Swimming from the Outer Banks to the Triangle

Second-year student, Cecilia Cortez, brings the discipline she learned as a collegiate swimmer to her pharmacy studies

Story and photo by Samantha Lewis | Published September 24, 2024

When Cecilia Cortez speaks about her childhood in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, her voice lights up with nostalgia and pride. Growing up in a tight-knit, rural community, she always wanted to grow up and pursue a path that would help people, but it wasn’t until her father’s battle with cancer that she found her true calling in pharmacy.

“My mom would always say that the clinical pharmacist on my dad’s care team was the most attentive, the one who took the time to explain things and make sure the treatment was right for him,” Cecilia recalls. “Even though I was really young, that experience stuck with me.”

Now, Cecilia is in her second year at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, where she’s combining her passion for pharmacy with her desire to make a difference in rural and pediatric health care. Her journey from the beaches of the Outer Banks to the halls of the Eshelman School of Pharmacy is a testament to her dedication and resilience.

Before embarking on her pharmacy journey, Cecilia attended Johns Hopkins University, where she was a Division III swimmer. Balancing the demands of a rigorous academic program with over 20 hours of weekly swim practice was no small feat, but she believes it was essential in shaping her work ethic.

Cecilia said that swimming taught her time management like nothing else could. “We had morning practices from six to eight, and then again in the afternoon, plus Saturdays. There wasn’t much free time, but it forced me to be disciplined and focused.”

This discipline carried over into her studies and eventually into her decision to pursue pharmacy. Despite considering medical school, Cecilia realized that pharmacy offered the perfect blend of patient care and scientific inquiry that she craved.

Cecilia’s roots in the Outer Banks run deep, and she’s committed to serving rural communities like the one she grew up in. Over the past summer, she worked at Sunshine Family Pharmacy, a small, community-oriented pharmacy in her hometown. It’s a place where a pharmacist can become an advocate and friend, providing comprehensive care for the entire person – not just focusing on their condition.

“In the winter, we have more time to chat with our regulars, really see how they’re doing,” Cecilia explains. “But in the summer, when the tourists flood in, it’s a whole different story. The number of prescriptions we fill doubles, and we’re interacting with people from all over the country—and even outside of it. It’s challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.”

Cecilia’s experience at Sunshine Family Pharmacy has given her a unique perspective on the challenges of rural health care, particularly when it comes to health literacy and affordability. She’s seen firsthand how difficult it can be for patients to understand and afford their medications, and she’s passionate about bridging that gap.

While Cecilia’s work at Sunshine Family Pharmacy keeps her connected to her rural roots, her position at Duke University’s Pediatric Inpatient Pharmacy has opened her eyes to a different aspect of patient care. Here, she works as a pharmacy technician, pushing a cart of medications through the hospital’s pediatric wing.

“I love pediatrics because of the care that’s given, not just to the patients, but to their families as well,” she says. “There’s this focus on preserving innocence, even in the most difficult situations. Seeing kids smile, drawing on the windows, or playing soccer from their wheelchairs—it’s those moments that really affirm my decision to pursue pharmacy.”

Her time at Duke has solidified her desire to specialize in pediatric pharmacy, and she’s already setting her sights on a residency after graduation. Her goal is clear: to become a clinical pharmacist in a hospital setting, where she can combine her love of medicine with her commitment to patient care.

As she prepares to enter her second year of pharmacy school, Cecilia is excited about what the future holds. She is an Eshelman School of Pharmacy Signature Scholar, having received the Raymond Blaine Yingling Scholarship in her first year. She’s also taken on leadership roles as President-Elect of the Pediatric Pharmacy Association and as a co-chair for the Student Senate Wellbeing Committee. But more than anything, she’s focused on becoming the best pharmacist she can be.

“My goal is to provide the best care possible, to really make a difference in my patients’ lives,” she says. Whether it’s in a small community pharmacy or a large hospital, Cecilia will continue to work to ensure that her patients understand their medications and feel supported in their care.

For Cecilia Cortez, the journey from the Outer Banks to UNC and Duke has been anything but linear, but it’s one that she wouldn’t trade for anything. As she continues to navigate the challenges of pharmacy school, she does so with the knowledge that she’s on the right path—one that leads directly to the heart of patient care.