Melissa Santibañez, Pharm.D. is a South Florida native who received a bachelors of science degree from the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL) in 2008 followed by a doctor of pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, FL) in 2015. During and prior to her time in pharmacy school she gained vast experience in the hospital pharmacy setting, including serving as a pharmacy buyer. As a fourth-year pharmacy student she completed the 6-month Advanced Clinical Experience Program hosted by Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami, FL), an intensive program intended to strengthen clinical skills and prepare students for post-graduate residency training.
Dr. Santibañez completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, IL) in June 2016, followed by a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York City, NY) in June 2017.
Currently she is an Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences with Larkin University College of Pharmacy as well as an adult ICU Clinical Pharmacist at Larkin Community Hospital – Palm Springs Campus.
She continues to be active in scholarly activity and her current practice areas of interest include: antimicrobial stewardship in the intensive care unit, shock states, heart failure, cardiothoracic surgery, and neurosurgery.
In her spare time, Melissa is a practicing martial artist, having trained in seminars under the grandmasters in Muay Thai kickboxing, Filipino Kali and Eskrima, and Wing Chun Gung Fu. She also occasionally goes mountain biking and competes in obstacle course races, most notably the Ragnar Relay race from Miami to Key West in 2014.
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