Board Members

Dr. Christine Tafoya is an Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Pharmacist at The University of Kansas Health System - Olathe Hospital in Olathe, KS. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy at Creighton University in Omaha, NE in 2016 and received residency training at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. She then served as an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist in St. Joseph, MO for three years, and then as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO until 2023. Dr. Tafoya is board certified in critical care (BCCCP) and emergency medicine (BCEMP). Her professional interests include resuscitation, trauma, ECMO, PK/PD in critical illness, and medication safety. She enjoys precepting and serves as Adjunct Experiential Faculty for Creighton University, University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Kansas. Dr. Tafoya is actively involved with several pharmacy organizations including Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP), Greater Kansas City Society of Health System Pharmacists (GKCSHP) and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). 

Dr. Tyler Whitehead is completing his PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership with HCA Healthtrust MidAmerica Division in Shawnee, KS. He completed his PGY1 Residency at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO and obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy at Regis University in Denver, CO. His professional interests include Regulatory and Compliance, Medication Safety, Pharmacy Advocacy, and Investigational Drug Services with a special interest in oncology. Outside of pharmacy, he enjoys painting and spending quality time with his friends and family.

Zach Gunter completed his Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Pharmacy. He went on to complete a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, followed by a PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency with the Medical University of South Carolina. He is currently a Manager of Pharmacy Operations and Outpatient Infusion Services with Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lees Summit, Missouri and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. He is the Immediate Past-President of the Greater Kansas City Society of Health-System Pharmacists (GKCSHP) and his professional interests include pharmacy operations, healthcare informatics, professional development, and public health.

Dr. Samuel Halleck is a critical care and emergency medicine clinical float pharmacist at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri. He completed his PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and his PGY2 in critical care at CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Pharmacy located in Kansas City, Missouri. During his tenure, he served as President-Elect and President of SSHP and Student Liaison for GKCSHP and MSHP. Additionally he served as Phi Lambda Sigma President his fourth year. He was awarded Student of the Year by GKCSHP in 2021 and Resident of the Year by GKCSHP in 2024.

Dr. Halleck's professional interests include surgical/trauma intensive care, resuscitation, and toxicology. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his husband, Joel, and their two cats, Percy and Poseidon, and playing piano. He is excited to serve as Secretary for GKCSHP and looks forward to giving back to an organization that has personally shaped him into the practitioner he is today.

Dr. Price Edmiston is a Perioperative Clinical Pharmacist at The Kansas University Health System in Kansas City, KS specializing in trauma, neurosurgery, orthopedic, and urology services. He obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, MO. Upon graduation, Price completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Research Medical Center. His professional interests include trauma, cardiology, and critical care services. In his free time, Price enjoys spending time with friends, hitting the gym, or finding new TV shows to binge on a Sunday.

Amelia Gooch is a clinical pharmacist at Saint Luke's East Hospital and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She completed her pre-pharmacy coursework at University of Missouri - Columbia and graduated pharmacy school from University of Missouri - Kansas City. Afterwards, she completed her PGY1 residency at Olathe Medical Center. Her interests include internal medicine, antimicrobial stewardship, and precepting students.

Dr. David Brown is a Critical Care Pharmacist at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, MO. He obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, MO. Prior to Centerpoint, David worked at Research Medical Center in the ICU the previous 8 years. His professional interests include critical care, trauma, cardiology and neurology services. In his free time, David enjoys spending time with his family, going to their sporting events and loves getting out the telescope to look at the planets. He follows and loves attending Sporting KC and the Chiefs events.

Ernesta began working the night shift at Research Medical Center Inpatient Pharmacy in October of 1996. She earned her CPhT certification with Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) in November of 2001 and currently works as Lead Technician/Buyer at Research Medical Center. Currently she is the DESO (Department Employee Safety Officer) for the pharmacy and she recently accepted an additional role and now oversees the HD sterile compounding space in the central pharmacy. Ernesta recently earned her PTCB CPhT-Adv certification. Her long-term goals are to continue to earn more certifications and provide support to her pharmacy team members, by training the new technicians, and tutor her peer who have shown an interest in taking the PTCB certification exam. Ernesta is an active member of the department party committee (party patrol), and most recently had a successful planning and supporting, Take Your Child to Work Day. In her spare time Ernesta loves to read, cook, craft and volunteer with various charities.

Dr. Allison Higgins is a PGY-1 pharmacy resident at Research Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in Lawrence, Kansas. Her current practice interests include critical care and emergency medicine. Upon completion of her PGY-1, Dr. Higgins plans to pursue a PGY-2 in her current areas of interest or obtain her board certification in pharmacotherapy and practice as a clinical pharmacist. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping and spending time with her friends and family, including her two Boston Terriers.

Alex Huntley completed her undergraduate at Missouri University of Science and Technology and is currently in her P3 year at University of Missouri Kansas City. She is the 2024/2025 school year president for their chapter of Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy and has been working as an intern at North Kansas City Hospital since her first year as a pharmacy student. Her interests include functional medicine, nutritional support, and diabetes care. Her future goals include opening her own functional medicine pharmacy.

Thomas Maldonado is a third-year student pharmacist at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. He works at The University of Kansas Cancer Center as a pharmacy intern. Thomas currently serves on the executive teams for The Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP), The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), and the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy Student Ambassadors. In his free time, Thomas enjoys concerts, sporting events, and golfing.

Nick Hartwig received both his Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2023. Upon graduation, he completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, MO. Nick is now completing a PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership with HCA Healthtrust MidAmerica Division in Shawnee. His professional interests include medication safety, antimicrobial stewardship, and pharmacy automation.