Kristine Schonder is an Associate Professor for the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics. She received her BS in pharmacy in 1994 and a PharmD degree in 1996, both from Duquesne University. She completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at West Virginia University Hospital in 1997 and a Specialty Residency in Ambulatory Care at the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. She was employed as a clinical specialist in the transplant department of the Disease Management Division of Stadtlanders Operating Co., LLC for 2 years. She then joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 2000.
Dr. Schonder's clinical practice is with the Kidney, Pancreas and Liver Transplant services. She has developed a best-practice model for assessing medication-related issues in patients being evaluated for abdominal transplant, including assessing medication compliance, recommending vaccinations, and appraising the suitability of candidates for transplantation. Dr. Schonder also established clinical pharmacy services in the transitions-of-care unit to provide additional education patients and support to the interprofessional transplant team. In addition, she participates in the interdisciplinary transplant teams, rounding on newly transplanted kidney, pancreas, and liver recipients. She is actively involved in optimizing drug regimens for patients, providing drug information to patients, physicians and nurses and recommending appropriate and cost-effective therapies for transplant recipients.
Dr. Schonder teaches in the PharmD curriculum in various courses. Her areas of expertise include nephrology and immunology. She develops innovative teaching strategies using computer technology to expand teaching strategies that enhance student learning in and out of the classroom. She also provides a rigorous rotation experience for P4 students that promotes communication skills with patients and healthcare professionals, interprofessional collaboration skills, and autonomy in leading a patient care practice. She has been awarded Preceptor of the Year (2002 and 2023), Faculty Member of the Year (2005) and Cohen Teacher of the Year (2008, 2010, and 2017). Dr. Schonder also serves as the Residency Program Director for the PGY2 Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy Residency at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.
Expertise: Immunology, transplant, nephrology
Faculty Member of the Year 2005
Cohen Teacher of the Year 2008, 2010, 2017
