Gagani Athauda plays a central role in pharmacology education, guiding medical students through the integration of pharmacological science into clinical practice while fostering their academic and professional development through mentorship. She has distinguished herself for her exceptional teaching, earning multiple honors. She is a two-time recipient of the college’s Excellence in Teaching Award and has also received the FIU Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. Students have repeatedly honored her as Advisor and Mentor of the Year, and in 2025, she earned the college’s highest teaching honor—the Hippocratic Award.
In her role as assistant dean for Alumni Teaching and Advising, Athauda oversees the Alumni Advising Program, which pairs medical students with recent alumni as their advisors.
See research publications and more on FIU discovery.
Areas of Expertise
Pharmacology
Courses Taught
- BMS 6040 Organ Systems III - Gastrointestinal System, Nutrition and Renal System
- BMS 6040 Organ Systems III - Gastrointestinal System, Nutrition and Renal System
- BMS 6041 Foundations II Principles of Microbiology, Immunology, Pharmacology, and Pathology
- BMS 6001 Foundations I - Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Histology, and Metabolism
- BMS 6047 Organ Systems I - Musculoskeletal System, Dermatology, and Hematology
- BMS 6633 Organ Systems IV - Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
- BMS 6046 Organ Systems V - Neuroscience and Psychiatry
Honors & Awards
- FIU Medicine Hippocratic Award, 2025
- Mentor of the Year Student Choice Award, 2022
- FIU Medicine Annual Teaching Award, 2025
Committees & Professional Organizations
- Foundational Education Committee
- FIU Medicine Appeals Committee
- FIU Medicine Curriculum Committee
- American Medical Women’s Association – South Florida Chapter
- ASPET-Division for Pharmacology Educators (DPE)
Education
M.D., Riga Stradins University, Latvia, 2022