Pharmacy graduate Mayra Perez Chavac overcomes obstacles to follow God’s path.
Originally from Guatemala, Mayra Perez Chavac came to the United States to further her academic career and provide a better life for her son, who struggles with epilepsy and autism. She knew that as an emigrant and a single mother to a child with special needs, there would be obstacles to face, but she trusted God’s ability to provide a path forward. That path opened when Chavac was accepted into the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), where she will graduate in May.
Turning Trials into Testimony
One of the main reasons Chavac entered the pharmaceutical field is because she believes people need compassionate, clear guidance as they navigate their health journeys. She knows that, unfortunately, many patients fall victim to fear and misinformation when it comes to medications. Chavac hopes that, as a pharmacist, her experience with medicine through her journey with her son will help her not only provide excellent care, but also personal understanding to patients.
“I can now understand not just what the patients are going through, but also their families,” explained Chavac. “It’s hard seeing someone you love in a hospital bed, and now I can show them compassion.”
During her third year of pharmacy school, Chavac was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Chavac was torn about whether to continue her education, but felt motivated to show her son how faithful God can be in all circumstances. The supportive network of peers and faculty members at the pharmacy school helped Chavac through the personally devastating time following her diagnosis. The constant prayer, advice, and even brief economic support helped her balance her health, motherhood, and her studies.
“And even in the difficulties, I tried to be focused and just trust in God,” Chavac recalled.
A Heart with a Mission
The opportunity to participate in a medical mission trip to El Salvador drew Chavac to PBA’s program because she noticed the stark difference between the medical care available in the United States and the care available in places like her home in Guatemala. She knew she wanted to enroll at a school that would equip her with the knowledge and skills necessary to help underserved people across the globe.
In El Salvador, Chavac’s team visited approximately 500 people in hospitals, homes, and clinics over the course of one week. She was able to share both her medical expertise and faith to help heal people from the inside out. As she moves forward with her professional career, she looks forward to continuing to integrate faith into her work, praying for her patients, if not at the hospital, then at her own home.
The Comfort of Faith
Grounded through her faith and love for her son, Chavac has persevered through the challenges she faced in pursuing higher education. Now she is doing clinical rotations in Miami, which has given her an appreciation for the knowledge and skills she learned at PBA. In the future, Chavac hopes not only to treat patients but also to cure them by participating in biomedical research related to cancer, cognitive delays, or epilepsy.
Her advice to students going through a hard time is to find the person who motivates them. For Chavac, that is her son, whom she also views as an overcomer. Through prayer and faith, she is confident that she is on the path God designed for her to become the best mother and pharmacist possible.
“Believe God has everything under control,” Chavac said. “And if something happens, it’s because He wants you to grow.”
To learn more about the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, click here.
