Reaching Inwards and Outwards
At the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, where the rigor of academic pursuits leaves little room for extracurricular commitments, Laylia Yang stands out not just for her academic excellence, but for her strong dedication to community engagement. Through her four years in pharmacy training, Laylia made connections within the pharmacy community, across healthcare disciplines, and with underserved populations.
Building Interprofessional Bridges
For Laylia, community engagement transcends traditional definitions. "I worked with a really diverse set of communities," she explains. "Not only different interprofessional healthcare communities within the college but also underserved communities, primarily at the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic (PNC), and I've been really touched by the communities that I've worked with in rural health as well." The PNC is an interprofessional student-run free clinic serving underinsured and uninsured patients in Minneapolis.
Laylia’s experience working at the PNC has been particularly transformative for her. There, from collaborating closely with students in other disciplines, including medicine, nursing, social work, etc., she gained a holistic understanding of patient care that transcends the boundaries of pharmacotherapy.
Furthermore, Laylia particularly enjoys working collaboratively with occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) students, and appreciates what each profession brings. "I really enjoy what they can do holistically with the body, which is really different from what we do pharmacologically," she notes.
These interprofessional experiences have contributed immensely to shaping Laylia’s professional identity and building her professional capacity. During clinical rotations, she found herself becoming a trusted resource for drug information among medical interns and residents—a role her preceptors noted was uncommon for pharmacy students.
Community Engagement with Intentionality
For Laylia, community engagement transcends traditional definitions. "I worked with a really diverse set of communities," she explains. "Not only different interprofessional healthcare communities within the college but also underserved communities, primarily at the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic (PNC), and I've been really touched by the communities that I've worked with in rural health as well." The PNC is an interprofessional student-run free clinic serving underinsured and uninsured patients in Minneapolis.
In her educational journey across Minnesota, wherever Laylia found herself, she made a conscious effort to immerse herself in the local context and culture. Rather than limiting her educational experience to the University campus or clinical settings, she explored mom-and-pop shops, local cafés, thrift stores, and grocery markets unique to each area.
"It's been super impactful to see how different every part of the state is and what's available to everyone," she reflects. These experiences provided her with valuable insights into the resources available to patients in different communities—knowledge that directly informed her approach to patient care in those locations.
Laylia's motivation goes beyond professional development, as she intentionally strives for personal growth. "At the end of the day, we spend so much time working with so many different kinds of people. I like to get to know the worldviews of others so that I can expand my own," she shares. "One of my strengths is empathy, and I really like to hear other people's stories.”
Mental Health Advocacy: A Cornerstone Commitment
Perhaps Laylia's most significant contribution has been her leadership in mental health initiatives. As the Psychiatric and Neurologic Collaborative coordinator, she championed the reintroduction of Mental Health First Aid training to the college after its COVID-induced hiatus.
"I came in really interested in psych and neuro as well as pharmacogenomics, but I knew I always wanted to have some engagement leadership-wise," Yang explains. Recognizing the prevalence of mental health crises among peers, she partnered with faculty member Dr. Palombi to advocate for comprehensive mental health training.
Under Laylia's leadership, about 600-700 participants—including pharmacy students, other healthcare students, faculty, practicing pharmacists, and even community members who discovered the program online—received Mental Health First Aid certification. The impact extended beyond mere numbers; Laylia established an honors project for fourth-year pharmacy students to document how they implemented these skills during their rotations.
"I found it so heartwarming that they found it helpful," she says, speaking of student participation. "I think it gets better when it's an optional thing, but I love it being a required thing for students because you get a really good baseline."
Expanding Educational Opportunities
Laylia's community-building efforts extended to creating educational opportunities for her peers. She helped develop training modules on ethical community engagement alongside pharmacy peers and medical students. With this curriculum, approximately 400 students from various healthcare disciplines have received training in Cultural and Structural Humility, and Health Equity as they prepare to volunteer with the PNC.
Laylia collaborated with the Minnesota Epilepsy Foundation to obtain Seizure Smart training for about 40 students and promoted attendance at conferences hosted by the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. Understanding the financial constraints many students face, she took particular pride in securing funding to sponsor students' conference attendance. "I love being able to provide those opportunities, especially for those that may not have all the finances for it," Yang shares. "I know as a student, finances are really tough."
Her teaching activities extended to Basic Life Support instruction and serving as a teaching assistant for foundational pharmacy courses. As a TA for Foundations of Pharmaceutical Care and Care Planning courses, Laylia emphasizes the importance of considering social determinants of health alongside medications. "It's not just one thing," she stresses. "It's those social determinants of health as well as so many different impacts from their whole walk of life that affects patients."
Looking Forward: From Student to Practitioner
Laylia has secured a PGY1 residency position at the Madison VA Hospital, with hopes to pursue a PGY2 specialty in mental health—a natural extension of her longstanding interest in psychiatric pharmacy. She plans to remain in the VA system, valuing its continuity and opportunities for patient care.
Precepting future pharmacy students ranks high among her professional aspirations. "I want to be able to give back to students so that they never have a negative interaction with me as a preceptor," she explains. "I want to tailor their experience to what they want."
Laylia even envisions potentially working internationally, perhaps in Thailand, to gain perspective on pharmacy practice outside the Western context. "It's so interesting to see those cultural differences, and it goes beyond language barriers as well," she notes.
Having spent eight years in the University of Minnesota system—four on the Dulth Campus for undergrad, and the Twin Cities for Pharmacy School, Laylia feels a particular commitment to giving back to the institution that shaped her. With her brother currently enrolled in the pharmacy program, her connection to the student experience remains strong. "How can I support you?" she asks rhetorically of future students. "When I went through it, I didn't have too many [mentors]. So it's like, I want to be able to give back in that way."
To the Incoming Student . . .
For incoming pharmacy students wondering how to engage with communities despite their demanding academic schedules, Laylia offers pragmatic advice: start small!
"When it comes to community engagement, it looks so different in so many different ways," she counsels. "It doesn't have to be anything big—it can simply be going to a local store, chatting with somebody."
She recommends connecting with fellow students—the "Pharmily," —and considering volunteer experiences at clinics serving underserved populations. These settings provide valuable opportunities to build interprofessional relationships while addressing community needs.
Above all, Laylia emphasizes self-care. "Take care of yourself," she advises, "and you'll never know what kind of networking opportunities you get by just connecting with your community members."
Through her multifaceted community engagement, Laylia Yang exemplifies how the pharmacy profession extends far beyond dispensing medications. Her journey illustrates how building meaningful connections—with patients, colleagues, and communities—enriches both personal development and professional practice, creating a foundation for a lifetime of collaboration for service and leadership in healthcare.
