Finding Opportunity, Community, and Purpose

When Darlyn Mendoza visited the University of Iowa (UI) as a high school senior, she immediately felt at home. Walking across campus, she was struck by the Hawkeye pride and welcoming atmosphere that surrounded her. Combined with nationally recognized health sciences programs, extensive research opportunities, and the close connection to an academic medical center, Iowa offered everything she was looking for in a college experience.

Woman with wavy brown hair with lighter ends. She is wearing a black and white patterned jacket and a black top. She is standing in the College of Pharmacy with the background blurred.

Choosing the UI College of Pharmacy only strengthened her confidence that she had made the right decision. She was drawn to the college's reputation for excellence and the countless opportunities available to students. Throughout her time at Iowa, she has gained hands-on experience through work, volunteering, research, and leadership while building professional connections that will benefit her throughout her career. The college's proximity to a nationally ranked academic medical center has allowed her to learn from experts across many areas of pharmacy practice.

"What I found at Iowa exceeded my expectations," Mendoza said. "The College of Pharmacy has given me opportunities to grow both professionally and personally while building the confidence and skills I'll need as a future pharmacist."

For Mendoza, one of the college's defining strengths is its sense of community. Students often refer to the College of Pharmacy as their "pharmily," a description she says perfectly captures the supportive culture.

"Everyone wants to see each other succeed," she said. "Whether it's classmates, faculty members, staff, or preceptors, there is always someone willing to offer guidance or lend a helping hand. That support system is what makes Iowa so special."

The relationships she has built have become some of her most meaningful experiences. Over the past three years, Mendoza has developed connections with faculty mentors, pharmacy professionals across Iowa, and students and practitioners from around the country through leadership opportunities and national meetings. Those conversations have broadened her perspective on the profession while helping her identify the path she hopes to pursue after graduation.

Following pharmacy school, Mendoza plans to complete a residency before beginning her career as a pediatric clinical pharmacist. She hopes to work as part of an interdisciplinary team caring for critically ill children at a freestanding children's hospital. While she continues to explore specialty areas, she has developed particular interests in neonatal intensive care, endocrinology, and infectious diseases.

Looking back, Mendoza says choosing the UI College of Pharmacy was about more than earning a degree. It was about joining a community that challenges students to excel while providing the mentorship, opportunities, and encouragement needed to succeed.