Faculty and administration

Pinakini K. Shankar, M.D., M.B.B.S.

Course Director and Professor of Pharmacology

Dr. Pinakini K. Shankar received her Doctor in Medicine (M.D.) in Pharmacology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India. She also earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) from JSS Medical College, Mysore University, Mysore, India.

At the beginning of her medical education career, Dr. Shankar was an assistant professor, then associate professor at the Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. She also was an associate professor and course director at Department of Pharmacology at the American University of Antigua School of Medicine, Antigua, West Indies.

In her most recent position prior to joining UMHS, Dr. Shankar was an associate professor and course director, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Therapeutics at the St. Matthew’s University College of Medicine, Grand Cayman Island, where she taught, evaluated, and mentored students in preparation for the USMLE.

Dr. Shankar has been instrumental in initiating and serving as the principal investigator for phase III clinical trials. She also has research publications in reputed indexed medical journals and is an author for Cochrane Reviews. Dr. Shankar has been a guest lecturer and presented at a variety of conferences and symposia.

As a medical educator, Dr. Shankar sees herself as a facilitator to simplify the basic concepts of pharmacology and to explain the importance of pharmacology in medicine. She is skilled at designing the frame work of learning and then furnishing students with indispensable knowledge that invigorates interest and stimulates growth of student minds.