Where Pharmacy Can Take You

Finding Their Path to Pharmacy

Rhonda Moton, PharmD, MS

For Rhonda Moton, a managed care pharmacy resident with Kaiser Permanente MidAtlantic States Region, pharmacy was not her original plan. After teaching biology and science in public schools in the South and earning dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, she was already  admitted to medical school when a conversation with TCOP Admissions Assistant Dean Heidi  Fuchs changed her trajectory. As she explored pharmacy, Moton recognized its unique ability to blend clinical impact with sustained patient  interaction. “I realized I could touch more lives,” she explains, drawn to the opportunity to engage with patients more frequently and in a hands-on way. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and  Physical Sciences from Touro College of  Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown before  completing her PharmD at TCOP. Moton now plans to build a career in formulary management and eventually transition into market access.

Greta Morales Mendoza, PharmD

Gretel Morales Mendoza, currently a Medical Science Liaison Fellow with Howard University/Genentech, discovered pharmacy through  firsthand experience. A native of Cuba who  immigrated to the United States at age 11, Mendoza initially planned to become a  veterinarian. That plan changed during her first semester of college, when she began working as a pharmacy technician at CVS. “I didn’t even know pharmacy careers existed,” she says. The exposure sparked an immediate connection to  the field: one that would shape her academic and professional future. After moving to New York City to attend TCOP, Mendoza became deeply involved in campus leadership and advocacy. A recipient  of the Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship, she also founded a TCOP chapter of the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association to address medication education needs among Spanish-speaking  communities, particularly in Harlem.

Roberto Maldonado, PharmD/MPH

For Roberto Maldonado, the Health Disparities & Community-Based Outcomes Research Fellow at Touro University College of Pharmacy’s Center of Excellence for Pharmacy Education and Pharmacist Services, the road to pharmacy was anything but linear. Growing up in Hell’s Kitchen and now residing in Spanish Harlem, Maldonado initially pursued nursing and majored in biology, with a strong interest in genetics. A personal loss in his family, coupled with witnessing loved ones navigate complex cancer treatments, reshaped his perspective. “They were on so many medications, and I didn’t understand what they were or how they worked,” he recalls. Encouraged by an advisor to explore pharmacy, Maldonado found a profession that aligned with both his scientific interests and his desire to serve. While working full time as a lab technician, he earned his PharmD and MPH through a collaborative program between TCOP and New York Medical College, focusing on health behavior and community health. He now hopes to pursue a career with the FDA or CDC.

The Impact of the Center of Excellence

All three alumni credit TCOP’s Center of Excellence (COE) as a pivotal part of their professional development. Moton emphasizes the value of guest speakers who illuminated the breadth of pharmacy career paths and reinforced the importance of networking. “Being able to hear their personal journeys and make those connections was huge,” she says.

Mendoza echoes that sentiment, highlighting the power of representation. Seeing speakers with similar backgrounds who had overcome significant hurdles was both validating and motivating. “If they can do it, I can too,” she reflects. The networking mixers and community-focused events hosted by the COE helped her envision ways to serve minority populations and solidified her commitment to advocacy. “I’m forever grateful: not just for the scholarship but for the  connections and the fuel to be where I am today.”

For Maldonado, mentorship and hands-on community engagement stood out most. Through the COE, he helped design and implement projects focused on medication safety and underserved populations.

“Being able to take what we learned and apply it directly to the community was invaluable,” he says, adding that guest speakers also played a key role in shaping his professional growth.

Building Trust in Pharmacy

Each alum underscores diversity as essential to building trust and improving patient outcomes.

Maldonado notes that many patients hesitate to engage with a healthcare system. Through bilingual outreach and community-based initiatives, he works to bridge that gap and foster trust.

Mendoza emphasizes that representation and cultural competency go hand in hand. “Patients are more willing to open up when they feel understood,” she explains. Now based in Puerto Rico for her fellowship while collaborating with teams across the mainland U.S., she often serves as a cultural liaison: bringing local patient perspectives to broader discussions and helping tailor solutions to diverse communities.

Moton speaks about the historical mistrust many Black patients feel toward healthcare institutions. Representation, she says, plays a crucial role in rebuilding that trust. Whether working with well- resourced individuals or patients from underserved backgrounds, Moton finds that empathy and  authenticity are key to meaningful care.

Addressing Challenges and Building the Pipeline

In their current fellowships, all three alumni are tackling challenges facing underserved communities head on. Maldonado is engaged in policy-related work, designing interventions to improve medication safety and developing continuing education on gestational diabetes, a condition increasingly affecting postpartum patients. He is also researching barriers that limit minority participation in pharmacy, from financial constraints to gaps in early science education.

Mendoza highlights the importance of early exposure to the profession. During her final year at TCOP, she participated in outreach programs that brought high school students to campus, many of whom were unaware that pharmacy was a career option. “It needs to be a pipeline that starts early,” she says, pointing to initiatives like the COE as models for inspiring future generations.

Together, Moton, Mendoza and Maldonado represent the promise of the TCOP Class of 2025: graduates who are not only advancing in their careers through residencies and fellowships but also reshaping the future of pharmacy through leadership, advocacy and a steadfast commitment to patient care.

Center of Excellence (COE) Center of Excellence for  Pharmacy Education and  Pharmacist Care Services*

Programs & Opportunities

• Scholar Awards: Financial support for students committed to person-centered care
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: Health disparities and community intervention training
• Research Support: Advancing research on social determinants of health and health outcomes
• Speaker Series: Faculty and alumni sessions on leadership and careers

Student Pipeline Programs

• RxPLORE Summer Academy: For college students exploring pharmacy careers
• RxPLORE Pharmacy Day: For high school students interested in pharmacy**

Continuing Education Programs

• Advanced training for licensed pharmacists in critical health and health outcomes topics

* The Center of Excellence for Pharmacy Education and Pharmacist Care Services was created in 2022 with the support of a five-year $3 million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.

** Co-sponsored with the Area Health  Education Centers of Manhattan-Staten Island, Bronx-Westchester, and  Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island