Program Details

Zakiya Mensah is a 24-year-old aspiring pharmacist from Chicago's south side, driven by a passionate commitment to serve her community.

After earning her bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University in 2023, where she pursued a challenging double major in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society, Zakiya returned to Chicago to work as a research technician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. Her dedication to her dreams led her to enroll at Malcolm X College this year to complete the prerequisite courses needed for pharmacy school. She also completed a pharmacy technician training program, successfully obtaining her pharmacy technician license in Illinois.

Through a meaningful connection facilitated by the Boys and Girls Club, Zakiya found an opportunity at La Rabida Children's Hospital to complete her pharmacy technician internship training. This experience at La Rabida Pharmacy has provided her with invaluable early exposure to her future career.

Throughout her journey, Zakiya has been fortunate to have unwavering support from Coach Shawn and Coach TJ from IYIP, who are always there for her whenever she needs guidance or encouragement. Their consistent presence and motivation have been instrumental in keeping her focused and inspired as she navigates the challenging path toward her career goals.

What drives Zakiya most is the opportunity to share the profound healing power of safe medication practices with children from the very community where she was raised. In each parent she encounters—those caring for their children and seeking the best possible care—she sees a reflection of her own role model: her mother. For Zakiya, being a contributor on the healthcare team supporting young patients on their journeys toward healing represents not just a career, but a calling that connects her past, present, and future.