Student Spotlight: Meet Kaitlyn Coronel, Class of 2025
A student driven to reduce health disparities
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In our latest student spotlight, we caught up with Kaitlyn Coronel, a fourth year Pharm.D. student, who shares more about her drive to close healthcare gaps through pharmacy practice and why UC San Diego’s proximity to the border and focus on underserved populations made it the ideal pharmacy school for her career goals.
What drew you to pharmacy as a career?
As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I have witnessed firsthand the profound health disparities that families like mine often endure. Language barriers and a deeply rooted distrust in the healthcare system frequently prevent loved ones from seeking the care they need. This experience shaped my personal mission as a healthcare provider: to bridge these gaps and empower my community to achieve better health outcomes.
Pharmacy offers me a unique platform to fulfill this mission. As the most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address the broader social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health.
My passion lies in ambulatory care, where I can focus on preventative services and directly serve underserved populations. I also firmly believe that representation in healthcare matters. Growing up, I rarely saw Latina pharmacists, so I am excited to join their ranks and deliver culturally competent care to my community. Through this career, I aim to foster trust and improve access for all my patients, as well as contribute meaningfully to reducing health inequities.
Why did you choose UC San Diego for pharmacy school?
San Diego's proximity to the Mexican border makes it home to a large Latinx population, creating a diverse environment that aligns closely with my goal of serving my target patient demographic. The volunteer initiatives and community service programs at UC San Diego demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting chronically underserved populations, a mission that resonates with my personal values.
Additionally, UC San Diego’s smaller class sizes provide an opportunity for a more personalized and engaging educational experience. Its unique curriculum, which integrates collaboration with the medical school, fosters sustained partnerships with physicians early in our training—an invaluable advantage for developing interdisciplinary skills.
What advice do you have for students interested in pharmacy school?
Coronel at her White Coat Ceremony in 2021 with former dean James McKerrow.
Get involved in some capacity, whether it’s volunteering in a hospital pharmacy, participating in a pharmacy internship, or conducting pharmacologic research. These experiences can help you determine if pharmacy is the right path for you and may even give you an early sense of which field within pharmacy interests you.
Equally important, don’t lose sight of your outside interests and hobbies. Pharmacy school is demanding, but staying connected to the passions that make you who you are is essential for maintaining balance and personal fulfillment.
Has anything surprised you about pharmacy school?
One of the most surprising aspects of pharmacy school has been discovering just how diverse and versatile the field of pharmacy truly is. When most people think of pharmacy, they probably picture community or retail settings. However, there is a vast array of career opportunities that extend beyond these traditional roles. From clinical specialties like organ transplantation and oncology to areas such as public health and regulatory affairs, the field of pharmacy continues to expand. It has been inspiring to see how adaptable and impactful pharmacists can be in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare.
Coronel, centered, and friends at their favorite sushi restaurant
When you aren’t in school, what do you do for fun?
Eating is my favorite thing to do, so I love exploring new restaurants and trying different foods. I also enjoy going to concerts, especially those featuring Latino artists like Rauw Alejandro and Feid. No matter what I’m doing, the best moments are always the ones spent with friends and family.
Learn more about our nationally renowned Pharm.D. program
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