At the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, we are proud to recognize the achievements and contributions of our Hispanic American community to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The celebration begins mid-month because Sept. 15 marks the independence anniversary of five countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. It is followed by Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16 and Chile’s on Sept. 18.
Francisco Damacio, a second-year student pharmacist in our Doctor of Pharmacy program, continues our student highlights by sharing what motivates his educational and professional pursuits.
What makes you proud of your Mexican heritage?
This is my handmade sombrero calentano (a hat made from palm leaves).
I find a lot of cultural pride in the “artesanías” unique to each region of Mexico. Growing up, I was exposed to the cultural arts local to my parent’s home states of Guerrero and Michoacán. From textiles to pottery, the exposure to these arts left an imprint on me and reminds me of the traditions of my cultural roots.
Damacio was raised in Porterville, California and later moved to North San Diego County with his family. His mother’s passion for her career as a pharmacy technician working with different communities drew him to pursue his education at UCI so that he could fulfill his desire to serve others in a career as a pharmacist.
“My upbringing in rural and urban areas exposed me to different living and economic conditions within our communities; however, despite these differences, my mother’s dedication to her role as a pharmacy technician remained the same,” Damacio said. “Seeing how she served patients allowed me to gauge the impact of her profession and the importance of pharmacy at an early age.”
According to the Pew Research Center, when it comes to navigating the health care system, 44 percent of Hispanic Americans reported that communication problems from language or cultural differences is a major reason why Hispanic people have generally worse health outcomes than other adults in the U.S.
“I noticed how language and economic barriers impact the quality of care of many members of Hispanic and Latino communities,” Damacio said. “Seeing these disparities firsthand inspired me to act in support of affected individuals and provide as much assistance as I can.”
This year’s annual celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month marks an important milestone for UCI. As we celebrate nationally the contributions of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, we locally recognize the engagement of all UCI members that support us as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
UCI received its federal HSI designation from the U.S. Department of Education in May 2017. This designation recognized that fully one-quarter of all undergraduates identified as Latino, and half of all students received financial aid. The designation has become more than a pride point on the campus as it has translated to resources and funding that supported undergraduates and graduate students during the height of COVID-19. Chicano/Latino students currently comprise 25% of all undergraduates and 12% of all graduate students enrolled at UCI.
“Coming to UCI to be a part of the inaugural PharmD class was a unique opportunity,” Damacio said. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to be a part of something special because I knew it would be an experience where I could develop myself academically and personally.”
Damacio offers advice to others interested in the field.
“Do not be afraid to dive deeper into your interests. If pharmacology is something that caught your attention, explore this interest and further it. This is how I found my passion, and I hope others can too.”