This Hispanic Heritage Month, the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is proud to feature our Hispanic/Latinx students who are working toward becoming the next generation of healthcare professionals. Every year, the days from September 15-October 15 are recognized in the United States as a time to celebrate the cultures of Latin America and the accomplishments of Hispanic/Latinx people.
Laura Estefania Hernandez Cervantes is a first-generation Mexican-American from South Central Los Angeles. She is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program whose observation of healthcare habits in her community led her toward a career in pharmacy.
What was your inspiration for pursuing your undergrad at UCI?
“I decided to study pharmaceutical sciences because of the very little emphasis there is on healthcare amongst my predominantly Latino and Black community in LA and the Hispanic/Latinx community overall. My inspiration for pursuing pharmaceutical sciences at UCI was my interest in biological sciences. From a young age, I was passionate about taking care of others and being involved in the healthcare system. I chose UCI to be able to learn more about this field and take advantage of the opportunities here.”
How has your culture influenced you? What makes you proud of your heritage? What are some cool things about your culture that everyone should know?
“My Mexican culture deeply values family and friendship, and those closest to me have positively influenced my decision to pursue higher education. I hope to make them proud and be able to honor the sacrifices my parents made to give me everything.
One of the largest holidays (and my favorite) celebrated in my culture is the Day of the Dead on November 1-2. It’s a time to honor and celebrate our deceased ancestors by inviting them to our homes with a picture of them on our ofrenda full of food, sugar skulls, and more.
In my opinion, any Mexican food is the best!
My favorite destination, which I hope to revisit soon, is Mérida, Yucatán because of the architecture and the interesting mix of traditional Mayan and Spanish colonial cultures. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Mérida for a month during my senior year of high school. I learned more about my Mexican heritage and developed my Spanish skills, and I had a great host family that I still keep in touch with. Mérida holds a special place in my heart.”
What kind of research are you involved in?
“I’m a part of the Schriner Lab, which aims to study the process of aging and the mechanisms of drugs that slow down aging.”
What has been your favorite/most memorable class so far and why?
“The organic chemistry series has been the most memorable so far, because my friends and I were closer than ever during that time. We helped each other understand the material and stayed up super late studying.”
What are your post-graduation goals? How do you hope to use your degree?
“I hope to be able to use my degree to encourage health and wellness in underrepresented communities. Hopefully, I can pursue a career in healthcare where I interact with and create long-term relationships with patients. Additionally, I hope to lend a helping hand to future Latinx pharmacy students.”
Why should high school or transfer students consider studying pharmacy at UCI?
“They should consider studying pharmacy at UCI because the advisors are super helpful, the major is small so you can get to know other students, and UCI is full of many opportunities that can help you grow personally and professionally.”
