Scholarships expand one student’s world and ‘pharmacy vision’

Madison Humble ’27 arrived at the University of Cincinnati from Portsmouth, a town of about 20,000 residents along the Ohio River.

She will leave UC a global citizen prepared to help shepherd promising pharmaceuticals into treatments as a graduate of the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy.

“I want to pursue a career within the pharmaceutical industry where I can contribute to the development, evaluation and accessibility of innovative therapies, specifically for rare diseases,” she says, “helping people who may not have anything to help them at this time.”

Humble has been supported by several scholarships which have enabled her to pursue such opportunities as conducting research, attending professional conferences, and traveling abroad. Most importantly, she says, the scholarships enabled her to connect with students, pharmacists and healthcare professionals from around the world while exposing her to new cultures and ways of thinking. “These experiences have shaped my personal and professional growth while helping me develop a deeper appreciation for the global impact of healthcare.”

In Taiwan, she studied traditional Chinese medicine and its integration with Western healthcare practices. In Australia, she observed the country’s universal healthcare system and engaged with Aboriginal health initiatives. “Those experiences offered a new perspective on the pharmaceutical career as a whole,” she says. “Coming back to the United States, I found myself looking at patient care through a different lens.”

To donors, Humble offers her sincere thanks. “The impact of your support extends far beyond financial assistance. It has allowed me to focus on learning, take advantage of opportunities that enriched my education, and gain experiences that will influence my career for years to come."

She has had internships in managed care, community pharmacy and the hospital setting. She is also involved in Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO), Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and Student National Pharmaceutical Association, and Pharmbassadors.

“Our IPhO chapter does a really good job scheduling lunch meetings where people working throughout the pharmaceutical industry talk with us about their experiences,” she says. “One individual described how they were part of the process of trying to put a medication on the market.”

Saying she likes having options, Humble chose the Winkle College of Pharmacy in part because the curriculum provides exposure to multiple career paths. At the same time, they share a common denominator: whether anchored in a hospital, lab, pharmacy or neighborhood clinic, each is geared toward helping people and patients.

UC has also provided the hands-on experience that Humble sought. “I’d had a chance to shadow, but until you’re really in it, you don’t really know what it’s like,” she says.

Now in her fourth and final year, Humble has begun a series of nine rotations through the pharmaceutical space. Her first was in an intensive care unit where she joined the medical team on daily patient rounds. Being asked to make recommendations for the recovery of a patient with complex needs could be a bit scary, she admits, although pharmacy students are closely supervised throughout the learning process to ensure both a supportive educational environment and patient safety. Rotations at Procter & Gamble Co. and an inpatient hospital service followed. Humble looks forward to beginning her career in pharmacy in the spring of 2027.

Featured image at top: Madison Humble is a student in UC's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. Photo/UC Alumni Association