The program not only helped Schirra prepare for the rigors of graduate school but also provided her with valuable networking opportunities and a path to a desirable internship at the same hospital where she was born.

by Sarah Murphy

Olivia Schirra

Olivia Schirra isn’t going to sugarcoat it. Fitting four years of pre-pharmacy coursework into two years takes a lot of hard work. But was it worth it?

Absolutely, she said.

“I highly recommend students do the Presbyterian College Early Entry Pre-Pharmacy Program,” said Schirra. “I found that the program prepared me best for the coursework that comes along with being in a graduate program. The pace of coursework in pharmacy school is a lot similar to the pace that I experienced in my two years on the undergraduate campus. The program helped me develop my work ethic and study habits early.”

In addition to getting exposure to a graduate-level workload, Schirra also took advantage of experiential opportunities outside of the classroom as an undergraduate. During her sophomore year, Schirra was president of the Pre-Pharmacy Club, where she gained valuable mentorship with Giuseppe Gumina, Ph.D., dean and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the PC School of Pharmacy (PCSP).

“He pushed me to succeed and set me up well for when I entered pharmacy school,” said Schirra, now the PC Pharmacy Class of 2027 president. She says she also gained great mentorship through her advisor, associate professor of pharmacy and assistant dean of student affairs Dr. Scott E. Kincaid.

“When I was still on the undergraduate campus, both Dr. Gumina and Dr. Kincaid would check in and see how I was doing academically and mentally,” Schirra said. “It made for such a seamless transition for me, already having familiar faces at the PCSP campus.”

Speaking of familiar faces and places, Schirra spent the summer of 2024 interning in a space close to her heart: Lexington Medical Center (LMC) in West Columbia, S.C. Schirra’s mom worked at LMC for 25 years, and it is where Schirra herself was born.

“Lexington Medical Center has been a huge part of my life,” said Schirra. “Growing up, I always hoped to work at LMC one day, and this past summer I had the pleasure of interning as a member of the pharmacy team. The job has helped me be more familiar and comfortable with all the medications that are used in practice.”

Schirra has made numerous professional connections through the internship and even found that the pharmacists at LMC know the PCSP professors and preceptors in her school rotations.

“People always say pharmacy is a small world, and I have found that to be so true,” she said.