PharmD graduate fuels a passion for community pharmacy

Arturo Herrera 2023Arturo Herrera II began working in a pharmacy as a cashier in high school. He fell in love with the community pharmacy setting and enjoyed a career as a licensed pharmacy technician for a little more than 20 years with companies like Eckerd, Target, Albertsons and MedSavers Pharmacy.

“The passion for community pharmacy never left,” Herrera said. “I felt that if I didn’t pursue pharmacy school, I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

It wasn’t an easy decision or transition. Herrera, a single father of a now 17-year-old daughter, uprooted his life from Austin to pursue a PharmD at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

“Despite the hurdles, with motivation and determination, anything is possible,” said Herrera, who despite being older than the average pharmacy student, believes it’s never too late to fulfill a dream. “I’ve always said the only thing that can stop someone is themselves.”

His first semester was the toughest, adjusting to a rigorous curriculum and learning how to study again.

“Just a couple of exams in, however, I felt that proud moment when it hit me that I did belong here, and I was exactly where I was supposed to be,” he said.

Despite tending to his family and working throughout school in retail pharmacies such as Tom Thumb, CVS and HEB, he still found time to be involved as a student ambassador and was the founding co-president of the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association. Earlier this month, he was awarded the NHPA Leadership Award for Brilliance and Community Excellence and the Outstanding Graduate Award for his involvement in the National Community Pharmacists Association student chapters.

“What I’ve enjoyed the most about my experience here at HSC is the connections I’ve made with so many people along the way,” Herrera said. “Not only with classmates from my cohort but also from other cohorts.”

He also established connections with the faculty. “There have been multiple professors who have shared their personal cell phone numbers just to go that extra mile and make a difference for myself and other students,” Herrera said.

He looks back on pharmacy school with an appreciation for his experiences in interprofessional learning. “All the interaction and communication required with other health care professionals throughout the curriculum will help tremendously in my upcoming career as a pharmacist,” he said.

Herrera’s community rotation this year at HEB Pharmacy was his favorite, which aligned with and continued to fuel his passion.

“Not only was it a great and informative rotation, but it also resulted in an immediate job offer from that store as a technician, in addition to a separate job offer for a pharmacist-in-training position for post-graduation,” he added.

His next steps include studying for the licensure exams “like it is a full-time job” and enjoying the beginnings of a long career in community pharmacy.

Recent News

Chris Ray
  • Community
|Apr 29, 2025

Experienced academic leader becomes UNTHSC’s senior vice president and provost

Christopher Ray, PhD, on Wednesday was named the new senior vice president and provost at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Ray, who had served as acting provost since February, was hired in 2023 as UNTHSC’ deputy provost. Ray succeeds Charles Taylor, PharmD, wh...
Img 2473
  • Community
|Apr 29, 2025

TCOM's Refugee Health Initiative receives grant

Refugees who enter the United States are almost all seeking a better opportunity for themselves and their families, but oftentimes don’t know where to turn to get basic needs, food, clothing and health care. That’s where the Refugee Health Initiative student interest group at The University of N...
Best Place for Working Parents UNTHSC 2025
  • Community
|Apr 25, 2025

UNTHSC named as Best Place for Working Parents® for fifth year

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has once again earned the designation of a Best Place for Working Parents®, marking the fifth year it has received the honor. The designation recognizes UNTHSC’s continued investment in policies that support working parents, inclu...
Dennis Burns
  • Community
|Apr 24, 2025

CHRO Dennis Burns recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review

Dennis Burns, assistant vice chancellor and chief human resources officer at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, was recently named to the Becker’s Hospital Review “CHROs and chief people officers to know” list, which honors human resources professionals who exce...