Scholar Students

Scholars Class of 2027

Alexis Alexander

Alexis Alexander

ARA115@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
Being a Scholar at Pitt Pharmacy provide experiences to expand clinical skills in uniquely high-acuity settings that require the highest degree of interdisciplinary conversations and care. Through the immersive research and clinical experiences that the Scholars program provide, I have had the opportunity to begin developing my professional identity within the field of pharmacy long before graduation.

Career goals:
I would LOVE to eventually become a PGY2 Cardiology residency program director at an academic medical center! Facilitating the personal and professional growth of those that I lead has always been a passion of mine.

Personal interest:
I love to travel and spend time outdoors hiking, biking, gardening and kayaking with my husband. I am a huge live music lover and have traveled all over the world to see Dead and Company, Billy Strings, LCD Soundsystem, Oasis, and Primus. I have practiced yoga for 15 years and am currently completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training to become a yoga teacher!

Jaxton Gerhart

Jaxton Gerhart

JMG297@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
Being a Scholar excites me because it has given me opportunities to develop skills for residency and my future career as a clinical pharmacist.

Career goals:
I plan to attend a general acute care PGY1 residency then further develop as a pharmacist in a critical care PGY2.

Personal interest:
My personal interests include running, spending time with friends, reading, and traveling.

Amaya Gant

Amaya Gant

AMG332@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
What excites me the most about being in the Scholars program I knowing that I will receive substantial opportunities, resources, and guidance to be a great candidate for residency and achieve my career goals.

Career goals:
After graduation, I plan to complete two years of residency training and specialize in either pediatric cardiology or pediatric solid organ transplant.

Personal interest:
Some of my interests include reading, collecting vinyl records, and traveling. I've been to 10 states and five different countries, and I hope to continue seeing the world after graduation!

Dakota Heffner

Dakota Heffner

DAH216@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
The thing that excites me the most about being a Scholar is learning alongside other students with similar career goals and preparing each other for residency interviews.

Career goals:
My current career goal is to pursue a residency in pediatric pharmacy.

Personal interest:
My personal interests include hanging out with friends, going on walks with my dog and traveling.

Kaiya Herb

Kaiya Herb

KJH116@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
I am excited about being a Scholar to challenge myself through clinical rotations and gaining research experience on a longitudinal and meaningful project. I also enjoy working with my peers and faculty who share a passion for direct patient care all while gaining preparation for residency.

Career goals:
After graduation, I aspire to complete an acute care PGY1 pharmacy residency, and after I hope to complete a PGY2 in emergency medicine or transplant to become a specialized clinical pharmacist.

Personal interest:
I enjoy going to the gym, hiking, running, reading, and spending time with my friends/family and my cat Finnick.

Anna Libikh

Anna Libikh

ANL184@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
I love being able to expand my clinical and research skills that the Scholars curriculum offers through elective courses and the longitudinal research project. Additionally, I value the mentorship and community that the program creates to set the students up for success post-graduation.

Career goals:
I plan on pursuing a PGY1 followed by a PGY2 in oncology pharmacy to become an oncology pharmacist.

Personal interest:
I like to work out, travel, and learn languages.

Tyler Puyang

Tyler Puyang

TYPTyp13@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
I wanted to be a Scholar to be amongst other clinically focused peers on the residency track. I wanted to improve my standing as a clinical pharmacist and as a residency applicant by working together with the other Scholars and the experience of the progam.

Career goals:
I plan to become an oncology pharmacist by pursuing a PGY1 and a PGY2 in oncology.

Personal interest:
I enjoy hanging out with friends, trying different foods, and occasionally playing video games.

Kayla Furlong

Kayla Furlong

KJF57@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
I was particularly drawn to the Scholars program because of the opportunity to gain meaningful experiences that would prepare me for residency. Through longitudinal research with colleagues, hands-on learning opportunities, and close mentorship from the Scholars coordinators, I have been able to strengthen my clinical knowledge and continue growing both personally and professionally.

Career goals:
Following graduation, I plan to pursue a PGY1 residency to further develop my clinical skills and gain experience in various areas of clinical pharmacy. Ultimately, I hope to work closely with patients and healthcare teams in a hospital or ambulatory care setting.

Personal interest:
In my free time, I enjoy exploring coffee shops, baking, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Matea Juric

Matea Juric

MAJ179@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
Being able to collaborate with my peers who have similar goals and interests as me has been the most exciting part about being a Scholar! I am grateful to be able to part of this community and interact with faculty and students who want to see you succeed!

Career goals:
After school, I hope to do residency and become a specialized clinical pharmacist. My main interests are infectious diseases, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and critical care. I enjoy being a part of interdisciplinary teams where we share a common goal of improving patient care.

Personal interest:
I love trying new experiences including trying new foods, learning new languages, and traveling when I can! I also enjoy listening to music and working out!

Grace Soilis

Grace Soilis

GCS21@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
What excited me about the Scholars program is the ownership and accountability this program gives me throughout my APPE rotations and research project!

Career goals:
My goal is to pursue a PGY-1 pharmacy, building towards a career in acute and critical care pharmacy. I'm passionate about working at the bedside with critically ill patients and collaborating closely with interprofessional teams.

Personal interest:
I'm a certified yoga instructor and love taking classes myself! Off the mat, I enjoy cooking, reading a good book, traveling whenever I get the chance to explore new places, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Ava Romah

Ava Romah

ALR266@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
What excites me most about being a Scholar is the strong sense of community. Being surrounded by students with similar goals, along with the support and guidance of faculty, allows me to learn from others, grow, and build meaningful connections.

Career goals:
I want to complete a PGY1 residency and pursue a career in critical care as a clinical pharmacist. I hope to complete my residency at a VA hospital, where I can gain experience caring for Veterans and serving this unique patient population.

Personal interest:
I enjoy traveling, playing golf and pickleball, and spending time with my friends and family.

Emily Schaut

Emily Schaut

ERS201@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
The opportunity to complete a full research project, including IRB approval, and forming connections with peers who have similar career interests!

Career goals:
Clinical pharmacy including either inpatient or outpatient management, with current particular interests in psychiatric/behavioral health.

Personal interest:
My interests include weightlifting and fitness, skiing, spending time with my friends and family, and trying new restaurants.

Jigar Dadarwala

Jigar Dadarwala

JHD41@pitt.edu

Why you would like to be a Scholar:
I am excited by the research that I am completing in the Scholars Program. This has allowed me to gain experience in analyzing patient data and create evidence to help manage pharmacotherapy for patients.

Career goals:
My goal is to complete a 2-year HSPAL residency after graduating from PittPharmacy. Throughout my time as an inpatient intern, I have developed an interest in the administration and management side of inpatient pharmacy. I enjoy working with others, organizing tasks to help run things smoothly, and enhancing patient care.

Personal interest:
I enjoy staying active outdoors — I love to run, hike, and play pickleball. I also spend time watching sports, movies, and hanging out with friends.