Honoring the Journey: First-Generation PharmD Students Persevere, Succeed

Nearly 40 percent of students at the UCSF School of Pharmacy are first in their families to graduate from college. In honor of National First-Gen Day on Nov. 8, read about our trailblazers and what their determination to succeed brings to our school’s diverse community.

Wendy Rivera

PharmD Class of 2026

Growing up in Lawndale, California, Wendy Rivera did not see health care experts in hospitals who looked like her – an experience that has been a driving force in her decision to pursue a pharmacy career.

“I understand the struggles and inequities that patients experience,” Rivera said. “If people were to see a Latina taking care of them in a high-stress situation, they would be more likely to go to hospitals to get care. There should be more medical experts that look like me or that have similar backgrounds to patients, so that patients will seek the care they deserve.”

Rivera is now a second-year student in the PharmD program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she is also actively engaged as president of the Associated Students of the School of Pharmacy.

Also a pharmacy intern at Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Rivera plans to seek a residency in a critical care or intensive care unit after graduation. She strives to become a key member of an interprofessional team determining the best care for diverse patients.

Rivera’s exposure to medical education began at age 4 when she would accompany her mother, studying to become a medical assistant, to trade school. While her mother learned about human anatomy, Rivera kept herself busy with coloring on sheets of paper. At home after preparing dinner, her mother spent evenings doing homework so she could complete her training.

Her mother’s work ethic served as a powerful example for Rivera in her goal to become an independent, financially secure professional who overcomes cultural, social and gender stereotypes.

“My mom is my biggest support system and role model,” Rivera said. “She was always encouraging me and telling me ‘you got this.’”

As she approached high school graduation, her family’s household income qualified her for the University of California (UC) application fee waiver, which she used to apply to as many UC campuses as she could. She navigated the elaborate college application process and successfully earned admission to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

At UCLA, Rivera said it was a culture shock to sit in large lecture halls where she was the only Mexican American student, which motivated her more to succeed. Rivera learned how to manage a variety of new situations – from composing her first professional email to her professor to networking with students – on her way to completing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics.

Her advice to other first-gen students: “Being first-gen means being courageous to pursue your own passions without knowing what to expect,” she said. “Don’t compare yourself to your peers. With the right work ethic, passion and determination, you’ll reach your goals.”

Celeste Noelle Bustria

PharmD Class of 2025

Celeste Noelle Bustria, a third-year PharmD candidate, embodies the resilience and dedication that often define first-generation journeys. At 24, Bustria, a first-generation Filipina American, reflects on how family, cultural heritage and a transformative personal experience inspired her to pursue a career in pharmacy.

Coming from a family deeply rooted in health care, Bustria knew early on that her path would involve science and service.

“I felt drawn to health care,” she said. “I had an early fascination with it, partly because Filipinos have a longstanding presence in health care, especially in nursing. My mom was an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse working long hours through COVID, and I deeply admire her strength.”

At just 15, Bustria’s life took a pivotal turn when her 5-year-old brother was diagnosed with leukemia. “He’s healthy now,” she smiles, “but that was a challenging time. I was grieving his loss of a normal childhood, and I was stepping into a caregiving role at the same time. I had to learn medication names quickly, like Zofran for nausea, and I had to understand the effects of steroids.”

This intimate exposure to medicine and caregiving sparked her interest in pharmacy, as she observed the impact medication had on her brother’s quality of life. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in toxicology at University of California, Berkeley.

Now at UCSF, Celeste finds herself drawn to the fast-paced environment. “I like the detective work that comes with acute care, piecing together complex patient stories to stabilize them,” she said. “In a way, navigating my life as a first-gen student prepared me for this high-stress setting.”

She’s wrapping up her hospital operations rotation at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center and will next start an ICU rotation at UCLA. Looking ahead, she aspires to pursue a residency in critical care, infectious disease, or transplant.

“Being first-generation myself, I’ve seen how language barriers, cultural differences, and sometimes hesitancy toward the medical field can impact decisions,” Bustria says. “My background has taught me to take a step back, remember that every patient has a unique story, and approach care with an open mind. I want to connect with patients, to be that provider who might help them understand enough to prevent another hospital visit.”

When asked about her journey, she shared a powerful metaphor: “Being first-gen feels like standing on a mountain built by the efforts and sacrifices of those who came before you. You see the horizon, a future they helped you reach. It’s challenging to be the first, but it’s something to be proud of. I hope other students will feel motivated by that pride.”

Prabhnoor Sidhu

PharmD Class of 2027

From an early age, Prabhnoor Sidhu was fascinated by how medications treat and manage diseases, including his mother’s diabetes for which she relies on insulin.

“I was intrigued about how this small vial of what appears to be water was saving her life,” Sidhu said. “What’s the process behind that? It drove me to seek the answers to questions. I find beauty in pharmaceutics.”

Sidhu’s journey from that curiosity to the UCSF School of Pharmacy, where he is a first-year PharmD student, has been a testament to his hard work and determination.

When he and his twin sister started kindergarten, neither spoke English. They didn’t understand what was happening around them or what people were saying. They had to learn and adapt quickly.

Meanwhile his mother worked multiple jobs to raise Sidhu and his sister, and to send money to her siblings in India so they could attend school. While his mother was working, his maternal grandmother, or “nani,” helped raise him. They never let him miss a day of school or skip homework, he said, despite his juggling classes, home life and, later, college applications.

“My mom never had a college degree. She emphasized education to get out of the cycle of blue-collar jobs and to have a meaningful career for your whole life,” Sidhu said. “She told me, ‘Do something that will change lives.’ For us, that is health care.”

At UC Merced, where he majored in public health, Sidhu found camaraderie among the large community of fellow first-gen students. Although he struggled academically his first semester, he persevered and flourished. He joined student clubs focused on public health and volunteered at community events where he provided blood pressure screenings and enrolled residents in Medi-Cal. He took summer courses so he could reduce his tuition and reach his career goals faster. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years.

Today, Sidhu is following his passion for pharmaceutics at the UCSF School of Pharmacy while preparing to begin a 2.5-year pharmacy internship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in December.

He plans to pursue a career in critical care pharmacy.

“In our religion, ‘kirat karo’ means to give back and serve the greater good,” Sidhu said. “Growing up, I heard that all the time. Choosing a health care degree resonates with how I grew up. As health care workers, you do so much selfless service.”