MinerAlert
MinerAlert
June 2026
By Tanya Torres, ’19, ’21
Sarah Salazar’s path toward healthcare began early, long before she enrolled in pharmacy school at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. In high school, she attended Silva Health Magnet in the Jefferson program with classmates who shared her curiosity about science. When it came time to choose a university, she considered costs and opportunities at other colleges, including a full scholarship to Baylor University, but she ultimately decided to remain in El Paso. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ offered flexibility, affordability, support and a sense of community she knew she would not find elsewhere.
Before pharmacy school, Salazar earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences with a biomedical concentration in 2017. She later joined the second graduating class of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s School of Pharmacy in 2022.
She said, “I chose ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ to stay close to my family. My mom is someone I care for and I have other close family as well. I wanted to see how she was doing with her health.”
Finding Confidence Through Community
She remembers how people talked about ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ when she was younger.
Salazar said, “We all kind of had a mentality of, well, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ might be a place to start.” But the financial realities of higher education ultimately shaped her choice.
“Seeing how expensive some universities can get, especially when they are private, and if there is no financial help or scholarships, it can be a toll financially and mentally,” she said.
As she moved deeper into her studies, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ became the place where she learned how to push through challenges and trust her abilities. She built relationships with classmates who were also trying to survive the workload.
“I made a lot of great friends, some that I still talk to this day,” she said.
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s focus on the border community shaped the way she understood patient care.
She said, “At ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, we were able to incorporate the diversity of our border community, the culture in general and Spanish language integration. We have medical Spanish, and it helps you understand how even the smallest things can build a relationship, depending on your practice setting.”
Mentorship and a Career Built on Connection
Her path into pharmacy began while she was working as a technician, a role that introduced her to the field but also came with uncertainty. She recalled taking a chance despite not fully knowing what to expect and lacking confidence early on. It wasn’t until pharmacy school, she said, that mentorship began to shape how she saw herself.
Those experiences helped her recognize her own potential and the ways people can hold themselves back. “We are the ones that limit ourselves. We are the ones that self-sabotage.”
One mentor in particular changed her trajectory. Dr. Emily Christenberry played a pivotal role in encouraging her to pursue higher education and in helping her navigate self-doubt. “She sparked a passion in me to continue forward and helped me understand my internal struggles and that I am capable of great things.”
After completing her postgraduate residencies, Salazar stepped into her current role as a clinical pharmacist at Rio Grande Pharmacy on the West Side of El Paso. In this position, she values the ability to build meaningful relationships with patients and provide more personalized care.
“I enjoy the flexibility to interact with patients, do home visits, build relationships and manage their care. You are not just filling prescriptions. It is getting to know how I can help with additional services,” she said.
Salazar works closely with providers, monitors chronic conditions and helps patients navigate medication coverage. Her work with students is equally important, as she takes on a mentorship role to help them understand the breadth of opportunities in the field.
“I am able to take on students, spend more time with them as a preceptor, and show them the different things that can be done in an independent pharmacy,” Salazar said.
That commitment to mentorship is what ultimately brought her back to ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. After completing her second year of pharmacotherapy residency, she felt a strong pull to support the next generation of pharmacists and keep students rooted in the community.
“After I did my second year of pharmacotherapy residency with ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, it sparked something in me to help the future generation of pharmacists,” she said.
Life Beyond the White Coat
Salazar said that representation matters to her and that she wants to be an example to “mujeres in farmacia” and women in STEM.
She said, “How many Latinas can you say are able to be at a level of higher education where they have a doctorate? It is hard, but it is not impossible.”
Salazar’s determination allowed her to finish her education and build a meaningful career, and she emphasized the importance of not only “keeping your faith” but also holding on to your identity.
She said, “No matter what your struggles are, if you want to continue your education, you will find a way. Success is not linear. We just zigzag to get to the same point.”