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HRSA's Special Graduation Connection

Proud parents Robert and Lorraine Taylor with their daughter, Roberta (middle).

HRSA had its share of proud parents who attended graduation ceremonies this year. One of these was CAPT Robert Taylor, a pharmacist in the U.S. Commissioned Corps who works in HRSA's Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. Taylor was invited to present the keynote address at the May 13 graduation of his daughter, Roberta Michelle Taylor, and her classmates from Hampton University's School of Pharmacy in Hampton, Virginia. And HRSA helped make it possible. Seven years ago, a HRSA HCOP (Health Career Opportunities Program) grant from the Bureau of Health Professions provided the initial seed money to launch Hampton's School of Pharmacy – now 400 students strong and the 82nd school of pharmacy in the United States. The HCOP program was designed to increase the number of minorities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds in the health and allied health professions. The goal is to build a diverse health workforce that more ably serves the needs of medically underserved populations.

Taylor, who graduated from Howard University's School of Pharmacy in Washington, D.C., in 1979, presented the keynote address at the professional oath ceremony, which is equivalent to a commencement address. The pharmacy oath is a “mini-version” of the Hippocratic Oath, he explained. The “words of wisdom” in his address were meant especially for Roberta – one of only three graduates who went straight from high school into the six-year pharmacy school program (she received a special waiver because of her high academic scores on the entry exam).

Roberta knew from an early age that she wanted to enter a health care profession and initially considered physical therapy. But “she made her own decision to become a pharmacist,” CAPT Taylor is quick to add – a decision that clearly makes him very proud.

“I feel the normal pride any parent would feel,” he said. “But I'm even prouder that as a little girl she decided that she wanted to help others, and now HRSA has helped her do this.”

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