Preceptors
Zac Myers, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor
Dr. Myers is currently the Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor and PGY-1 Residency Program Director at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Marshall University School of Pharmacy in 2019. He then completed a PGY-1 residency at Cabell Huntington Hospital followed by a PGY-2 Critical Care residency at Geisinger Medical Center in 2021. Following residency training, Dr. Myers practiced as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for four years before transitioning to the Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor position. Dr. Myers’ clinical interests include patient safety, shock state management, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Outside of work, Dr. Myers enjoys spending time with his family and playing guitar.
Kara Orwig, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases
Dr. Orwig is the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases at St. Mary’s Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Butler University in 2000. She then completed a PGY-1 at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, WV, followed by a specialized residency in Infectious Diseases at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY. Dr. Orwig is the director of the antimicrobial stewardship program at SMMC and is an adjunct professor for the Marshall University School of Pharmacy. She offers Infectious Diseases I and II and Antimicrobial Stewardship rotations for SMMC PGY1 residents. In addition to being an antimicrobial steward, Kara is a soccer mom, a hobbyist photographer, an avid Butler basketball fan, and an ardent reader and listener of audiobooks.
Melissa Arthur, RPh
Director of Pharmacy
Melissa Arthur, RPh, is the current Director of Pharmacy. Her responsibilities include oversight over all pharmacy services at St. Mary’s Medical Center, HIMG/SMMM Provider based departments, Ironton Campus, The Pharmacy @ HIMG, and the St. Mary’s Pharmacy. She is the chair of Medication Safety at SMMC and serves on various other hospital committees. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati in 1992. She has a variety of experience in her 30 years of pharmacy practice with the most recent as pharmacy manager. Her professional interests are in medication safety and operations within the system given her extensive experience in them both. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys playing piano, singing, and spending time with her Mini Newfypoo, Chewbacca Otis Arthur.
Raice Stevens, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine
Dr. Stevens is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Marshall University School of Pharmacy prior to completing his PGY-1 residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center. His current research is centered around anticoagulation therapies in acute coronary syndromes and medication administration in status epilepticus. Dr. Stevens is involved with the Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Emergency Medicine, and Trauma Committees, as well as precepting students from Marshall School of Pharmacy. Outside of work, Raice enjoys playing music and discovering new hobbies, of which the most recent additions have been learning how to ski, cook, and golf.
Morgan Bridwell, PharmD, BCPS
Medication Use and Safety Manager
Dr. Bridwell is currently the Medication Use and Safety Manager for Marshall Health Network (MHN). She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Marshall University School of Pharmacy in 2020. After graduation, she completed her PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Before moving to administration, Dr. Bridwell was a critical care clinical pharmacy specialist at St. Mary’s Medical Center in the Open Heart and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units. She currently leads the medication safety and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives for MHN. Her pharmacy interests include antimicrobial stewardship and formulary management. Outside of work, Dr. Bridwell enjoys doing Crossfit and spending time with her family.
Elijah Piatt, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine
Dr. Piatt is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He received his Bachelor’s of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Shawnee State University and then obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Marshall University School of Pharmacy in 2022. Dr. Piatt completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center. His current clinical interests include stroke management, toxicology, and infectious diseases. In his free time, Dr. Piatt finds enjoyment by exploring the outdoors while kayaking, staying active through running, and delving into the world of literature through reading.
Gabriel Stapleton, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Oncology
Dr. Stapleton is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Oncology at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH in 2007. After graduation, he took a position as a pharmacy manager at a retail pharmacy for three years before coming to St. Mary’s as a clinical pharmacist. Before specializing in oncology and hematology, he worked in the outpatient and inpatient pharmacies, helped with information technology, trained new pharmacists on order entry, and developed computer programs used by the pharmacists. He currently oversees St. Mary’s Investigational Drug Service and sits on Marshall University’s Investigational Review Board.
Katie Tomblin, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Oncology
Dr. Tomblin is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Oncologic and Hematologic Medicine at St. Mary's Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Marshall University School of Pharmacy prior to completing her PGY-1 residency at St. Mary's. Dr. Tomblin currently precepts MUSOP APPE students, WVU APPE students and SMMC residents. She thoroughly enjoys working in both the inpatient and outpatient clinical settings due the complexity associated with these patients and the high level of patient interaction. Additionally, she has three feisty children, loves to paint, and enjoys hiking with her family.
Alex Lawless, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases
Dr. Lawless is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases at St. Mary’s Medical Center. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Marshall University School of Pharmacy in 2021. Following graduation, she completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Dr. Lawless then continued her training through a PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency in Infectious Diseases at Cone Health Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, NC. Dr. Lawless’ clinical interests include HIV management, quality improvement, and antibiotic stewardship. In her free time, Dr. Lawless enjoys playing tennis, quality time with family and friends, and spending time with her dogs, Kallie and Sadie.
Stephen Cook, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care
Dr. Cook is currently a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy in 2010. Following graduation, he completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Cabell Huntington Hospital. He served as a pharmacy practice faculty member and maintained a pharmacy practice site in acute care internal medicine for over 10 years. Dr. Cook’s clinical interests include acid-base disorders, acute heart failure, anticoagulation, and supportive care in the ICU.
Lauren Horner, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Cardiology
Katie Burns, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine
Dr. Burns is currently the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine at St. Mary’s Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Burns spends the second part of her day as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Marshall University School of Pharmacy. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in 2024. Following graduation, she went on to complete a PGY-1 residency at the Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, WV. Dr. Burns’ clinical interests include geriatrics and common chronic disease states such as diabetes, hypertension, and anticoagulation management. Outside of work, Dr. Burns enjoys lifting weights, and spending time with her sisters, friends, and grandparents.