麻豆传媒

Selecting a graduate program can be difficult,听but for听Dioscora听Figueroa, 麻豆传媒 (PBA) made the choice easy.听

Deeply inspired by her mom’s work听as a pharmacy technician, Figueroa was听pretty sure听pharmacy was the right career for her.听She had lined up several interviews with different schools to launch her graduate studies when听PBA鈥檚听Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program听derailed them all.听

鈥淢y first interview was actually with 麻豆传媒,听and I just felt so welcomed during that interview,鈥� she said. 鈥淚听didn鈥檛听even听interview for听the听other [schools].听I felt like I belonged here.鈥�听

Once听classes began, Figueroa听realized all the opportunities available to her听through PBA and in her chosen career, and听she听fell fully in love with her field.听

Launching an Impactful Career听

Connecting with patients has always been a standout quality in pharmacy听for听Figueroa;听she听says she听enjoys the long-standing relationships that happen听when a patient is relying on their pharmacist to help them overcome illness or problem-solve reactions to medications.听She听got to practice building connections with patients听by听maintaining听two pharmacy-related听jobs throughout her program.听听

Her first job was similar to her mom鈥檚 role: serving patients at a community pharmacy.听The second was virtual:听a refill management program, in which Figueroa听was responsible for听evaluating听prescription refill听requests to ensure they remained appropriate for the patient, approving or rejecting refills based on clinical criteria, and identifying any concerns that might require further review. The second was听similar to听her mom鈥檚 role: serving patients at a听community pharmacy.听

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so important to have at least a part-time job during pharmacy school because that solidifies your passion for pharmacy and gives you an opportunity to see how it will be [to work in the field],鈥� she said.听

At the community pharmacy, Figueroa used her fluency in Spanish to overcome language barriers between providers and patients.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most rewarding things when you get to speak to听patients,听and you see in their face how happy they are that you鈥檙e listening听[to them],鈥� she said, smiling. 鈥淪ometimes, they just need somebody to listen and explain things clearly for them.鈥�听

An Outstanding Record听

Both in community and hospital settings, pharmacists are noted for their irreplaceable impact. This year,听听as number 22 in Best Health Care听Jobs听and number 58 in 100 Best Jobs.听In May, a听total of 36 students听are听graduating from听PBA鈥檚听Pharm.D. program.听听

Figueroa has shown her determination to make a difference听with her career through her听commitment to balancing two jobs and听participating听in community volunteer events in her free time.听In recognition of her outstanding achievements and academic excellence, she has been named the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy鈥檚 Outstanding Graduate of the Year.听

She also received the Gregory Outstanding Graduate Award, which recognizes the top 20% of the graduating class for their strong commitment to faith and its integration into pharmacy practice. The scholarship听offered听a听$10,000 tuition award for her final semester, along with a medallion and plaque.听听

Additionally, she received a scholarship of $5,000 per academic year at the beginning of her program, which accumulated to a total of $20,000 by her fourth year.听

鈥淧BA opened the door to so many opportunities,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淚 learned so much. I had such a great support system. PBA gave me lifelong friends, they gave me knowledge, they gave me experiences, they gave me mentors, and I just love the fact that they chose me to be one of their students.鈥�听

Figueroa听was recently selected for a one-year听pharmacy听residency at听a hospital in South Florida, where she will train across a variety of clinical settings, and is excited to continue growing and serving patients through this next step. While she听is still debating between practicing in a community or hospital setting听when she becomes established in her听career,听she is open to God鈥檚 plan. Wherever she ends up,听she鈥檇听like to mentor听future students as a preceptor, guiding them through practical rotations so they can gain experience before graduating, too.听

As Figueroa听anticipates听turning the tassel in May, she looks forward to stepping fully into the role听she鈥檚听been preparing for, guided by her mom鈥檚 passion for patient care and her own journey of discovering pharmacy as a calling.听

鈥淚t’s听going to be like the end of an era, but the new beginning for so many things that I believe I鈥檓 going to be able to do in the future,鈥� she听said. 鈥淕raduating means that I鈥檒l be able to serve those patients and be there in the community and finally practice and do what I have been called to do.鈥�听

To learn more about the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, visit听/academics/schools/pharmacy/.