Graduating Student Spotlight: Dioscora Figueroa

Selecting a graduate program can be difficult, but for Dioscora Figueroa, Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) made the choice easy.

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

"My first interview was actually with Palm Beach Atlantic University, and I just felt so welcomed during that interview," she said. "I didn't even interview for the other [schools]. I felt like I belonged here."

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

Launching an Impactful Career

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

Her first job was similar to her mom's role: serving patients at a community pharmacy. The second was virtual: a refill management program, in which Figueroa was responsible for evaluating prescription refill 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 similar to her mom's role: serving patients at a community pharmacy.

"I think it's 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]," she said.

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

"It's one of the most rewarding things when you get to speak to patients, and you see in their face how happy they are that you're listening [to them]," she said, smiling. "Sometimes, they just need somebody to listen and explain things clearly for them."

An Outstanding Record

Both in community and hospital settings, pharmacists are noted for their irreplaceable impact. This year, U.S. News & World Report ranked pharmacy as number 22 in Best Health Care Jobs and number 58 in 100 Best Jobs. In May, a total of 36 students are graduating from PBA's Pharm.D. program.

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

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 offered a $10,000 tuition award for her final semester, along with a medallion and plaque.

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.

"PBA opened the door to so many opportunities," she reflected. "I 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."

Figueroa was recently selected for a one-year pharmacy residency at 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 is still debating between practicing in a community or hospital setting when she becomes established in her career, she is open to God's plan. Wherever she ends up, she'd like to mentor future students as a preceptor, guiding them through practical rotations so they can gain experience before graduating, too.

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

"It's going to be like the end of an era, but the new beginning for so many things that I believe I'm going to be able to do in the future," she said. "Graduating means that I'll be able to serve those patients and be there in the community and finally practice and do what I have been called to do."

To learn more about the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, visit https://www.pba.edu/academics/schools/pharmacy/.