The Team  Behind WNY BloodCare

Dr. Adam Kotowski, MD

Hematologist – Adult / Director of the Hemostasis Laboratory

He completed his medical training at the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He did his residency in Internal Medicine at University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY and completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Kotowski’s WNY BloodCare patients outwardly recognize his caring, thorough approach to care. He is a Buffalo native who remains in the area with his wife and five children.

Dr. Beverly Schaefer, MD

Hematologist – Pediatrics and Young Adults

Dr. Schaefer is WNY BloodCare’s pediatric hematologist at the Center. Her leadership role in WNYBC’s Heavy Period Clinic (H.P.C.) reflects her commitment to supporting the often-underdiagnosed needs of girls and women with bleeding and clotting disorders. 

Dr. Schaefer received her medical degree from the State University of New York’s Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Her residency was completed at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children at Thomas Jefferson University and her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center. 

Dr. Schaefer is a pediatric oncologist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo, NY. She is an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. As a medical educator, she is associate program director for the WNYBC Peds Heme Onc Fellowship and Penny Holmberg Advanced Fellowship in hemostasis and thrombosis. 

She plays an active role in developing and implementing a non-malignant hematology curriculum for the School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Office of Interpersonal Education. Dr. Schaefer is the Clinical Coordinator on WNYBC’s innovative Interprofessional Education program with focus in three areas: WISTER (WNY BloodCare Interprofessional Student Team Rotations), which handles the rotation of medical students through the Center, a Health Mentor Series that matches patients with medical students who share firsthand experiences in dealing with hemophilia and the Innovation Sprint, where groups of students are given a real-life problem to solve and present. 

Dr. Schaefer serves a member of the PREP Hematology-Oncology Editorial Board of the American Board of Pediatrics; she is a member of the Clinical Care and Guidelines Committee of the Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders and received certification in 2018 – 2019 as a American Society of Hematology Medical Educator’s Institute. 

Dr. Schaefer is a Buffalo native and proud supporter of the Buffalo Bills.

Dr. Steven Ambrusko, MD

Hematologist – Pediatrics and Young Adults

Dr. Katie Carlberg , MD

Hematologist – Pediatrics

Dr. Carlberg is a pediatric hematologist providing care at WNY BloodCare. She is also a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

In addition to her role within the clinic, Dr. Carlberg is part of the Heavy Period Clinic (HPC) at the Center, where she works with the care team to provide diagnosis and treatment for individuals with heavy periods.

Her previous experience includes Associate Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist  and Research Fellow at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor at Seattle Children’s Hospital University of Washington Medical Center. 

She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan and her Medical Degree from the State University of Upstate Medical University at Syracuse, NY. Dr. Carlberg completed her General Pediatric Residency at the University of Wisconsin and her Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland. She is Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Dr. Carlberg was awarded the SUNY Upstate Medical University Gold Humanism Honors Society, University of Wisconsin Pediatric Department Patient and Family Centered Care Award, American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award and Teaching Fellow of the Year Award at Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland.

Dr. Carlberg’s key areas of interest as Thalassemia, Sickle Cell, Pediatric benign hematology, noninvasive prenatal teasing, medical education and international medicine.

Dr. Carlberg is an accomplished athlete, contributed to the University of Michigan’s first-ever title in women’s swimming and diving with a career best time in the 200-yard backstroke. She was honored with the University’s Athletic Department Academic Achievement Award.

Geoffrey Zielinski, RPh, BCGP

Supervising Pharmacist

Dr. Shaveta Malik, MD

OBGYN

Emily Skinner, FNP-BC

Family Nurse Practitioner

Emily Skinner is a ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She is a graduate of D’Youville College, where she earned her Master of Science in Nursing. Emily specializes in benign bleeding and clotting disorders, including but not limited to Hemophilia, vonWillebrand’s disease, platelet disorders, anemia, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. She is focused on providing holistic care to patients throughout the lifespan.

Emily earned her first degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology from SUNY Geneseo. After graduation she began an accelerated second-degree nursing program at SUNY Brockport where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

In advance of coming to WNY BloodCare, Emily worked as an NP in the field of rheumatology and immunology. Prior to this, she worked as a registered nurse at Buffalo General Hospital on the adult telemetry medical-surgical unit, and had roles including charge nurse and a front-line COVID-19 nurse. She has taught as an adjunct Clinical Instructor through Niagara University School of Nursing.

She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nursing Association. 

Emily is a Buffalo native with a passion for musical theater, food, and travel. 

Ryan Hare, PharmD BCOP

Pharmacy Director

Ryan Hare, PharmD is the Pharmacy Director at WNY BloodCare. Dr. Hare promotes a patient-centered care model, along with a systems and objective approach to augmenting medication management and pharmacy services at WNYBC.

Dr. Hare believes in an “open” pharmacy model that prioritizes accessibility for patients and clinical staff. He believes in providing holistic medication management and encourages patients to ask questions and voice their concerns. His goal is to enhance the overall patient experience by offering information, alleviating fears, and ensuring convenience and support for medical management.

Dr. Hare holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He also obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Western Carolina University in North Carolina, graduating Cum Laude. He is Board Certified in Oncology Pharmacy and holds a license from the NYS Board of Pharmacy. Before joining WNY BloodCare, Dr. Hare spent 14 years working in the pharmacy department at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY.

Dr. Hare has served as an adjunct professor for Oncology in the Schools of Pharmacy at various institutions, including Albany College, D’Youville College, St. John Fisher College, State and University of New York at Buffalo. He has also contributed to scientific articles published in reputable journals such as Blood, the Journal of Oncology, the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, and Anticancer Research.

Dr. Hare is an upstate New York native. Outside of pharmacy Dr. Hare enjoys spending time with his two boys and wife, supporting the Buffalo Bills, running, and playing tennis and golf.