Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy® and Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group® are joining the Optum® family.
To learn more about what this means for you, visit our FAQ pages:
The Empower Team
Meet the people who support your care.
Israa Alia, RDN, MBA
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Israa helps people live healthier through proper nutrition. Her drive complements years of experience motivating and empowering patients.
Israa earned her Master of Business Administration from Dominican University. There, she performed 1,500 hours of hands-on dietetic training. Israa has a Bachelor of Science in dietetics from Benedictine University.
Steven M. Schwartz, PhD
Manager, Clinical Research & Evaluation
Steven coordinates Diplomat’s clinical research. He reviews real-world studies to help design programs that improve patient outcomes.
Steven earned his doctorate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, specializing in health psychology and behavioral medicine. He has a master’s degree in experimental psychology from the College of William & Mary.
Stephanie LaPointe, PharmD, CSPO, FMPA
Director, Clinical Services; Residency Program Coordinator
Stephanie is responsible for Diplomat’s clinical services and product development. She helps develop and implement treatment plans tailored to patients and their diagnoses.
In 2012, Stephanie completed a postgraduate year one pharmacy practice residency at Diplomat, with a focus on specialty pharmacy. She spent eight years within Diplomat’s Education & Quality department.
Stephanie serves on the Education Committee for the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy and is a board member of the Michigan Pharmacy Foundation’s board of trustees. She holds additional professional responsibilities at the local, state, and national level.
Caitlin Prusha, MBA
Marketing Manager
Caitlin works with the Diplomat team to provide digital resources that support patients in their daily lives. This includes overseeing the continuing growth and development of the Empower Ecosystem.
Caitlin earned her Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University. She has spent the last 7 years in the health and wellness field focusing on bringing a better experience to the consumer through digital resources.
Clinical Pharmacists
Contributing Writers
Lissy A.