Research Team

  • Kerry LaPlante, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDSA, FIDP - PHP Department Chair and Professor of Pharmacy 401.874.5560 – KerryLaPlante@uri.edu

    Dr. LaPlante is a department chairperson and tenured professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy. She is also an adjunct professor of medicine at Brown University, where she actively teaches in the medical school's curriculum. She is an infectious diseases pharmacotherapy specialist, fellowship director, and research program director of the Rhode Island Infectious Diseases research program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Providence, RI. Dr. LaPlante's passion for infectious diseases began at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, while caring for cystic fibrosis and transplant patients. Today LaPlante is internationally known for her expertise in antibiotic therapy and has extensively researched biofilms and how optimal antimicrobial use prevents resistance and improves patient outcomes. Outside of work she has a passion for cooking, cheering on her favorite sports team the Buffalo Bills, and entertaining friends at home with her husband Seth, their two children, and their dog Biscuit.
  • Haley Appaneal, Pharm.D., Ph.D. - Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation and Outreach
    401.273.7100 x 14150 – haley.appaneal@va.gov

    Haley Appaneal received her PharmD at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, and then completed a PGY-1 residency at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). After residency, she completed a 2-year fellowship as an infectious diseases outcomes fellow in antimicrobial stewardship at the Providence VAMC with the Rhode Island Infectious Diseases (RIID) Research Program. She received her PhD in Health Services Research in October 2021 from Brown University. Dr. Appaneal is the Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation and Outreach for the RIID Research Program, co-pharmacy champion of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and a health services investigator with the Center of Innovation in Long-Term Services and Supports for Vulnerable Veterans (COIN-LTSS) at the Providence VAMC. Dr. Morrill is also completing a national VA Health Services Research and Development (HSRD) 5-year research Career Development Award.
  • Aisling Caffrey, Ph.D., M.S. - Associate Professor, Health Outcomes
    Office: 265B, 401.874.5320 – Aisling_Caffrey@uri.edu

    Aisling Caffrey, PhD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Health Outcomes at the University of Rhode Island (URI) College of Pharmacy and Director of Infectious Diseases Outcomes Research at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC), where she also Chairs the Institutional Review Board. For over a decade, Dr. Caffrey has been engaged in interdisciplinary infectious disease health outcomes research. Her expertise is in comparative effectiveness and safety research, where she studies the beneficial and unintended effects of medications. Much of her work has focused on drug-resistant bacterial infections and vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Katie Daffinee, B.S. - Laboratory Program Coordinator
    401.273.7100 x 12328 – Kathryn.Daffinee@va.gov

    Katie graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2012 with a degree in biology. Through participation in multiple internships, she discovered a passion for microbiology, data analysis, and problem solving. From there she took a research assistant position with Dr. LaPlante in 2013 and became lab manager in 2014 followed by laboratory program coordinator in 2017. Professionally she enjoys training young scientists and incorporating new techniques into experiments. In true New Englander fashion, she enjoys hiking in her down time.
  • Tom Lavoie , Pharm.D. - Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Fellow
    401.273.7100 x 12653 – thomas.lavoie2@va.gov

    Dr. Lavoie received his PharmD from MCPHS University in Boston in 2019. From there he worked as an outpatient pharmacy manager at Walgreens and later Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, as well as Holy Family Hospital. Serving as the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital he concurrently received SIDP certification which would lead him to the Rhode Island Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Fellowship. Thomas’ current interests include continued progression of the pharmacists’ role in healthcare, antimicrobial synergy, enterococcal infections and bacterial resistance.
  • Vrishali Lopes, B.S., M.S. - Data Analyst
    401.273.7100 x 12321 – Vrishali.Lopes@va.gov

    Vrishali Lopes is originally from India, where she obtained her Master of Science degree in Statistics. Vrishali works as a data analyst helping researchers and fellows in analyzing data for their research studies. Vrishali has also worked as a senior outcome’s analyst at Optum’s PRO Division, QualityMetric Lincoln, RI. Prior to that, she worked as a research statistician at Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI. She has experience in design and analysis of several research projects and focuses on real-world evidence in the treatment of drug-resistant and difficult to treat infections.
  • Kevin McConeghy, Pharm.D., M.S., BCPS - Health Services Investigator
    401.273.7100 x 16107 – Kevin.Mcconeghy2@va.gov

    Kevin McConeghy completed his Pharm.D. at the University of Rhode Island and Masters in Clinical and Translational Sciences at the University of Illinois. His clinical experience includes acute inpatient services such as critical care medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. McConeghy’s uses his knowledge and background in clinical trial methods and causal inference to study a variety of pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety research questions including vaccine safety/efficacy, drug safety, and immunization health policy. He is currently a principal investigator with the Center of Innovation in Long-Term Services and Support, Providence VA Medical Center, and a researcher in residence with the VA Medication Safety Committee, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management.
  • David Dosa, MD, MPH - Director, Primary Care Geriatrics Clinic; Department of Primary Care, Providence VA Medical Center Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University
    401.273.7100 x 16267 – david.dosa@va.gov; david_dosa@brown.edu

    Dr. Dosa is a Geriatrician and health services researcher with an appointment in the Department of Medicine and Health Services, Policy, and Practice at Brown University. He is also an adjunct professor in the University of Rhode Island School of Pharmacy. Dr. Dosa is a previous HSRD Career Development Awardee and a current mentor to several current recipients. His research focus is on inappropriate medication use in long term care, nursing home infections, and disaster preparedness. He is currently Chair of the HSRD Long Term Care Review Committee and previously served as Associate Director of the Providence VAMC Center of Innovation. Dr. Dosa is grant funded through the National Institutes of Aging and the Veteran’s Administration.
  • Martie Vicent , Pharm.D. - Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Fellow
    401.273.7100 x 12653 – Martie.Vicent@va.gov

    Dr. Vicent received her PharmD from Nova Southeastern University, completed her PGY1 at Advent Health Orlando, and practiced as a clinical pharmacist at UF Health Leesburg before moving to Rhode Island to start her Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Fellowship. Martie's current interests include biofilm development and bacterial resistance. She enjoys being part of the clinical team and is excited to mentor learners. Away from the VA, Martie loves staying active and exploring the plethora of nature and food scenes that the Northeast has to offer.