For her exceptional achievements in practice and the potential to make significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy, Dr. Kirsten Vyhmeister (Class of 2021) was named Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy’s 2025 Rising Star. She was presented the award at LLUSP's Homecoming Reunion Dinner.
Dr. Vyhmeister graduated from Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy with dual degrees, a Doctorate of Pharmacy and Masters of Bioethics. She went on to complete both a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice and PGY2 Cardiology Residency with Loma Linda University Health. During her time as a resident, she served as a co-advisor for the LLUSP Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists and as an Alumni Representative on the LLUSP Curriculum Committee. Over her two years of residency she delivered 7 lectures and 3 ACPE-accredited continuing education webinars, one of which was hosted by California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Her involvement in research during residency resulted in three peer-reviewed publications, the most recent of which was published a few months ago with Dr. Winnie Tran and Dr. Paul Gavaza, and Class of 2024 alumni Dr. Murphy Nguyen and Dr. Grace Kang.
In 2022 Dr. Vyhmeister achieved Board Certification as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist and in 2023, after completing residency, she joined the Critical Care Pharmacy team at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in San Diego, California, as an evening Critical Care Specialist. In her position at Sharp Grossmont, she acts as an alternate preceptor for PGY-1 and PGY-2 Critical Care Residents’ Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, and Cardiology rotations, and serves on the Resident Advisory Committee, Clinical Task Force, and Sharp System Critical Care Pharmacy Committee.
Outside of work, Dr. Vyhmeister has continued to be involved with her local chapters of California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She was elected as an Alternate Delegate for the Inland chapter in 2022, attending House of Delegates at the 2022 Seminar meeting, and this year was elected as Delegate for the San Diego chapter where she also serves on the New Practitioner Committee.