Pathways to Pharmacy Careers

Brendan is originally from the greater New Orleans area of Louisiana and am an alumna of Southeastern Louisiana University.  She has worked in education for many years, both in higher education and as an art teacher in K-12 schools.  Most of her career has been in student affairs in higher education, serving in various roles at her alma mater before taking on her current position just over a year ago. 
 
As Manager for Career Pathways for Healthcare and Health Sciences, she is a Certified Career Services Provider and strives to support and assist students exploring and pursuing careers in both individual and public health.  She does this through facilitating workshops and personalized career planning appointments.    
 

Dr. Allen is currently the Vice President, Pharmacy Operations for Sunshine Health.  He has been in the managed care industry for a decade and has previously held pharmacy roles in Operations as well as Fraud, Waste, and Abuse at WellCare Health Plans, Prestige Health Choice and Magellan Health.  He is active in his community and can be seen working with the following organizations:  Vice-Chair for the Tampa Bay’s American Cancer Society’s Volunteer Leadership Board, the March of Dimes Tampa Chapter, the LIONS World Vison Eye Institute and the Pinellas County Urban League. Moses received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University, MS in Applied Pharmacoeconomics the University of Florida and MBA with a focus on Health Sector Management and Policy from the University of Miami.  His interests include travel, exercise and reading.   

Dr. Ziggas earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.  She completed both her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice and PGY2 Oncology Specialty Residencies at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.  Dr. Ziggas formerly served as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist practicing in Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy prior to her current position.  She has a strong passion for helping to shape the future of the profession through teaching pharmacy residents and students.  Additionally, her professional interests include cellular therapeutics, the prevention and management of GVHD, supportive care strategies for patients with cancer, and pharmacy leadership, training, and professional education.  Dr. Ziggas has served in numerous leadership roles within the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA). 
 

Dr. Brian Maas received his PharmD from the University of Florida in 2015 and completed fellowships in pharmacometrics at UNC and IQVIA, focusing on HIV antiretrovirals and monoclonal antibody pharmacokinetics. He also specialized in pediatric research during his ORISE fellowship at the FDA. 
 
Joining Merck in 2017, Dr. Maas has played a key role in developing and approving infectious disease treatments like raltegravir for HIV and molnupiravir for COVID-19. As a Scientific Director, he oversees clinical pharmacology strategies for RSV, influenza, and HIV compounds. Dr. Maas was also named one of UF’s 40 Gators Under 40.    
 
Passionate about community engagement, Dr. Maas has co-authored over a dozen publications, delivered numerous scientific talks, and serves as a peer-reviewer and mentor. In his free time, he enjoys family activities, soccer, hiking, and exploring coffee. 

Jon is the Medical Executive Director for the Puerto Rico ecosystem and is new to Genentech.  Prior to his start Jon spent 7 years at AstraZeneca in a variety of roles starting as a Medical Science Liaison, transitioning to a Region Clinical Account Director (Florida and PR) and spending the last 2 years as a National Clinical Account Director covering CVS/Caremark.  Prior to his time in the industry Jon spent 16 years with Walgreens in a variety of clinical and leadership roles in Florida. Jon graduated from Florida A&M University COPPS with his PharmD in 1999.  
Outside of Genentech Jon has a passion for the profession of pharmacy and his interest has led him to being appointed to the Florida Board of Pharmacy in 2017 by Governor Rick Scott.  He has continued to serve patients and pharmacists in this capacity under Governor Ron Desantis and was elevated to Vice Chair of the BOP in 2020, and Chair in 2021.  

Carl Allison, the visionary owner and founder of Baya Pharmacy in Lake City, Florida. With over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Carl has dedicated his career to serving the community’s health care needs.
Carl’s journey in pharmacy began many years ago, and his commitment to excellence has been unwavering. Under his leadership, Baya Pharmacy has grown to include multiple locations, offering a wide range of services such as immunizations, clinical services, compounding, medical supplies, and urgent care. His innovative approach and dedication to patient care have made Baya Pharmacy a trusted name in North Central Florida.
Beyond his professional achievements, Carl is deeply rooted in the community. His family’s farm, which has been in the Allison family since 1914, reflects his strong ties to the area. Carl’s passion for both pharmacy and community service is evident in everything he does.
 
Dr. Mehta is a dedicated pharmacist and the Director of Clinical Services at Baya Pharmacy in Lake City, Florida. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2022.
Born in India and raised in Canada, Dr. Mehta’s diverse background has given her a unique perspective on global health care systems. Her passion for pharmacy was inspired by her father, a pharmacist, and her own desire to make a direct and positive impact on patient health.
Since joining Baya Pharmacy, Dr. Mehta has been instrumental in expanding their services. She has established a clinical services department, developed an obesity management program, and created a health equity program. Most recently, she designed and managed the buildout of a sterile compounding cleanroom.
Dr. Mehta is a strong advocate for community pharmacy, emphasizing the importance of clinical expertise, patient-centered care, and innovation. Her commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing the pharmacy profession is truly inspiring.

Dr. Jodi Taylor received a B.S. degree in Science from Middle Tennessee State University and a Pharm.D. degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She served as a pharmacy practice faculty member at Union University College of Pharmacy from 2009 to 2024 and department chair from 2015 to 2024. During that time, she also served as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. While at Union University, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year, Faculty Preceptor of the Year and Resident Preceptor of the Year by her students and residents.  
 
Dr. Taylor joined the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2024 as assistant dean for curricular affairs and clinical associate professor. She previously served as the Director-at-Large for the ASHP Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists, is a past-President of the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists, a former member of the ASHP Council on Therapeutics and has served as a Tennessee delegate in the ASHP House of Delegates for multiple years. She is a previous recipient of the PLS National Alumni of the Year Award, the TSHP Health-System Pharmacist of the Year Award, and the TSSP Student Advocacy Award.  
 
Dr. Taylor is an active member state and national pharmacy organizations, is a Fellow in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and a Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist. 

Dr. Mesaros is a member of the Florida Board of Pharmacy and the President of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy for 2024-2025. automatically assumed the position of president. Jeff has been a registered pharmacist for over 20 years and has practiced as a pharmacist attorney for more than 15 years. Along with his many contributions as a member of NABP, Dr Mesaros has been involved with several other professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Society for Pharmacy Law, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the National Football League Players Association. He has served as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Florida and the University of Hawaii at Hilo colleges of pharmacy. Dr Mesaros earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and his juris doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He received his master of science degree in pharmacy regulation and policy from the University of Florida.