A Call for Hispanic Pharmacists

Ivan Mejia, Pharm.D. Candidate 2025

It will be an honor when I get to join the 4.5% of Hispanic pharmacists that currently make up the profession of pharmacy. Pharmacy has always prided itself on being accessible and approachable. This is especially important to the Hispanic community, which is known to mistrust medical professionals, apart from the language barriers that exist. This is where Hispanic pharmacists can build this trust and provide clinical education in a way that is understandable and connectable. Growing up, I often had to translate for my mother when we would go to doctor visits or when the pharmacist would counsel on medication use. This is the reason why a group of ambitious students and I reactivated the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association (NHPA) chapter at LIU after years of inactivity. Our goal is to become advocates of the profession, spreading awareness in marginalized communities of our role in medicine. We also aim to be role models for kids in the Hispanic or minority communities who may be considering a career in pharmacy.