‘I want to help patients'

He doesn't walk across the stage till May 15, but Orfanel Amaya is already on the front lines of patient care. A first-generation Latino graduate student and the proud son of immigrants, Amaya will earn a Doctor of Pharmacy from UC Irvine's School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, stepping into a profession he chose with intention and personal insight.

A spark in the Central Valley

Amaya's path began far from Orange County, in Lost Hills, a rural Central Valley town where access to healthcare was limited and often out of reach. "The closest hospital was 20 to 30 miles away," he says. "A lot of people didn't have consistent access to care."

That reality shaped his future. At Bakersfield College, a pharmacology course sparked Amaya's interest in pharmacy, revealing how medications work and the impact they can have on patients' lives. "I saw how important it is for patients to understand their medications," he says, "especially with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension."

The field offered a clear draw: combining direct patient care with complex problem-solving, as well as the flexibility to serve communities in meaningful ways. For Amaya, it clicked.

Adapting and advancing at UC Irvine

Amaya transferred to UC Irvine in 2019 to study pharmaceutical sciences as an undergraduate, but his student experience was quickly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Courses moved online. Campus life paused. Like many students, he had to adapt.

"It was a struggle at first," Amaya says. "I wasn't used to online learning, especially with the level of coursework." Still, he found support in peers, mentors and faculty and pressed forward. That adaptability became essential later as he pursued his doctorate.

"The transition was difficult," Amaya says. "I had to reinvent my study habits, learn time management and shift into a provider mindset." It took time to adjust to the pace and expectations of a doctoral program, but the experience pushed him to grow - not only academically but professionally.

Learning in the field

Amaya began working at a Costa Mesa CVS Pharmacy in 2020, starting as a clerk before becoming a pharmacy technician and, later, a pharmacist intern. The job provided income - and clarity. "I wanted to make sure pharmacy was really what I wanted to do," he says. "And I loved the patient interaction."

Today Amaya helps them navigate medications, insurance and treatment plans, often in both English and Spanish. "Sometimes patients just need someone who can explain things in a way that makes sense," he says.

At UC Irvine, those real-world experiences are built into the curriculum. As a fourth-year Pharm.D. candidate, Amaya completed six clinical rotations across a range of settings, including community pharmacy, hospital practice, acute internal medicine and ambulatory care, along with two elective rotations.

Each six-week externship challenged him to apply his knowledge, communicate effectively and grow professionally as a future pharmacist. "You're learning how to be part of a healthcare team," Amaya says, "how to earn trust with patients."

One elective took him into the pharmaceutical industry, where he spent six weeks with Gilead Sciences exploring oncology and HIV therapies. "It showed me how broad the field really is," he notes.

A community that builds confidence

Amaya says he found a strong foundation at the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, one that helped shape him into a more confident future pharmacist. Faculty, mentors and preceptors supported students not just academically but also in professional development and career exploration.

Through student organizations, community service and national pharmacy conferences, Amaya was encouraged to step into leadership roles and pursue activities and trainings aligned with his interests.

"Faculty really listen to students and help place us in experiences that match what we want to do," he says.

A path forward

After graduation, Amaya plans to enter the workforce directly, focusing on specialty pharmacy - a growing field that supports patients with complex and often rare conditions.

In specialty settings, pharmacists work closely with care teams to manage therapies for diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. "It's a nontraditional path," he says, "but it's where I see myself making an impact."

For Amaya, the journey from a rural Central Valley town to a doctoral degree in pharmacy is more than personal achievement. It's preparation - to serve, to advocate, to restore the kind of care he once saw missing.

"I want to help patients improve their quality of life," he says. "That's always been the goal."