Ashley Hardebeck’s journey to pharmacy began not in a classroom, but on the front lines of patient care. Before entering pharmacy school, she worked in healthcare as both an EMT and a medical assistant—experiences that shaped her understanding of medicine and ultimately clarified her professional goals.
“I realized the common denominator in healthcare is drugs,” Hardebeck said. “More likely than not, if a healthcare provider is making a decision to improve the quality of life for their patient or to save it, it is through medication. I decided I wanted to be driving that ship instead of watching it pass by.”
Hardebeck earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health. As she began researching pharmacy programs that aligned with her academic background and prerequisite coursework, she discovered PCOM School of Pharmacy.
What ultimately set PCOM apart for Hardebeck was the personalized support she experienced even before enrolling.
“The ultimate decision to enroll at PCOM was heavily attributed to the effort and attention I received from the school during and after the application process,” she explained. “I knew from the consistent communication and follow-up I received from the school as an applicant that my academic journey as a student would be very well supported.”
Now a first-year PharmD student, Hardebeck describes the program culture as one of her favorite aspects of PCOM.
“The best thing about the PCOM PharmD program is that it truly feels like family,” she said. “I've heard this said about programs before and never believed school could evoke that feeling, but it's true. I not only feel supported myself, but I also feel motivated to do all I can to support others.”
That sense of support extends to her interactions with faculty, whom she credits as deeply invested in student success.
“The faculty of this program is invested in your success more than you are,” Hardebeck said. “Professors will meet with you every day if that's what it takes for you to understand the material. If you give them your time and effort, they will double it in return.”
As she progresses through the PharmD program, Hardebeck remains open to the wide range of career paths available in the profession.
“Wherever I end up, it is my goal to make a positive impact on both the lives of my patients as well as the healthcare community,” she said.
For those considering pharmacy school, Hardebeck offers advice grounded in her own experience.
“Jump in with both feet,” she said. “While the rigor of the program may be daunting, you will learn more than you ever have and in doing so be rewarded with knowledge that allows you to change lives.”
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