Nikita Mirajkar, PhD | PCOM South Georgia Faculty | DO Program
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NIKITA MIRAJKAR, PHD
Associate Dean of Curriculum
Professor of Pharmacology

Dr. Nikita Mirajkar completed her BVSc & AH (DVM equivalent) from Bombay Veterinary College, India, after which she received a PhD in Toxicology from Oklahoma State University. Subsequently, Dr. Mirajkar joined the faculty of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Pharmacy (TTUHSC SOP), where she taught students in the PharmD program for 11 years. In 2019, Dr. Mirajkar joined PCOM SouthGeorgia as an associate professor of pharmacology. She currently teaches pharmacology in a number of courses throughout the first and second years of the DO curriculum. She has also been serving as the course director of the board prep course CBSRS, where she has advised and assisted students in their preparation for the COMLEX Level 1 examination.

Dr. Mirajkar's teaching portfolio covered courses at all levels of pharmacy student and medical student education, with a strong focus on pharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology. In addition to traditional lecture-based didactic teaching, she has employed a variety of active learning strategies, including clinical case-based learning, problem-based learning, modified flipped class sessions, modified team-based learning, Top Hat and in-class team-based competitions, among others. Dr. Mirajkar has played a role in curriculum development at TTUHSC SOP as well as at PCOM.

During her teaching career, Dr. Mirajkar has won several teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Faculty, and Most Influential Professor awards. In addition to these, she has also received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching and President’s Excellence in Teaching awards. In 2023, she received the Outstanding Faculty award at PCOM South Georgia, and she completed the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Fellowship.

Education

  • PhD in Toxicology, Oklahoma State University
  • BVSc & AH (Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, DVM equivalent), Bombay Veterinary College

Awards

  • Outstanding Faculty, PCOM South Georgia, May 2023
  • Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Fellowship, Drexel University College of Medicine, June 2022 – April 2023
  • “Harold Miller Most Influential Professor Award”, presented by the graduating class of 2019, TTUHSC, SOP, May 2019
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2022, TTUHSC, SOP, May 2019
  • “P2 Teaching Team of the Year Award”, as a member of the Reproductive Pharmacotherapy Team, presented by the class of 2021, TTUHSC, SOP, May 2019
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2021, TTUHSC, SOP, May 2018
  • “P1 Teaching Team of the Year Award”, as a member of the Anatomy and Physiology-I Team, presented by the class of 2021, TTUHSC, SOP, May 2018
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2020, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2017
  • “P1 Teaching Team of the Year Award”, as a member of the Anatomy and Physiology-I Team, presented by the class of 2020, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2017
  • “2016-2017 Pharmacy – Didactic Outstanding Faculty Award”, presented by the TTUHSC student senate, TTUHSC, April 2017
  • “President’s Excellence in Teaching Team Award”, presented by President Ted Mitchell, TTUHSC, November 2016
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2019, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2016
  • “P1 Teaching Team of the Year Award”, as a member of the Anatomy and Physiology-I Team, presented by the class of 2019, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2016
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2018, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2015
  • “P2 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2017, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2015
  • “Faculty of the Year” presented by the TTUHSC Amarillo Student Senate, May, 2015
  • “World of a Difference Award” presented by the TTUHSC Amarillo Student Senate, May, 2014
  • “Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award”, presented by Chancellor Hance of the Texas Tech University System, December 2013
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2015, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2012
  • “Outstanding Faculty Award”, presented by the TTUHSC student senate, TTUHSC, April 2012
  • “P1 Teaching Team of the Year Award” as a member of the Anatomy Team, presented by the class of 2015, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2012
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2014, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2011
  • “Outstanding Faculty Award”, presented by the TTUHSC student senate, TTUHSC, April 2011
  • “P1 Teacher of the Year Award”, presented by the class of 2013, TTUHSC, SOP, April 2010

Publications

Mirajkar, N.S., 2014. Dimethoate. In: Wexler, P. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Toxicology, 3rd edition vol 2. Elsevier Inc., Academic Press, pp. 155–157.

In vitro sensitivity of cholinesterases and [3H]Oxotremorine-M binding in heart and brain of adult and aging rats to Organophosphorus anticholinesterases. Mirajkar N and Pope CN. Biochemical Pharmacology, 2008 Oct (15); 76(8):1047-58.

Comparative effects of oral Chlorpyrifos exposure on cholinesterase activity and muscarinic receptor binding in neonatal and adult rat heart. Howard MD, Mirajkar N, Karanth S, Pope CN. Toxicology, 2007 Sep 5;238(2-3):157-65.

Effects of acute chlorpyrifos exposure on in vivo acetylcholine accumulation in rat striatum. Karanth S, Liu J, Mirajkar N, Pope C. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2006 Oct 1; 216(1):150-6.

Nikita Mirajkar & Carey Pope, Dimethoate, Page 47-49 in Encyclopedia of Toxicology Second Edition (P. Wexler ed). Elsevier Press, San Diego, CA (2005)

Effects of combined, multiple stressors on pyridostigmine-induced acute toxicity in rats. Baireddy P, Mirajkar N, Nallapaneni A, Singleton N, Pope CN. Archives of Toxicology, 2007 Apr; 81(4):283-9.

Nikita Mirajkar & Carey Pope, Dichlorvos, Page 13-15 in Encyclopedia of Toxicology Second Edition (P. Wexler ed). Elsevier Press, San Diego, CA (2005)

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