University of the Pacific’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy was honored by a national magazine for its collaboration with the Upward Bound program to draw more underrepresented students into the field of pharmacy.

The school received the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine for a summer session at Pacific that mentored Upward Bound participants from Edison High School in Stockton. The effort was led by the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

Upward Bound is a United States Department of Education effort that partners with Pacific to provide tutoring, college exploration and more that includes a six-week residential program.

Doctor of pharmacy students, faculty and practicing pharmacists—all of whom are people of color—provided curriculum to local high school students from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, including health and wellness, the practice of pharmacy and preparing to attend college.

The school’s efforts will be featured in the magazine’s September issue.

“We looked at what we were trying to accomplish alongside the goals that Upward Bound was trying to achieve and it made so much sense to work together,” said Associate Clinical Professor Marisella Guerrero, who led the program. “Our focus was on pharmacy, but we also gave the high school students considerable information on other courses and on college in general.”

The efforts were rewarding for the pharmacy faculty and students who taught the high schoolers, including twin sisters Catherine Aranda ’25 and Caroline Aranda ’25 from Stockton.

“As someone who is a recent graduate from a STEM program, I know first-hand how important it is to increase diversity in these programs, and the first step in doing so is getting more high school students from diverse backgrounds to college,” said Caroline Aranda. “Programs such as Upward Bound are important as they aim to serve high school students from underrepresented communities.”

Added Catherine Aranda: “I am happy to see the DEI committee’s efforts recognized for inspiring young minds. Upward Bound gave us an opportunity to share our passion for the pharmacy profession and to show students from diverse backgrounds that there is a need and place for them in STEM.”

Jaynelle Durias, a recent Edison High School graduate who plans to attend Las Positas College, a community college located in the East Bay, said the program opened her eyes to a potential pharmacy education and career.

“The whole experience was excellent and they did an outstanding job showing the type of work pharmacists do and the career opportunities,” Durias said.

Twenty-five participants completed a survey which Guerrero said, “shows we reached the diverse students we wanted to reach.”

Survey results showed:

• 100% were from underrepresented and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.
• 71% indicated an increase in their interest in becoming a health care provider.
• 66% would be first-generation students if they decided to attend college.
• 95% would recommend the program to others.

“It is such an honor to be recognized by Insight Into Diversity’s Inspiring Programs in STEM,” said Berit Gunderson, dean of the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy. “This is an important step to ensure health care for all.”