Rachael Pirrami is no stranger to hard work, dedication or leadership.
From a young age, she embraced responsibility and teamwork — serving on student council, captaining the soccer team and playing volleyball throughout high school.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2025 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
Her momentum only grew after enrolling at The University of Toledo’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where she expanded her involvement and deepened her commitment to both academic and extracurricular excellence.
Pirrami graduated this weekend with a doctor of pharmacy degree and a master of business administration, becoming a first-generation college graduate and the first doctor in her family.
“As someone who came to UToledo knowing nobody, the biggest reward I gained is getting to stand by the side of all my friends as we graduate and succeed,” Pirrami said. “From serving on numerous committees and executive boards, I’m reminded of how privileged I am to meet so many faces and build strong connections.”
At UToledo, she held a wide array of influential roles, including serving as president of the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy, regional liaison for Phi Lambda Sigma, president of Phi Lambda Sigma Nu chapter and secretary of Pharmacy Student Council.
“Rachael and leadership go hand in hand,” said Dr. Michelle Seegert, associate dean for admissions and enrollment management in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Her ability to organize, delegate and inspire those around her makes her an exceptional leader and a strong representative of our college on local, regional and national levels.”
Pirrami chose UToledo for its nationally recognized pharmacy program, its proximity to her hometown of Warren, Michigan, and — perhaps most importantly — the warm, inclusive community that made her feel immediately at home.
Rachael Pirrami, who was deeply involved in academic and extracurricular activities at UToledo, will soon begin as a Global Clinical Supply Chain Fellow at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
That decision, she said, has paid off.
“UToledo has given me invaluable experiences — conducting research, presenting posters and engaging with groups I’m passionate about — that have shaped me into the woman I am today.”
One of the most formative experiences of Pirrami’s pharmacy journey was her internship at the Cleveland Clinic, where she served as a procurement and logistics pharmacy intern.
There, she discovered a passion for the intricacies of supply chain operations — a passion that led her to pursue and earn a prestigious post-graduation fellowship with Takeda Pharmaceuticals as a Global Clinical Supply Chain Fellow.
That highly competitive fellowship will allow Pirrami to rotate through departments such as clinical supply operations, clinical planning, digital clinical supply chain and process excellence, and import/export management. She also will gain invaluable hands-on experience and forge key industry connections that will shape the next chapter of her career.
