Dear Pitt Pharmacy Alumni,
I hope this message finds you well and thriving in your personal and professional endeavors. It is with immense pride and gratitude that I write to you today as the newly appointed President of the Pitt Pharmacy Alumni Society.
As I step into this role, I am deeply aware of the legacy we share—a legacy built on excellence, compassion, and a commitment to advancing the field of pharmacy. Whether you graduated last year or decades ago, your journey has contributed to the rich tapestry of our Pitt Pharmacy family. And now, more than ever, I believe it’s time to reconnect, reengage, and reignite the spirit that unites us.
For those of you that I have not met I would like to share a little about myself. I attended the University of Pittsburgh both for undergrad and graduated in 2009 from Pharmacy School. After graduation I completed a PGY-1 residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, DC. I currently live in North Laurel, MD with my husband of 15 years, Steven, and our 3 extraordinary children Michael (12), Olivia (9), and Sophia (6). Upon completion of my residency, I worked at XLHealth a diabetes management company which was acquired by UHG in 20212 and I have worked in various departments across the enterprise ever since. I’ve held roles as a clinical operations manager, clinical pharmacist in the HouseCalls Division completing telephonic MTM reviews and clinical pharmacist in home infusion where I managed chronic and acute IV therapies. I currently work as a Lead Regional Market Clinical Consultant Pharmacist at Optum supporting Clinical Excellence Quality Performance STARS for the Pharmacy Part D ISNP Program. In my downtime I am a Troop Leader for Junior Girl Scouts, work as Event Staff at the Merriweather Post Pavilion due to my love of live music and enjoy traveling with family and friends.
My vision for our Alumni Society is simple but powerful: to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community where every alumnus feels valued and inspired to give back. Our alumni have taken what they learned from Pitt and touched the lives of so many all over the world. It would be amazing to see how we can come back in person or virtually to impact the lives of the student pharmacists who are starting their pharmacy careers. To achieve this, I’ve outlined a few key goals for the coming year:
- Strengthen Connections: We will create more opportunities for alumni to connect—through regional meetups, virtual events, and work to expand mentorship programs that bridge generations of Pitt pharmacists.
- Celebrate Achievements: Your accomplishments deserve recognition. Let’s spotlight alumni stories, professional milestones, and community contributions to honor the impact you’re making every day.
- Support Future Leaders: By increasing alumni involvement in student mentorship, career panels, and scholarship initiatives, we can empower the next generation of Pitt Pharmacy graduates.
- Enhance Communication: Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you. If you have unique ideas maybe some things we haven’t tried before or want to bring back a tradition please let us know.
- Give Back Together: Whether through time, talent, or treasure, we’ll provide meaningful ways for you to contribute to the school and society that helped shape your path.
This is more than a network—it’s a family. And like any family, we are strongest when we come together. I invite you to join me in this exciting new chapter. Let’s build something lasting, something impactful, and something we can all be proud of.
Thank you for your continued support and for being an essential part of the Pitt Pharmacy legacy. I look forward to connecting with many of you in the months ahead.
Hail to Pitt!
Warm regards,
Jovonne Williams (Jones), PharmD, BCACP
President, Pitt Pharmacy Alumni Society
Class of 2009