UCSD - University of California - San Diego
11/10/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/10/2025 17:27
Student Spotlight: Meet Kathiria Perez Ortiz
Story by:
- Monica May- [email protected]
Published Date
November 10, 2025Article Content
In honor of Veterans Day, meet one of our Pharm.D. students, Kathiria Perez Ortiz, whose journey from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Navy and now UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has fueled her passion for service and caring for communities.
Tell us more about your journey to pharmacy school.
My path to pharmacy school began in Puerto Rico, where I was raised in communities with limited access to health care. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how health disparities affected families and neighbors. For example, in the area I lived in pharmacies were limited and it was often really difficult to obtain medications. This sparked my desire to serve others and contribute to improving public health. Seeking greater educational and professional opportunities, I joined the U.S. Navy. My service instilled in me discipline, leadership and a strong sense of duty, qualities that continue to guide me in every aspect of my life.
Why did you decide to pursue pharmacy as a profession?
After completing my service, I pursued a career as a clinical laboratory scientist and ended up working at Family Health Centers of San Diego. In this role I processed lab tests for clinics that focused on underserved populations, such as people who are experiencing homelessness, are uninsured or are undocumented. While I took pride in helping patients through accurate and timely diagnostic testing, I began to realize I wanted to have a more direct role in patient care. That realization became the turning point in my professional journey.
Around this time one of my friends in Puerto Rico had become a pharmacist. She told me a story about how she spotted a wrongful medication that was prescribed and ended up saving a patient's life. That story stuck with me and made me realize how pharmacies have such a crucial role in a patient care. I also remembered when I was a child that my mom had a lot of questions about medications, such as should I take acetaminophen with a vitamin. There wasn't a pharmacist in our neighborhood, or even a doctor, so she didn't have any guidance.
Fast Facts about Perez Ortiz
Hometown: Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
Undergrad: Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Why UC San Diego: Emphasis on innovation, community engagement, including serving diverse and underserved communities, interdisciplinary collaboration
Advice for future pharmacy students: Find a mentor who can guide you, support you and give you the right advice. Reach out to the Admissions team if you don't have a mentor as they might be able to connect you to someone.
What she does for fun: Dancing and singing, especially karaoke, traveling, visiting Tijuana
Altogether, seeing pharmacists educate patients about their medications, ensure safe therapy and offer compassionate support showed me how pharmacy perfectly blends science, service and care and inspired me to pursue the field. It's also why I have so much pride in what I'm doing right now.
Why did you choose UC San Diego for pharmacy school?
When I decided to pursue pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy quickly became my top choice. UC San Diego's emphasis on innovation, community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration aligns deeply with my personal and professional goals. The school's commitment to serving diverse and underserved communities, especially through the Student-Run Free Clinic Project, mirrors my own passion for promoting health equity. I knew UC San Diego would be the ideal environment to grow as a health care professional and future leader in public health.
What does Veterans Day mean to you?
Kathiria Perez Ortiz serving in the U.S. Navy
As a veteran, Veterans Day holds special meaning for me. It is a time to honor the men and women who have served this country and to recognize how their service has shaped them into stronger, more disciplined and resilient individuals. For me, being a veteran means carrying those same values-dedication, perseverance and integrity-into my academic and professional life. The discipline and focus I gained through my military experience have been instrumental in my success as a student pharmacist and continue to influence how I approach patient care and community service.
What advice do you have for future pharmacy students?
Never give up on your dreams. I had to overcome a lot of barriers, including financial and language barriers. It has been difficult. But it's not impossible. Make sure to get a mentor who can guide you, support you and give you the right advice. As soon as I was connected to a mentor through Christine Cartlidge on the Admissions team, everything clicked into place. My mentor was able to tell me what I needed to do, what volunteer experience I needed and more that allowed me to be successful on my application.
When you aren't in school, what you like to do for fun?
Outside of academics, I love dancing. San Diego has a vibrant salsa and bachata community, and dancing allows me to stay active, connect with others and celebrate my cultural roots. I also love singing and karaoke. One of the student groups I am thinking about joining is Serotones, which aims to use music to help heal.
Learn more about our nationally renowned Pharm.D. program
Outside of school, Kathiria Perez Ortiz enjoys traveling
Topics covered:
- Veteran
- Pharmacy
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UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on November 10, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 10, 2025 at 23:27 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]