{"ItemType":0,"Id":6281,"Key":"a8b6aabb-d820-4977-a3cc-a9b5b6d81be3","TemplateId":4462,"SortOrder":40,"Name":"Karen DiNardo","DocumentTypeAlias":"soPProfilePage","DocumentTypeId":4457,"WriterName":"cscurrey","CreatorName":"cscurrey","WriterId":36,"CreatorId":36,"Path":"-1,4460,4584,6281","CreateDate":"2026-05-05T11:49:39","UpdateDate":"2026-05-05T11:51:24","Version":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","UrlName":"karen-dinardo","Level":3,"IsDraft":false,"Url":"/profiles/student-profiles/karen-dinardo/","metaKeywords":"","pageTitle":"","navigationSettings":"","hideFromSearch":false,"umbracoUrlName":"","metaDescription":"","navigationTitle":"","umbracoNaviHideChildren":false,"seoSettings":"","umbracoRequireSSL":false,"umbracoNaviHide":false,"auditNotes":"","auditStatus":"","professionalTitle":"PharmD Candidate","lastName":"DiNardo","classYear":2026,"introductionText":"Karen DiNardo, a native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, is a PharmD candidate in the Class of 2026. DiNardo’s grandparents and great-grandparents played a role in her journey to pharmacy and even inspired her to get an Area of Emphasis in geriatrics. Soon, she’ll be starting a new chapter as she pursues a career in either community or long-term care pharmacy. 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While this experience introduced me to the field, I was further motivated by the variety of careers available in pharmacy.</span></p>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"7abbebc9-f8e2-42fd-9ee8-9828de09a7a9\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"What inspired you to choose WVU for your pharmacy education? \"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<p><span>When I was a senior in high school, I visited the School of Pharmacy on Decide WVU Day. The students and staff were so welcoming and outlined all of the incredible opportunities that the WVU SoP offered. Although WVU is a big school, it was evident that everyone in the School of Pharmacy cared about forming personal connections and ensuring student success. West Virginia University has and always will feel like home, and I love the Mountaineer pride that is felt throughout the state of West Virginia and beyond!</span></p>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"8554af78-ed6e-4597-8fda-bc0ced8414e0\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"How has your experience at the WVU School of Pharmacy prepared you for your future career? \"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<div class=\\\"text-base my-auto mx-auto [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\\\" data-message-author-role=\\\"assistant\\\" data-message-id=\\\"6af8c4a3-620d-46de-aee6-b307a30ba396\\\" data-message-model-slug=\\\"gpt-5-3\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling\\\">\\n<p data-start=\\\"0\\\" data-end=\\\"435\\\" data-is-last-node=\\\"\\\" data-is-only-node=\\\"\\\">Throughout school, we participated in a variety of simulation and shadowing experiences, where I learned the role of a pharmacist in multiple settings and practiced my patient care skills. The rigorous coursework and curriculum helped me to develop clinical knowledge, and professors sharing their experiences helped me understand what to expect. All of the skills, knowledge, and advice I gained have prepared me for my future career.</p>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"9c85e6eb-4340-457a-8579-bf58fd2521a1\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"What is your favorite memory from your time at the WVU School of Pharmacy? \"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<div class=\\\"text-base my-auto mx-auto [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\\\" data-message-author-role=\\\"assistant\\\" data-message-id=\\\"17bf7827-d21d-4146-bb9b-5fe92482d3f8\\\" data-message-model-slug=\\\"gpt-5-3\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\\\">\\n<div class=\\\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling\\\">\\n<p data-start=\\\"0\\\" data-end=\\\"473\\\" data-is-last-node=\\\"\\\" data-is-only-node=\\\"\\\">Some of my favorite memories came from volunteering for health screenings and community bingo events throughout my P3 year. Attending each of these events monthly allowed me to build relationships with the patients, where we shared many laughs, stories, updates, performed blood pressure and glucose screenings, and answered medication-related questions. The patients looked forward to us returning each month, and I will always remember their enthusiasm and encouragement.</p>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\\n</div>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"821f146d-21a4-474b-81cc-62fa8f80628f\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"Is there a professor/staff member at the School of Pharmacy who has significantly influenced your journey? How did they make an impact? \"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<p><span>Dr. Gretchen Garofoli has significantly influenced my journey. From the very beginning, she told our class about her experiences in student organizations during pharmacy school and encouraged us to get involved. I had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Garofoli while she was an advisor for NCPA and APhA-ASP. She precepted many of the health screening and community bingo events we held, and her love of giving back to and being active in her community as a pharmacist was evident. She and her husband, Dr. Mark Garofoli, are mentors for me, both professionally and personally, and I appreciate everything they do for their students.</span></p>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"3a6feae8-2bcd-4108-a8c2-e54e079f243a\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"As you prepare to leave, what will you miss most about your time at the School of Pharmacy? \"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<p><span>I will miss my friends, professors, and spending time in the great state of West Virginia! </span></p>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"1d88a9d3-68f2-4fe4-8b51-2a53cee967d5\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people might not know?\"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<p><span>During my first trip to Disney World, my family was chosen as the “First Family” to go into Magic Kingdom, and we got to wave to all of the guests as they entered the park! </span></p>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"6dbe3275-09ba-4888-a46b-1e56d0df7c26\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"},{\"properties\":[{\"alias\":\"question\",\"value\":\"What are your plans after graduation?\"},{\"alias\":\"answer\",\"value\":\"<p><span>After graduation, I will be pursuing a career in community or long-term care pharmacy. </span></p>\"}],\"alias\":\"interview\",\"disabled\":false,\"id\":\"0c64183c-0feb-48ed-900c-43d2ae7215f3\",\"releaseDate\":null,\"expireDate\":null,\"allowedMemberGroups\":\"\"}]}","showVideoDescription":false,"embeddedVideoURL":""}
Meet the Grads

Karen DiNardo

School of Pharmacy

Why did you want to pursue a career in pharmacy?

As a child, I helped my grandparents and great-grandparents sort their medications into weekly pill organizers, which sparked my interest in both pharmacy and working with the geriatric population. While this experience introduced me to the field, I was further motivated by the variety of careers available in pharmacy.

What inspired you to choose WVU for your pharmacy education?

When I was a senior in high school, I visited the School of Pharmacy on Decide WVU Day. The students and staff were so welcoming and outlined all of the incredible opportunities that the WVU SoP offered. Although WVU is a big school, it was evident that everyone in the School of Pharmacy cared about forming personal connections and ensuring student success. West Virginia University has and always will feel like home, and I love the Mountaineer pride that is felt throughout the state of West Virginia and beyond!

How has your experience at the WVU School of Pharmacy prepared you for your future career?

Throughout school, we participated in a variety of simulation and shadowing experiences, where I learned the role of a pharmacist in multiple settings and practiced my patient care skills. The rigorous coursework and curriculum helped me to develop clinical knowledge, and professors sharing their experiences helped me understand what to expect. All of the skills, knowledge, and advice I gained have prepared me for my future career.

What is your favorite memory from your time at the WVU School of Pharmacy?

Some of my favorite memories came from volunteering for health screenings and community bingo events throughout my P3 year. Attending each of these events monthly allowed me to build relationships with the patients, where we shared many laughs, stories, updates, performed blood pressure and glucose screenings, and answered medication-related questions. The patients looked forward to us returning each month, and I will always remember their enthusiasm and encouragement.

Is there a professor/staff member at the School of Pharmacy who has significantly influenced your journey? How did they make an impact?

Dr. Gretchen Garofoli has significantly influenced my journey. From the very beginning, she told our class about her experiences in student organizations during pharmacy school and encouraged us to get involved. I had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Garofoli while she was an advisor for NCPA and APhA-ASP. She precepted many of the health screening and community bingo events we held, and her love of giving back to and being active in her community as a pharmacist was evident. She and her husband, Dr. Mark Garofoli, are mentors for me, both professionally and personally, and I appreciate everything they do for their students.

As you prepare to leave, what will you miss most about your time at the School of Pharmacy?

I will miss my friends, professors, and spending time in the great state of West Virginia!

What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people might not know?

During my first trip to Disney World, my family was chosen as the “First Family” to go into Magic Kingdom, and we got to wave to all of the guests as they entered the park!

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be pursuing a career in community or long-term care pharmacy.