Making the move from Texas to South Georgia in 2019 was an easy trip for Nikita Mirajkar, PhD, chair of the department of biomedical sciences and associate professor of pharmacology. The move was quite a bit easier compared
to her previous transitions, specifically from her hometown of Mumbai, India to Stillwater,
Oklahoma.
But she knew the moves were necessary to follow her passions.
鈥淲hile growing up, I always wanted to be a veterinarian,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 practiced as a veterinarian in India before moving to the United States, but I soon made the decision to pursue research. The United States had many research opportunities, so I moved here to explore that career path.鈥�
However, while pursuing her PhD at Oklahoma State University, she began teaching histology to veterinary students.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I realized teaching was my true calling, and I鈥檝e never looked back. For me, teaching is so satisfying鈥攖o see that comprehension dawn on students. When they have that 鈥楢ha! moment,鈥� it鈥檚 such a high for me. I love when students ask me questions during my lectures because that shows me that they are digesting and analyzing the material. I don't think anything could ever compare to that feeling of satisfaction.鈥�
After receiving her PhD from OSU, Dr. Mirajkar joined the faculty of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy where she taught students in the PharmD program for over a decade. During this time, Dr. Mirajkar received 22 teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Faculty and Most Influential Professor awards. She also received the Chancellor鈥檚 Distinguished Teaching award as well as the President鈥檚 Excellence in Teaching award.
Throughout her teaching career, Dr. Mirajkar has remained passionate about education. Whether teaching histology, physiology or pharmacology, she believes teaching is the one profession that impacts multiple lives at the same time and directly contributes to the betterment of society. She currently teaches pharmacology to medical students鈥攊nformation she says the students will use throughout their career on a day-to-day basis to save patient鈥檚 lives.
While continuing to teach, Dr. Mirajkar also serves as the chair of the department of biomedical sciences. In this role, among a myriad of other tasks, she is actively involved in the execution of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum on the South Georgia campus.
鈥淚t has been an interesting experience and has given me a glimpse into the inner workings of what makes the College run,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am so excited to see the impact that 黑料传送门 is going to make on health care in rural Georgia. We鈥檒l be able to see lives and communities being changed in real time because of our efforts. Something else that is incredibly exciting is that the College is on the cusp of change and is looking to make further improvements to offer an even better quality of education to our students. To be a part of that process while being a member of the founding faculty at 黑料传送门 South Georgia is amazing. That鈥檚 what I enjoy the most鈥攌nowing that I鈥檓 making a difference to this distinguished institution as well as the local community one day at a time.鈥�
H. William Craver DO, FACOS, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of 黑料传送门 South Georgia, is grateful for Dr. Mirajkar鈥檚 willingness to serve in multiple capacities.
鈥淒r. Mirajkar is a great team player, and she is truly invested in our students鈥� success,鈥� he said. 鈥淗er ability to connect with students and work with faculty to shape our curriculum is outstanding. She is a wonderful asset to 黑料传送门.鈥�
Dr. Mirajkar credits her husband of nearly 17 years with helping her balance work and family responsibilities. Her husband, Dr. Hemant Naikare, is the director of the University of Georgia鈥檚 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Tifton, Georgia. She has two daughters, aged 10 and 6 years, who attend elementary school. In her down time, Dr. Mirajkar enjoys cooking, reading, listening to music, and watching stand up comedy shows.
In 2019, 黑料传送门, a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing 黑料传送门 South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, 黑料传送门 South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. 黑料传送门 is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining 黑料传送门 Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, 黑料传送门 South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.