Lupe Govea
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Who I am: I am a graduate from UCSF School of Pharmacy and first in my family to earn a doctorate degree, a patient advocate as a licensed pharmacist and clinical manager, a mentor, mentee and educator. I am a daughter, a sister to two siblings, and there was a time when I was wife and mother too.
Why I care: I was born in Hanford, CA but raised in Mexico. I spent the majority of my life moving between Mexico and the US. My parents always said “we will not have an inheritance to leave you behind, the only thing we can leave you with is your education…” My mother and father only completed the 3rd and 8th grade (as an adult) respectively. But they understood the importance of higher education. The drive, dedication, perseverance and strong work ethic they instilled in me helped me achieve my professional goal but the mentors I had along the way helped me overcome the many obstacles I faced. Who have I helped: In my roles as mentee, mentor, preceptor, educator and health professional I enjoy hearing others’ stories. We all bring a different view on life and we all have challenges we have had to overcome. I have mentored many students over the years ranging from junior high to professional school. Mentorship can look different depending on the needs, from helping navigate the undergraduate curriculum to conducting a mock interview. Several students I have touched have enrolled in professional programs including UCSF School of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Medicine. I feel joy in knowing that more students are pursuing and achieving their dream when they might not have considered the possibility of it. Why I am involved: I am involved because I understand the power that words of encouragement can have, but especially remember how powerful it was to hear personal stories of struggle and triumph against all odds. Those stories are the ones I thought of when I felt I wanted to give up. I believe we can all achieve anything we want in life with hard work, dedication and support from appropriate resources. |
Maria Rivas
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Who I am: I am a recent graduate with a doctoral degree from UCSF School of Pharmacy, an advocate for underserved communities, passionate about health disparities research, a believer in students’ dreams, a daughter, and sister to five bright brothers.
Why I care: I was raised in Zacatecas, Mexico during my elementary years. My mother then decided to bring us back to the US in order to give my brothers and me a better life. Although she only had a 4th grade education (now working on her high school diploma), she and my grandmother instilled in us a strong work ethic, dedication, and most of all to never give up no matter how hard something gets. Over the years, I have continued to come across students and families like my own and nothing invigorates me more than seeing someone just like me also trying to achieve their dreams. Who have I helped: As a young student, I counseled and advised my brothers and cousins so that they could also be competitive applicants for the university of their choice. Then during college as a Chemistry Workshop Facilitator for UCSD OASIS, I advised my students, anywhere from 15-30 students per quarter for 4 years, so that they could set themselves up for success. During pharmacy school, I advised lower classmen and future applicants, all of whom I still keep in touch with and help them in various aspects of their lives. I am paying it forward as I could not be where I am today without the support and belief of my family, friends, classmates, and mentors. Why I am involved: I am involved because you matter to me and I believe in the power of your dreams. I believe in setting high expectations for students, but also providing support. This is why I believe we all need DeepTok in order to overcome any challenges we may face as we get closer to realizing our dreams… believe me… I am still dreaming and achieving. #SiSePuede |
Nancy Nkansah
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Who I am: I am a medical student at Stanford University, licensed pharmacist, faculty at University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy for close to 10 years, wife, and mother. I earned my doctorate in pharmacy from Florida A & M University, completed a Pharmacy Practice and Primary Care Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and earned an MBA from Fresno State while on faculty at UCSF.
Why I care: I come from a family of immigrants where my father was the first in his village to attend college through the funding of a US Peace Corps member. My father focused on stressing the importance of education, a supportive friend network, mentorship, and proactively seeking out opportunities in life. I am only where I am now, due to others who have supported me along the way. I believe everyone should have some kind of support and find personal joy in each person I advise and help along the way. Who I have helped: Over the years, I have coached, advised, mentored, and taught students ranging from middle and high school, as well as community college, undergraduates, and graduate/professional school students. I am so proud of each of my students as they have all reached their goals in attending medical, pharmacy, nursing, and graduate school programs. In addition, I enjoy advising people on safe medication use and have appeared on the Dr. Oz Show several times as a pharmacy expert on safe medication use. Why I am involved: I’ve always loved to coach and cheer on hard workers. I believe in the power of the individual to achieve his or her goals with the right kind of positive support, advice, and resources. |