In our Spring BSPS alumni panel we inviting some of our grads to speak about their path to their current role, the impact of URI, and how their education prepared them for the future.

Panelists

Julie Scott (2016)

Julie Scott graduated from the URI College of Pharmacy in 2016, majoring in BSPS with a minor in Biological Sciences. After graduation, Julie began her professional career in Quality Assurance at Rhodes Pharmaceuticals for three years, followed by a contract position at Rubius Therapeutics where she worked to develop the company’s supplier qualification systems as a Quality Compliance Specialist. In June of 2020, Julie joined the Quality Assurance Tech Transfer team at Moderna and continues to work there as the now team Supervisor.

Leah Ayer (2018)

Leah Ayer is a 2018 URI graduate with a BS in Pharmaceutical Science and a minor in Business. Since graduating, Leah has worked at a biotech company based in Cambridge, MA that offers diagnostic testing and treatment decision guidance for cancer patients. Leah’s current role is in Patient Marketing, with previous experience marketing oncology products to health care professionals.

Anna Geraci (2018)

Anna graduated from URI in 2018 with a bachelors in the Pharmaceutical Science Program. She moved to Providence soon after graduation and has been there ever since! Currently she works for Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Providence, Rhode Island as a Quality Control Analyst where she is developing a medical device that will cure Type 1 Diabetes. In her free time she loves to travel, visit the beach and explore new restaurants and breweries around the city.

Rachel Smilansky (2020)

Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Rachel came to URI to further her athletic career playing tennis as well as to pursue an education in STEM. After 5 years at URI, she finished her BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences and an MBA. Upon finishing the MBA, she began working at Johnson & Johnson in their pharmaceutical sector. Since then she has been working in clinical research and supported the COVID vaccine as well as various oncology trials.

Meaghan Fournier (2021)

Graduated in May 2021 with a Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a minor in Leadership Studies. I realized early on in my career at URI that I wanted to go into medical devices so upon graduating I attended Medical Sales College at their Sarasota, FL campus. After finishing this program I ended up at Dominion Aesthetic Technologies where I’m an Account Manager for their EON laser in central/north Florida.