UCSD - University of California - San Diego
10/06/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/06/2025 07:20
Meet our Distinguished Alumni of the Year: Transplant Specialist Mary Moss Chandran ’08, Pharm.D. ’1
Story by:
- Monica May- [email protected]
Published Date
October 06, 2025Article Content
This year, we were proud to honor Mary Moss Chandran '08, Pharm.D. '12, as our Distinguished Alumni of the Year. A clinical pharmacist specializing in organ transplantation at the University of North Carolina Hospitals and Clinic, Chandran has made profound impacts on patient care and already significantly advanced the field of pharmacy.
Among many accomplishments, she established the first pediatric transplant pharmacist service at Children's Hospital Colorado, which revolutionized how the program provides individualized care for children and resulted in lasting improved graft and patient outcomes. In addition to her clinical work, Chandran holds numerous leadership positions, including serving as chair of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties Solid Organ Transplant Specialty Council. She is also an active contributor to pharmaceutical research, having published more than 20 peer-reviewed studies and given more than 30 poster and platform presentations at national and international conferences.
We caught up with Chandran to learn more about her journey to her position today, her favorite part of her job and why she highly recommends the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to the next generation of pharmacy leaders.
Why pharmacy?
I had a pharmacology course my last year of undergrad that I found fascinating. It married all of the things I was learning in my science studies: I got to see chemistry meet biology, meet pathophysiology, and how they all work together to improve patient health. I thought pharmacy was an amazing way to get to do all of those things and not have to pick just one area to focus on.
As I researched pharmacy, I also loved that there's not just one "pharmacist in a box" position. I would go to events and see clinical pharmacists, research pharmacists, many individuals exploring different facets of their degree. I was really impressed that I could get my Doctor of Pharmacy and have so many options. Because, when you're in your 20s, it's hard to know what you want to do. To have a career path that can set you into motion to do many things was very exciting for me.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Fast Facts about Chandran
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Why Pharmacy: Wide range of career paths available, opportunity to make a real impact on patient care
Why Skaggs School of Pharmacy: Strong clinical focus, chance to take joint courses with medical students and gain early exposure through clinical rotations
Favorite Memory from Pharmacy School: We had the best class! We worked hard, supported each other through tough stretches of exams, and always found time to celebrate.
What She Does for Fun: Spending time with my two boys and sharing their interests, from sports to Pokémon, unwinding with a good game of mahjong, diving into our next book club read
Chandran presents her research findings at the World Transplant Congress annual meeting.
I love patient interaction. I get to talk to patients every day in clinic and really see the impact I can have on them-from adjusting their therapeutics, to helping them access medications and sometimes just having a listening ear and being a safe space to express concerns or to ask questions. I leave clinic every day feeling like I've made an impact on someone's life. And that really makes it all worth it on the days when you're stressed and you're tired-to know that you make a difference and you're helping someone.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be open to all opportunities. Don't let yourself get locked in on one path or pigeonholed, because you never know what the right fit for you is or what you're going to like unless you try something.
Why would you recommend Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to prospective pharmacy students?
Chandran attends a Benson Boone concert with her family.
I personally think that UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy is the top, top school of pharmacy that's out there.
When I went into residency and started my first jobs, I hit the ground running. I felt like I had all of the tools and training I needed to be successful. And that really started in the classroom, in our first classes.
We're very fortunate that we get to experience classes with our medical school colleagues, so when we go into clinical scenarios we already understand so much about the clinical situation, the patient and how our therapies can improve patient care. It really makes us stand out as valuable members of the care team.
The clinical rotations were also outstanding. We had anything you can imagine truly available to us. I learned so much during all of those encounters and took all of those learnings with me into residency. I still tap into that knowledge on a day-to-day basis, remembering tidbits and tricks I was taught along the way. In fact, I still have my notes from pharmacy school-I refuse to throw them away because I really felt like the knowledge we got was beyond just the textbook, beyond the lectures. It was really so wonderful.
Learn more about our nationally-renowned Pharm.D. program
Topics covered:
- Alumni
- Pharmacy
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UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on October 06, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 06, 2025 at 13:20 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]