Source: UF College of Pharmacy
Nestled on the northwestern coast of Puerto Rico, the Lagunas sector of the Aguada community has always lacked something essential — a local independent pharmacy. For years, residents traveled 10 miles to a nearby town for medications, a major hurdle for those without reliable transportation.
That changed when David Mendoza Soto, Pharm.D., a 2022 graduate of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, opened Aguada’s first independent pharmacy last fall. Now, medications and even vaccinations are available in the pharmacy or delivered to residents’ doors, improving access to care and transforming community health.
“Aguada is where I was born and raised, and it’s been my parents’ home for over 50 years,” Mendoza Soto said. “Many of our patients have known me since I was a baby and watched me grow up here. Opening this pharmacy and giving back to the community that raised me is very special.”
Family bonds in pharmacy
Pharmacy is not just a profession for Mendoza Soto; it is part of his family’s legacy. His father worked for more than 30 years as a pharmacy technician in a neighboring town and, by age 16, Mendoza Soto joined him at the same pharmacy, alongside his two sisters. Watching his father care for patients and earn the community’s trust left a lasting impression. Though his father never had the means to attend college, he saw potential in his son and encouraged him to dream big.
“He told me, ‘You have the opportunity to create something bigger than this,’” Mendoza Soto said. “He wanted me to attend the best college of pharmacy and get a great education, and that is what led me to the UF College of Pharmacy.”
Mendoza Soto began his pharmacy studies in the fall of 2018, making him the first in his family to attend college. Being away from family for the first time brought moments of homesickness, but he soon found comfort in friendships with faculty and classmates in Gainesville, including four Puerto Rican students who joined his cohort. Together, the students established the Organización Latina de Estudiantes de Farmacia, or OLEF, a student organization committed to supporting and representing the Hispanic community.
Pursuing a pharmacy degree was just the beginning of Mendoza Soto’s journey toward his larger dreams. His ultimate goal was always to return to Puerto Rico and open his own pharmacy, where he could work alongside his father. He credits an elective course, Advanced Topics in Community Pharmacy Practice, taught by Stacey Curtis, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor and assistant dean for experiential education at the UF College of Pharmacy, for sparking his vision and putting him on the path to pharmacy ownership.
“UF opened my mind to more than what I could see in front of me,” Mendoza Soto said. “With my education came new opportunities to pursue a career in pharmacy.”
After graduating in 2022, Mendoza Soto moved back to Puerto Rico and began working at the pharmacy where his father had spent much of his career. While it was a key milestone in realizing his dream of working with his father, Mendoza Soto always kept his greater goal of owning a pharmacy in mind.
For the next two years, he balanced a full-time role with weekend shifts at other pharmacies. His dedication eventually paid off in the form of a down payment on a building for his future pharmacy.
Farmacia Hogar
Perched atop a hill with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, a historic four-story dance hall now houses Mendoza Soto’s dream. He and his family have transformed the space into Farmacia Hogar, a full-service pharmacy that opened on Thanksgiving weekend last year. The pharmacy offers vaccinations, prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, and skin care and personal health products.
With a modern design featuring wooden paneling and black and silver colors, the building’s aesthetics contrast with the traditional look of an American pharmacy. Windows at the back of the pharmacy overlook the distant ocean, creating an immaculate view for patients waiting for prescriptions or staff members who spend their days inside.
“Pharmacy technicians can have demanding and stressful jobs,” Mendoza Soto said. “The pharmacy was designed with windows overlooking the ocean so natural light pours into the building. When there are those stressful moments, you can look outside and be reminded how beautiful the world can be.”
For Mendoza Soto, the true beauty of his work lies in sharing it with family. Farmacia Hogar, meaning “home pharmacy” in English, is exactly that — a place where he fulfills his dream of working alongside his parents and two sisters.
“Home is where you feel safe and comfortable,” Mendoza Soto said. “Working 10-hour shifts with my parents has brought us closer than ever. While most kids spend less time with their parents as they grow older, I get to share every day with mine. That’s truly special.”
Within three months of opening, Farmacia Hogar has served more than 400 patients and fills around 80 prescriptions a day. Mendoza Soto remains deeply connected to the community that raised him. Many patients have his cell phone number, and he often takes after-hours calls or delivers medications on weekends.
Beyond running the business, Mendoza Soto uses social media to share vital health and medication information with his community. For him, it’s more than marketing; it’s an extension of community health. Looking ahead, he wants to transform the top floor of his building into a yoga studio, offering a space for exercise and mental well-being.
As Mendoza Soto looks around Farmacia Hogar, he sees more than shelves of medicine — he sees his family’s hard work, his community’s trust and his dream realized. But for him, the true reward isn’t just owning a pharmacy; it’s making a difference every day with the ones you love.
“This pharmacy will be our home for the foreseeable future,” Mendoza Soto said. “This will be the place where my family will all be together, and that’s the beauty of home.”