About Candesa Pharmacy Solutions

Mona Chitre

PharmD
Chief Pharmacy Officer and President of Candesa Pharmacy Solutions

Dr. Mona Chitre manages pharmacy clinical initiatives including formulary management, Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, utilization management, drug policy development, specialty pharmacy, and physician education. She works closely with the company’s clinical quality and medical management areas to deliver integrated services for our clients.

Dr. Chitre completed undergraduate and graduate training at Rutgers University and her post-doctoral primary care residency at the VA Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. She is a registered pharmacist in both New York and New Jersey. She received certification in geriatric pharmacy from the Commission for the Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy and is currently assistant clinical professor at the University at Buffalo and Albany College of Pharmacy. Additionally, she is on the faculty of the University at Buffalo medical residency program.

Dr. Chitre has published over 25 articles on topics such as diabetes, infectious disease, heart failure, and neurological diseases. Additionally, she has presented at numerous pharmacy and managed care forums on health care integration, medical benefit management, and additional clinical topics. She serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy and for Managed Care Interface. She is an active member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.

Steve Conrad

R.Ph.
Rx Concierge Program Director

Steve Conrad, R.Ph. oversees the Rx Concierge program from both clinical and operational perspectives. He manages a team of pharmacists and outreach coordinators whose focus is to assure that our products successfully meet client goals and performance guarantees.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University at Buffalo in 1995 and brings nearly 30 years of experience in both retail and clinical pharmacy. His extensive background in health plan management encompasses pharmacy utilization management and offering strategic guidance to providers within Accountable Care Organization partnerships. Additionally, he has held the role of regional supervisor for several major retail chains, further demonstrating his leadership and operational acumen in the industry.

Kristen Sultana

PharmD
Rx Concierge Program Supervisor

Kristen Sultana, Pharm D. has responsibilities which include identifying opportunities to convert high-cost, low-value medications to lower-cost, equally effective alternatives, and outreaching to providers to discuss these opportunities. She is skilled at evaluating medications for clinical efficacy, safety, and appropriateness. Additionally, as department supervisor, Kristen provides guidance to and oversight of the non-clinical Concierge staff.

Kristen earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University at Buffalo in 2018. She worked as a pharmacy manager for a major retailer before joining our team in August 2021.

Trang Nguyen

PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist, Client Services

Trang Nguyen, Pharm D. is responsible for identifying high-cost, low-value medication opportunities and proactively seeks alternative options that provide equal effectiveness and improve affordability. She actively engages with providers by performing outreach on these opportunities to advocate for the adoption of more cost-effective alternatives.

She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2016 at Wegmans School of Pharmacy and specialized in working with the mental health population prior to coming to Candesa Pharmacy Solutions.

Kate Carlough

PharmD MBA
Senior Consultant, Clinical Innovation & Growth

Kate is responsible for growth and performance of the Rx Concierge program, consulting on solutions and market deployment. Kate also serves as client liaison, providing clinical and sales support. Kate has a wealth of experience developing tailored pharmacy strategy to meet individual client needs and delivering performance metrics that exceed client expectations.

Kate earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Buffalo. She spent several years leading client services and operations teams in Pharmacy Benefits Management and Managed Care prior to joining Candesa.

If you have questions about our risk-free pharmacy savings, feel free to reach out to Kate at 585-238-4362 or by email at katherine.carlough@candesarx.com

Keri Steen

Supervisor,
Pharmacy Analytics Consultant

Keri Steen is responsible for all day-to-day analytics and reporting for our innovative pharmacy services. She plays a pivotal role in driving data-driven decisions and optimizing program performance to ensure continuous improvement.

She has nine years of pharmacy analytics experience and earned her Master of Arts in Mathematics from the State University of New York Brockport.

Karli Corrigan

Manager,
Strategic & National Sales

Karli is responsible for assisting in strategic projects across the organization with a focus on the growth and retention of strategic and national partnerships. She brings over 10 years of healthcare experience and strategic development to the team with expertise in pharmacy programs and introducing innovative solutions to the market.

Karli earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Brockport.

If you have questions about our guaranteed pharmacy savings, feel free to reach out to Karli at 585-953-7543 or by email at karli.corrigan@candesarx.com

Michael Tempesta

National Pharmacy Consultant,
Atlantic Region

Michael has 15 years of experience in employee health and pharmaceutical benefits, with extensive expertise in administering self-funded benefits. He has successfully managed some of the largest and most complex employer medical and pharmaceutical benefit programs.

Michael recently joined our Candesa Pharmacy Solutions team and resides in South Carolina.  He is a graduate of Keuka College where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

In addition to his client management experience, Michael is passionate about building trusted relationships with his clients and consultant partners. His goal is to prove clients with the tools, programs, and data they need to offer competitive benefit solutions for their employees. He believes in a hands-on service approach, ensuring clients feel comfortable coming to him with any inquiry.

Are you based in the Atlantic region of the U.S. and looking for pharmacy savings? Contact Mike at 585-330-0312 or michael.tempesta@candesarx.com

Jordan Flynn

National Pharmacy Consultant,
New England + Mid-Atlantic Region

Jordan brings 14 years of healthcare sales experience to the team, with a strong focus on benefits and alternative funding arrangements for groups of all sizes. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Union College and earned her MBA with a concentration in healthcare management from Utica University.

Jordan is passionate about building trusted relationships with clients and consultant partners, and she prioritizes service and data-driven decision making. She is known for introducing innovative ideas to new markets and helping clients navigate complex benefit strategies with confidence. Her target regions include the eastern half of New York State, the tri-state area, the mid-Atlantic, and the greater Boston/New England areas.

Jordan’s goal is to empower clients with the insights and tools they need to offer competitive, sustainable benefit solutions. She believes in a hands-on, collaborative approach that ensures clients feel supported every step of the way.

Interested in saving more on pharmacy spend? Contact Jordan at jordan.flynn@candesarx.com