We are a group of PittPharmacy student pharmacists and faculty who have organized this program for students interested in learning more about pharmacy. We are hoping to share our wisdom about the vast diversity of career paths that exist in this field and offer the resources to help interested students set themselves apart from their class. Our main goal is to help you determine your passions in pharmacy and provide you with the opportunities to explore them!
Meet the Student Coordinators
Public Relations Coordinator
Emily Thompson
Emily Thompson is the PR Coordinator for the 2024 PIER Programs. Emily is a current second year pharmacy student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Emily has been a mentor through her pharmacy sorority Lambda Kappa Sigma, RxPrep, and the PLS Mentorship Program. Further, she is a project leader for the Student Society of Health System Pharmacists. Her pharmacy interests include regulatory affairs, early to late stage clinical development, pharmacokinetics and pharmacometrics, and patient outcomes. She looks forward to meeting you!
Curriculum Coordinator
Tarah Fuller
Tarah Fuller is the Curriculum Coordinator for the 2024 PIER Programs. Tarah is a current second year pharmacy student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Tarah has been a PIER mentor in the past, as well as an RxPrep mentor. Further, she is a member of the Lambda Kappa Sigma fraternity, Student Industry Organization, American Pharmacist Association, and Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association. She is excited for this position and the future years to dive more into the vast world of pharmacy in an effort to find a specialty fit best for her! She looks forward to getting to know you at PIER this summer!
Meet the Faculty
Dr. Christian Fernandez, PhD
Dr. Christian Fernandez is an Assistant Professor at Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a member of the Center for Pharmacogenetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, and he completed his postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Mary Relling at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Dr. Ravi Patel, PharmD
Dr. Ravi Patel is an Assistant Professor and Lead Innovation Advisor at the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He also received his PharmD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.
Kelli Whalen
Kelli is the Enrollment and Recruitment Specialist at Pitt Pharmacy. She has extensive experience in student admissions and recruitment in the Washington, DC Public Charter school systems. She graduated from American University with a degree in Communications.