Emily Johengen, PharmD, BCACP

Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology

Ypsilanti, Brighton, Canton, Chelsea, Livonia
Biography

Emily joined POEM in October 2020. Her clinical focus is oral anticancer agent management, including patient education and clinical follow up. Emily earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. She completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and a PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at Michigan Medicine. Since joining POEM, Emily has led initiatives to improve time to oral anticancer agent follow up and expand oncology symptom management services within her organization.

Tiffany Kelly, PharmD

Corewell Health

Biography

Bio coming soon…

Katie Sias, PharmD, BCOP

Katie Sias, PharmD, BCOP

MyMichigan Health

Mt. Pleasant, Midland, Alpena, Alma, Gladwin
Biography

Katie started with POEM in March 2021 and her clinical focus is oral chemotherapy. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Ferris State University in 2007. She has worked as a clinical pharmacy supervisor for MidMichigan Health with an oncology focus for the past 12 years. During her time as a clinical pharmacy supervisor, she oversaw operations of the infusion pharmacy in Midland and collaborated with a multidisciplinary oncology team across multiple sites. She earned her Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy in 2019. She is eager to expand patient access to oncology pharmacists and sees pharmacists as the optimal team member to provide education and medication-related symptom management. Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends, coaching youth soccer, reading, and being outdoors.

Samuel Snowaert, PharmD, MBA

Samuel Snowaert, PharmD, MBA

Covenant Cancer Care Center

Saginaw

Biography

Sam attended pharmacy school at Ferris State University.  He completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Sparrow Hosptial in Lansing, MI, followed by a PGY-2 oncology pharmacy residency at Munson Healthcare in Traverse City, MI.  Sam now works as a POEM pharmacist for Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, MI where he educates and follows patients taking oral chemotherapy.  Sam has an interest in teaching and precepting, with hopes of becoming more involved with Ferris State College of Pharmacy in the coming years.  

Jennifer VanSickler, PharmD

Jennifer VanSickler, PharmD

Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center

Lansing
Biography

Jenni started with POEM in March 2023 and her clinical focus is oral anticancer agent management, including patient education and clinical follow-up. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in 2013 and subsequently completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. After residency, Jenni stayed on with Sparrow Hospital, taking a position as a staff pharmacist working in various areas including the infusion center and specialty pharmacy. She is grateful for the opportunity to join the POEM team as an advocate for oncology pharmacists and to promote the collaborative care they can provide to improve patient outcomes. Outside of pharmacy, Jenni enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, supporting the kids in their athletic activities, and spending time in northern Michigan enjoying the outdoors.

Mark Wagner, PharmD, BCOP

Mark Wagner, PharmD, BCOP

Munson Healthcare

Traverse City, Cadillac, Charlevoix, Gaylord, Grayling, Manistee
Biography

Mark started with POEM in July 2021 and his clinical focus is in expansion of oral chemotherapy management and supportive care. He graduated from Ferris State University with his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2014. Following graduation, he completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID in 2015 and a PGY-2 Specialty Residency in Hematology and Oncology at St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, ID in 2016.

After residency completion, he accepted a position as a clinical oncology pharmacist at the Cowell Family Cancer Center (CFCC) in Traverse City, MI and became a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist in the fall of 2016.  In his time at CFCC, he led the development of an oral chemotherapy education program and currently oversees this program. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, hiking, hunting, and various homesteading projects. He is looking forward to starting his new role as a part of the POEM program.

Colton Zwart, PharmD, BCOP

Colton Zwart, PharmD, BCOP

Munson Healthcare

Traverse City, Cadillac, Charlevoix, Gaylord, Grayling, Manistee
Biography

Dr. Zwart graduated from Ferris State University in 2019.  After completion of PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Munson Medical Center, he joins the Cowell Infusion Pharmacy as the first Munson PGY-2 Oncology resident.  Upon completion of his residency, Colton joined Cowell Infusion Pharmacy team as a clinical pharmacist. This past spring, he became board certified in oncology. Outside of work, Colton spends time with his wife, paddle boarding, and training for triathlons.

Emily Thompson, PharmD

Emily Thompson, PharmD

Cancer and Hematology Centers

Muskegon, Norton Shores

Biography

Emily earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University, College of Pharmacy in 2012. Initially she served patients in the retail setting before transitioning to a clinical role with Alpena Regional Medical Center in 2014, where she was first introduced to oncology pharmacy. Since early 2017 she has served oncology patients with The Cancer & Hematology Centers. Emily is beyond grateful for her new role with the POEM program and the opportunity to continue expanding her oncology knowledge base while exploring new initiatives to better serve oncology patients. When not at work Emily spends time with her husband, their three energetic daughters and the family dog, exploring the outdoors, hunting or fishing. She also dedicates time to pursuing her faith and loves serving in the Kid’s Ministry at Port City Church.

Participating POEM Sites

If you are experiencing any problems with the Interactive Map, please click the link below for a static version of the map:
Static Map

Meet the Team

Emily Mackler, PharmD, BCOP

Emily Mackler, PharmD, BCOP

Director, POEM

emackler@moqc.org

Biography

Dr. Mackler received her PharmD from Drake University and completed her Residency experience in Pharmacy Practice and Oncology at the University Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. She joined Michigan Medicine in 2002 as a Clinical Oncology Pharmacist. She founded the Oncology Specialty Residency at the University of Michigan in 2003 and was the program director until 2013. She has been involved in multiple oncology quality and safety endeavors including serving as the co-lead and founding developer of the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates since its inception in 2006, founding pharmacist in the Cancer Center Symptom Management and Supportive Care Program at the University of Michigan 2009 – 2012, founding director of the University of Michigan Oral Chemotherapy Program in 2012 and thereafter MOQC’s Oral Oncolytic Program in 2013, and founding Course Director of the Michigan Society of Hematology Oncology (MSHO) Annual Pharmacist’s Meeting. She founded HOPA’s Quality Oversight Committee and is a HOPA Board Member At-Large from 2020-2023. Dr. Mackler’s research and practice interests focus on oncology symptom management, quality of care, equity of care, medication adherence, and patient reported outcomes.

Julie Wietzke, MHSA, MLS

Julie Wietzke, MHSA, MLS

Manager

Biography

Julie Wietzke is the Manager at the Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation (MICMT). In this role, Julie oversees the staff and helps guide the work of MICMT. She has a Master of Health Services Administration degree and a Master of Library Science degree, specializing in health sciences information. Julie has over 20 years of experience working in healthcare in quality improvement, clinical research, and operations. She has worked with hospitals and physician organizations across the state of Michigan on initiatives aimed at improving the quality of care. In her free time, Julie enjoys spending time with family and friends, going for walks, camping, and traveling to U.S. National Parks.

Ashley Schwartz, LMSW

Ashley Schwartz, LMSW

Project Manager

Biography

Ashley Schwartz, LMSW, is a Project Manager at the Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation (MICMT). Ashley provides ongoing program support by collaborating and coordinating with Physician Organizations and managing BCBSM deliverables. As a licensed social worker, Ashley has several years of experience working in various healthcare settings providing clinical and administrative support. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, staying active and traveling the world.

Katie Young

Katie Young

Data Analyst

Biography
Katherine (Katie) Young is a Computer Research Specialist at the Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation (MICMT). Katie has a wide knowledge of database development, data collection and data mining methodologies, principles and techniques. Katie is part of MICMT’s program evaluation team that is responsible for the design and implementation of data infrastructures MICMT uses for reporting information to high level management as well as Physician Organizations, Practices and Care Managers.
Karen Farris, PhD

Karen Farris, PhD

Evaluation Co-Lead

Biography
Dr. Farris is the Charles R. Walgreen III Professor of Pharmacy Administration at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. She is Chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and serves as Director of the Clinical Pharmacy Translational Sciences Graduate and Fellowship Program. She completed her PhD at the University of Michigan with theoretical training in social psychology and health behavior and has been a pharmacy services researcher for over 25 years. Her research and teaching focuses on how individuals manage their medications and the roles of pharmacists in influencing medication use, including medication adherence and symptom assessment. Her most recent work is with the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium (MOQC), where we have been able to study the symptom experience and medication adherence with oral anti-cancer medications and we have tested and published components of a standard model of care for oncology practices subsequent evaluation. Dr. Farris was named Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association in 2006, Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award in Biological and Life Sciences at the University of Iowa in 2007, and Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor in 2016 at the University of Michigan. She has over 120 peer-reviewed publications and has given numerous invited talks at local, state, national and international venues. She has obtained over $7 million in PI/co-PI grants and over $8 million as co-investigator on other grants, all involving pharmacists and their impact on health and health outcomes or medication adherence.
David Reyes-Gastelum, MSc

David Reyes-Gastelum, MSc

Statistician

Biography
David Reyes-Gastelum is a Statistician at the Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation (MICMT). He is a part of MICMT’s program evaluation team. David has Master of Science degrees in Statistics and Mathematics, as well as experience in medical research, statistical consulting, and social and behavioral science research. In his free time, David enjoys spending time with family, cooking, staying active, and spending time outdoors camping, hiking, and climbing.
Mike Harrison

Mike Harrison

POQC Member

Biography

Mike is one of the first members of the Patient and Caregiver Oncology Quality Council (POQC), which was formed several years ago to provide the patient and caregiver voice for MOQC. He is a member of the MOQC Steering Committee, the Measures Committee, and the PROMOnc Steering Committee which is a national effort that MOQC is partnering with to develop, test, and improve patient-reported outcomes. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer nine years ago and remains cancer-free. Mike has also been a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Committee for the Rogel Cancer Center at Michigan Medicine for the past six years and retired in 2016 after 29 years at Michigan Medicine, primarily as director of PR and Marketing as well as a manager in strategic planning.

For more information, please contact Emily Mackler at emackler@moqc.org

 

Photography services provided by Jen Geer

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