Valerie J. Wiebe, PharmD, RPh, FSVHP, Diplomat OCVP, Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator
Wiebe has a bachelor's degree in zoology (1982) and a master's degree in pharmacology (1984) from the University of California – Santa Barbara. Here she worked on diverse projects involving screening of marine natural compounds for antischistosomal activity. She paid her way through school by working as a veterinary technician at Santa Barbara Pet Hospital and Santa Barbara Veterinary Emergency Clinic, as well as the Santa Barbara Zoo. She went on to receive her doctorate in clinical pharmacy from the University of California – San Francisco (1988). In both Santa Barbara and San Francisco she volunteered her time with the Marine Mammal Rescue Team. In San Francisco she also worked part-time in the Neurology Department at UCSF, looking at the kinetics of various drugs into the central nervous system of cats. She completed her internship hours at Stanford University working on the renal and cardiac transplant ward. She then completed an advanced post-doctoral degree at Yale University in Connecticut (1990) where she worked in the Department of Medicine, Section of Oncology. Here Wiebe focused on various analytical projects involving both cancer chemotherapy drugs and anti-virals. She then moved to Texas where she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Here her work focused on the use of anti-estrogens in breast cancer. After starting a family she moved to California where she worked as a staff pharmacist for Mercy Healthcare and then as a manager for Kaiser Healthcare Pharmacies. In 2001, Wiebe joined the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California – Davis. Here she is involved in teaching, research, drug information and some operational pharmacy functions. She started up a Pharmacy Newsletter as well as a Journal Club. As an adjunct Clinical Professor for the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology she started up a Veterinary Residency Program. This is the first and only program that provides post-doctoral education in veterinary medicine to pharmacists. In addition, she teaches didactic and clinical instruction to veterinary students in the areas of antibiotic and antifungal therapy, pharmacology, oncology and nutrition. She also plays a significant role, along with the pharmacy resident, in providing drug information to veterinarians and clients both within the University and on the outside. As an adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at UCSF, Wiebe teaches a didactic course in veterinary pharmacy every spring quarter. With the aid of the pharmacy resident she oversees multiple UCSF pharmacy student clerkships. She has additionally collaborated with the Marine Mammal Center in Marine where she was involved with the pharmacokinetics of Phenobarbital in seal lion pups with Damoic Acid toxicity. Her primary areas of interest are in the treatment of small animal infectious diseases, development of stable, efficacious compounded products for animals and chemotherapy safety. She is also interested in disaster relief as well as population control. She continues to consult on a variety of difficult to treat, resistant fungal and bacterial infections cases in small and large animals, as well as in marine mammals. Her goals are to devise new routes and formulations of drugs that may improve therapy for animals with difficult to treat infections.
Tara Marmulak, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Resident
Tara completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph and her Pharm D at Purdue University. After graduating from Purdue, she worked in a community hospital outside Chicago as a staff pharmacist and as the medication safety officer and member of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee. She also had a lot of fun precepting pharmacy clerkship students. After a couple of years there, she decided to try her hand as the Pharmacist in Charge at a local independent pharmacy. Eventually, she decided to pursue a career in academia. With the residency in veterinary pharmacy, it just all came together. The possibility of combining an interest in animals with a career in pharmacy is really a prize. When not at the VMTH, she can be found with her husband, Greg, enjoying the beautiful California weather and the close proximity to Tahoe and Napa Valley.
Mary F. Smith, CPhT, Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
Smith has been a pharmacy technician since 1990 and came to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in 1999. Her experience includes Long Term Acute Care, Home Health and Pediatric/Neonatal. One of the reasons she enjoys working at the VMTH is her compassion for animals. Another is the fact that she sees her co-workers as an extension of her family. Smith has had several types of animals over the years and has held several different jobs working with them. But right now she and her family are content having a houseful of Dachshunds!
Dee Dee Weeks, CPhT
Weeks has been a pharmacy technician for 20 years. Prior to working at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Weeks worked at Longs Pharmacy for 15 years. She feels that coming here was the smartest move she ever made. She and her co-workers have become close friends and she greatly appreciates the teamwork atmosphere. She plans on being part of the VMTH pharmacy family for a long time.
Eddie Contreras
Contreras brings many years of work experience to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. When he is not working, Contreras likes to stay active by playing softball, baseball, basketball and playing with his pet.
