Current Residents

Benjamin Deike, PharmD
PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Email: bjdeike@houstonmethodist.org

Benjamin grew up just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Syracuse University in 2012. Later, he received his Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University in 2023. His current practice interests include solid organ transplant and hematology/oncology. He hopes to pursue a PGY2 residency in one of these areas next year. In his free time, he enjoys video games, trading card games, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends.

Major research project: Safety of direct oral anticoagulation therapy for patients pending kidney transplant
Quality improvement project: Review of use, REMS program, and protocol for eculizumab & ravulizumab
Continuing education program: Mo Opioids Mo Problems: The Management of Cancer-Associated Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
 

Madeline Murphy, PharmD
PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Email: mmurphy@houstonmethodist.org

Maddie grew up in Bristol, Wisconsin and attended Rice University for her undergraduate studies. She obtained her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2023. Her current practice interests are infectious disease and solid organ transplant. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, running, and trying new restaurants. 


Major research project: Cefiderocol containing regimens compared with best available therapy for the treatment of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp.
Quality improvement project: Evaluation of Vancomycin AUC dosing in High-Risk Patients
Continuing education program: Listing Criteria and Organ Allocation/Considerations During Pretransplant Workup 

Rachel Ou, PharmD
PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Email: rjou@houstonmethodist.org

Rachel grew up in Plano, Texas and obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. Her current practice interests include critical care and academia, and she plans to pursue a PGY2 in critical care next year.  In her free time, Rachel enjoys cross stitching, watching musicals, and spending time with friends and family.

Major research project: Evaluating outcomes of vasopressin discontinuation strategies in resolving septic shock 
Quality improvement project: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) heparin protocol
Continuing education program: Think FAST: Navigating Updates to Ischemic Stroke
 

Nicholas J. Palma, PharmD
PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Email: njpalma@houstonmethodist.org


Nicholas grew up in Arlington, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He then went on to obtain his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in 2023. His current practice interests include critical care, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.  He plans to pursue a PGY2 residency position in one of these specialties next year. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys traveling, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with his friends, family, and pets.


Major research project: Variation of antibiotic dosing between cystatin C and serum creatinine estimations of renal function in patients at risk of renal overestimation
Quality improvement project: Clozapine REMS Compliance
Continuing education program: Perioperative Antithrombotic Therapy 

Priya Patel, PharmD

PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Email: pjpatel@houstonmethodist.org 


Priya grew up in Houston, Texas and attended the University of Houston for her undergrad studies. She obtained her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors. 

Major research project: Evaluation of DOAC Transition Strategies Upon ICU Admission for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Quality improvement project: Follow-up Review of the Heparin ECMO Protocol 

Continuing education program: ASP in Special Populations (Hematology/Oncology, Transplant)