Maggie Hitzeman, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

Maggie Hitzeman, PharmD, BCPS, is a board-certified clinical pharmacist at Think Whole Person Healthcare. She grew up in Conway Springs, Kansas, a small town where the close community, supportive teachers and coaches, and strong sense of accountability shaped her early years. Maggie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Emporia State University and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy.

She was inspired to pursue healthcare by her grandmother, a nurse who showed selfless care for others at work, at home, in church, and in the community. Maggie’s interest in math and chemistry made clinical pharmacy a natural fit, letting her combine science with her passion for helping people. She has worked in many areas, such as ambulatory care, emergency medicine, critical care, internal medicine, and cardiology. She has focused on cardiovascular disease management for many years and recently began focusing on diabetes care after her son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2023.

For Maggie, Whole Person Healthcare is about working with patients and the care team to look at every aspect of a person’s health. She strives to optimize medications while considering health literacy, medication access and cost, cultural values, mental health, and social factors. She shares, “When we take all of these factors into account, we can improve adherence, empower patients in their health decisions, and ultimately support better long-term outcomes.” As a clinical pharmacist, she helps make complex health issues easier to understand, finds practical solutions, removes barriers to following treatment plans, and supports patients so they feel confident managing their health for better long-term results.

Maggie joined think because it values teamwork and truly personalized, patient-centered care. She likes that think gives her the support and structure to tailor medication plans that fit each patient’s goals, preferences, and life situation. This lets her go beyond just writing prescriptions and be part of care that serves the whole person.

Patients often say Maggie goes above and beyond to listen to their goals and works hard to help them improve their health. One story that stands out to her happened during critical care rounds when a patient faced a setback. After a heartfelt talk with the patient and family, the attending cardiologist told the team, “What a privilege it is to get to care for a patient and their family through such a difficult time.” This message has stayed with Maggie and reminds her to always provide compassionate care.

Maggie’s biggest joy is being a mom to her three children. She loves cheering them on at their activities, playing with them, and making family memories. On quiet evenings, she likes to read, relax with her kids, or try new recipes. When they have a free weekend, the family enjoys visiting relatives or going to the mountains or beach. These family moments help her stay grounded and energized at work.

Mandi Russell, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

A clinical Pharmacist at Think Whole Person Healthcare, Dr. Mandi Russell enjoys working with patients with diabetes. She loves having the ability to help improve a patient’s quality of life through the appropriate use of medications.

Coming from a family of pharmacists, Mandi knew at a young age that she wanted to help people, just like her father and grandfather. What she loves about think is the concept of treating the whole person, and working together with other healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

If asked, she hopes her patients know that she truly cares about them, and that everything she does for them is in their best interests.

For Dr. Russell, family is #1, so when she’s not at think, she is usually on some adventure with her family. She would love to travel all over, going from state-to-state and country-to-country. She would especially love to visit Europe and Australia.

Mark Farrage, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

Mark Farrage, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist at think. Growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mark was inspired to become a clinical pharmacist by his grandparents, who were physicians, and a family friend who owned a pharmacy. He earned his PharmD from Creighton University in 2010 and is a member of the Nebraska Pharmacist Association.

Mark takes the time to listen to his patients, address their questions, and educate them about the medication they have been prescribed, focusing on usage and cost-effective treatment. His patients describe him as kind and caring. His patients describe him as kind and caring when interacting with patients to improve their health.

He believes Whole Person Healthcare involves listening and allowing patients to ask questions. He joined think to make a positive impact on patients as a clinical pharmacist, saying, “I have always wanted to work for Think and to be a clinical pharmacist making a positive impact for patients. I was able to do some of that working in a pharmacy, but at think, I can do it all day.”

One patient story that resonates with Mark is about a patient who came to the pharmacy in a difficult mood. Mark recalls, “I had a patient who was having a tough day. She was angry and impatient at the pharmacy. No one wanted to help her except me. I empathized with her and took care of her, and in the end, she walked away smiling and laughing.”

Outside work, Mark enjoys gardening, coaching, playing sports, and spending time with his family. He enjoys Creighton basketball and Notre Dame football.

Nairi Kasparian, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

Nairi Kasparian is a Clinical Pharmacist at think, and loves working in Preventative Medicine, where she can see patients noticing a difference in their quality of life. She has wanted to work in Medicine since she was younger, watching her cousin work as a Pharmacist as she grew up.

What she loves most about think is having the ability to help patients in ways she had always wanted to. In the retail world, she had to work under constraints that are not in place at think.

When she’s not working she enjoys hiking, paddle-boarding, and cooking, and would love to do the El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage through Spain.

Shelley Lippold, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

A Clinical Pharmacist at think, Shelley Lippold likes working with Diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, but has also always had a large interest in oncology.

She loves the ever-changing nature of medicine; the process of translating new discoveries and treatment advances into daily practice is fascinating to her. She has known she’s wanted to work in medicine since she volunteered at a local hospital during high school. The experience she gained during that time was a large influence in her desire to seek a career as a health professional.

What she loves about think is the multidisciplinary approach, and the ability to utilize the wide range of knowledge she’s gained throughout her pharmacy career thus far.

When she’s not working, she’s an avid runner who also enjoys various outdoor activities including road cycling, cheering her kids’ on at their sporting events, and spending the day at a lake with friends.

Kala Ray, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

A Clinical Pharmacist at think, Kala Ray enjoys working in the areas of Diabetes and Heart Health. What she loves most about working in Medicine is helping her patients, and the appreciation and relationships she develops with them.

Her mom being a nurse, Kala has always wanted to do something health-related as a career. Since she’s not the biggest fan of blood, Pharmacy was the perfect choice.

She hopes that her patients see her as someone who will do whatever she can to help with whatever they need.

When she’s not working at think, she enjoys sports, travel, and spending time with her family. She would love to someday visit the Maldives.

Austin Dudzinski, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy

Dr. Austin Dudzinski is a Clinical Pharmacist here at think, and enjoys working with cardiometabolic disorders, especially diabetes and dyslipidemia.

What he finds most exciting about working in Medicine, is that there are always innovations on the horizon, especially in preventive medicine for diseases such as cancer and dementia. He has known he’s wanted to work in this field since college.

What Dr. Dudzinski loves most about working at think is that it provides him with the opportunity to use the entire body of knowledge that he has learned, and apply it to help patients. If asked, he thinks his patients would say he’s, “The bald pharmacist that calls them about their diabetes.”

When he’s not at work, he enjoys playing guitar, exercising, reading medical literature, and hanging out with his wife and son.