November 25, 2025 | Abigail Baier

UConn Pharmacy Student Wins Big at National Convention

In his final year at the School, Lahar Miriyapalli put his pharmaceutical knowledge and application skills to the test at the National Pharmaceutical Association/Student National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA/SNPhA) National Convention. Putting himself in the shoes of a medical science liaison and presenting to employees of AstraZeneca, Lahar presented one of their clinical trials professionally and passionately, earning him the first-place award in this skill competition.

Lahar with his award and check at the (NPhA/SNPhA) National Convention (contributed photo)

Lahar with his award and check at the (NPhA/SNPhA) National Convention (contributed photo)

A pharmacy student in his final year as a Husky, Lahar Miriyapalli grew up outside of New York City. Passionate about the pharmaceutical field after growing up with medical conditions that changed his viewpoint on medicine, Lahar chose UConn’s School of Pharmacy for its strong reputation and his love for the Northeast. As an avid basketball fan, Lahar also wanted to experience the spirit of game days in Gampel Pavilion. 

Headshot of Lahar Miriyapalli (UConn Photo)
Headshot of Lahar Miriyapalli (UConn Photo)

During his time at the School, Lahar has demonstrated his deep-rooted passion for pharmacy through his involvement. As Vice-President of the Industry Pharmacists Organization, he has directed Clinical Development teams in the annual mock drug development competition (VIP Case Competition), receiving 6th place last year. As Co-Chair and Quality Assurance Lead of the Immunization Committee, Lahar has expanded immunization opportunities for pharmacy students and support for community vaccination efforts while leading a team to understand the impact of the clinics. 

In addition to his involvement, Lahar has worked on other research projects and credits School of Pharmacy faculty, Craig Coleman and Adrian Hernandez, as his mentors in these experiences.  It was his research opportunities, relying on communication and teamwork, where he developed his medical writing skills and his overall passion for analyzing data and science.  

“UConn Pharmacy has been instrumental in teaching me how to communicate professionally.”

He has since taken this passion and turned it into success. As President of SNPhA, Lahar has led programs to support health organizations, including the Kidney Association, Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance, and the American Diabetes Association. His latest success came this past August at the 2025 Student National Pharmaceutical Association – AstraZeneca MSL Simulation Competition by presenting a breast cancer trial to AstraZeneca’s oncology field team.  

Lahar proudly holds his award (contributed photo)
Lahar proudly holds his award (contributed photo)

At the convention, Lahar attended sessions to learn how to best serve underrepresented populations and networked with pharmacists in the medical science liaison (MSL) field to learn more about this position in the pharmaceutical industry. MSLs serve as representatives between pharmaceutical companies and the public in educating people on new drugs and advancements. In the first round of the AstraZeneca MSL Simulation Competition, Lahar created a written report along with a video presentation about the impact of MSLs. After this round, Lahar moved on to the convention portion, where he simulated being an MSL and presented a clinical trial in front of a team of AstraZeneca MSLs. 

Winning first place in this competition, Lahar thinks of the connections he made with the MSLs as equally as important to his award. In a full-circle moment, Lahar applied the skills he’s learned in the classroom, his internships, and extracurricular settings during his time at the School to remain confident.  

Currently interviewing for fellowship programs, Lahar is thankful for all that UConn Pharmacy has taught him. From learning how to read scientific literature and conduct research to putting his skills to the test in the VIP Case Competition and the AstraZeneca MSL Simulation Competition, Lahar has shown his dedication to the field of pharmacy.  

“I love UConn and all the opportunities they’ve given me to participate in.” 

When reminiscing about his favorite moments as a Husky, Lahar shared memories from his exciting trip to Arizona to watch the 2024 College Basketball Championship, which was nothing short of surreal for him and his friends.  

Combining his skill in scientific communication with his competitive nature, Lahar has excelled in the classroom, lab, and on the competition floor, earning well-received recognition for his hard work and determination.