DES MOINES, Iowa, June 19, 2020 — Esmeralda Flores is currently a senior at Mercy College of Health Sciences earning her Bachelor of Science in Health Science. Flores was recently accepted into Drake University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program starting in the fall, and will simultaneously work on earning both degrees.
Flores is able to complete her degrees simultaneously through a unique partnership between Mercy College and Drake University. This agreement specifically enables students to complete their last year at Mercy College by spending their last two semesters at Drake, which enables them to apply credits to the first two semesters of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Drake. Students then transfer those credits back to Mercy College to graduate with their bachelor’s degree in health sciences.
Flores is originally from Des Moines and chose Mercy College because she wanted to go to a tight-knit school to build stronger relationships with others with whom she shares common interests.
“The staff and faculty were also a big reason I chose Mercy College because everyone was kind, welcoming, and helpful,” stated Flores. “What drew me to PharmD was the connection between the chemistry of drugs and medications and the human body. I like understanding how our bodies react to different chemicals and comprehending drug interactions. I have always loved science and throughout high school, I was a fascinated with biology and chemistry, which lead to pharmacology.”
Mercy College Director of Campus Ministry, Bo Bonner, and Esmeralda Flores attend the Mercy UN Justice Advocacy Program in New York City in May 2019.
Flores’ plans for the future include finding a job working at a pharmacy, or potentially a counseling pharmacy.
Mercy College’s Bachelor of Health Sciences is considered a pre-health profession program meaning students are prepared for advanced healthcare degrees in areas such as medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy, pharmacology, veterinary medicine, and more. Mercy College is now enrolling for the fall semester.
About Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is the only private Catholic college in central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Located in downtown Des Moines, Mercy College prepares graduates for service and leadership in the healthcare community with a wide range of bachelor, associate, and certificate programs. Visit www.mchs.edu or call (515) 643-3180 to learn how you can start Charting Your Course.
