Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 12/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

Gauri Rao, PharmD, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
My career started as a software engineer in the hi-tech industry, but I quickly realized that healthcare was my passion. This led me to pursue a career in pharmacy. The switch from engineering to pharmacy was challenging both in terms of the mindset and the knowledge base. But my passion allowed me to enjoy the challenging transition. As I neared the completion of the PharmD program, I realized that I really wanted to be on the research side of things, so I got an MS in Pharmacometrics from the University at Buffalo followed by a Fellowship sponsored by Hoffman La-Roche. Having worked closely with mentors in academia, I loved the “freedom” to pursue challenging problems that academia seemed to offer. So, I jumped headlong into pursuing a career in academia not understanding the other challenges of writing grants to get funding, negotiating budgets, collaborating with peers, etc., all essential aspects to a successful career in research at any university. I was very fortunate to have some good mentors (seniors and peers) who helped me successfully navigate the pitfalls and gain the necessary skills to access the “freedom” to pursue challenging problems!

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
My professional achievement/accomplishment that I am most proud of is my independent federally funded research program. My research program spans from in vitro and in vivo models of infection to in silico modeling that enables me to use various tools to tackle the mounting problem of antimicrobial resistance. The key to establishing this research program are my students and postdocs. The most fulfilling aspect has been watching the students grow and achieve their academic and professional goals!

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
That I have taken a very unconventional path – I received my PharmD degree a decade ago and prior to that I was a software engineer in the financial sector. My job was focused on developing algorithms for updating special time-based databases used for stock trading – I was not even remotely associated with the healthcare industry. Now, a decade later, every aspect of my job is focused on patient care!

What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned the hard way?
Effective time management skills!

As my research group and my responsibilities have grown, so have the demands on my time. I have heard my mentors mention that one of the hardest things to do is to learn to say “no” at times. I think being stretched in every direction has now forced me to start saying no to certain tasks or opportunities as I now see the importance of prioritizing tasks in an effort to protect my time so that I can focus on the critical aspects of my job.

When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?
I am extremely passionate about running and traveling. I am a member of a running group and we choose a different trail each week, and I hope to be able to travel soon to participate in some races around the country.

How do you keep focused and motivated?
Would love suggestions from CPT readers!! My desire to succeed and passion to learn and gain expertise keeps me motivated. Watching my students achieve their academic and professional goals and their continued success in the professional setting inspires me. Having a fairly large research group with increasing demands on my time keeps me very focused.

What is your favorite society memory?
Starting last fall, I had the opportunity to work with Piet van der Graaf, PhD, PharmD, and the fantastic team of CPT editors on the special issue focused on infectious diseases. In my role as a guest editor, I enjoyed our monthly brainstorming sessions as it taught me a lot about the work that goes into planning, designing, and editing an issue of the journal, including designing the cover art! This is my favorite Society memory besides all the ASCPT Annual Meetings I have attended in person!

Who has inspired you in your career?
I have derived inspiration from all the wonderful mentors that I met during my PharmD and graduate studies and as a Fellow at the University at Buffalo and now as a faculty member at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina. Each one of them inspired me in different ways with regard to their passion for improving patient care and their motivation to continue working in their research despite the challenges and setbacks they face. The ability to learn from their experiences has enabled me to grow as a scientist and also incorporate this knowledge in my research and coursework.

Gauri has been a member of ASCPT since 2018.