Specializations
- Geriatrics
- Transitions of Care
- Deprescribing
- Medication Safety
Overview
Savanna DiCristina, PharmD, MPH, BCPS is a faculty member and clinical pharmacist with a heartfelt focus on improving healthcare for older adults. At the Harbor Health Elder Service Plan (part of the Programs for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly), she provides older adults with compassionate, evidence-based care.
Prior to joining the Bouve faculty, Dr. DiCristina completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency with RWJBarnabas Health in Somerset, New Jersey. Following her PGY1, she completed a two-year clinical pharmacology fellowship with Tabula Rasa HealthCare and Rutgers University. During her fellowship, she studied the safe use of medications in older adults during transitions of care.
Dr. DiCristina’s dedication to advancing pharmacy practice extends to her active involvement in the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). She serves on committees dedicated to geriatrics and transitions of care, contributing to the development of best practices in pharmacy care for older adults.
Awards
2026 – Teaching Excellence, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
2026 – Distinguished Service Award, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Selected Publications
Ruiz, A., DiCristina, S. Absorption to excretion: The aging body’s take on drugs – A review of pharmacokinetic changes and their impact on medication management. Current Pharmacology Reports, 2025;11:42. [Invited Article]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40495-025-00425-y
DiCristina S, Turgeon J, Michaud V, Brunetti L. Cross-sectional evaluation of a clinical decision support tool to identify medication-related problems at discharge from the acute care setting. Clinical pharmacy and patient safety [Themed Issue]. J Am Coll Clin Pharm, 2024;6:763-771. doi: 10.1002/jac5.1998.
SanFilippo S, Michaud V, Wei J, Bikmetov R, Turgeon J, Brunetti L. Classification and assessment of medication risk in the elderly (CARE): Use of a medication risk score to inform patients’ readmission likelihood after hospital discharge. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021;10:3497. doi: 10.3390/jcm10173947.
SanFilippo S, Yuan M, Gu E, Siddiqui S, Patel S. Utilization of drug decision support strategies including drug characteristics to reduce the risk of iatrogenesis in advanced age. Current Pharmacology Reports. 2022;9:32-42. doi: 10.1007/s40495-022-00310-y.
SanFilippo S, Ding R, Funt E, Michaud V, Turgeon J, Brunetti L. Opportunities for improving quality of care during discharge from the acute care setting by reducing medication risk. 2022 Global Conference on Clinical Pharmacy October 15 – 18, 2022. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. 2022;5:1338-1484.
