Student Spotlight: Rakchhya Uprety, Third-Year Ph.D. Student

 

Advancing Health Outcomes Through Pharmaceutical Research

As we look toward the future, the College of Pharmacy continues to spotlight students whose work is shaping the pharmaceutical research industry and advancing patient outcomes. One such scholar is Dr. Rakchhya Uprety, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Health Outcomes Research at Howard University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP). 

Born and raised in Nepal, Dr. Uprety grew up watching her father manage his pharmaceutical distribution business. His dedication to improving access to medications in their community inspired her to pursue a career in pharmacy. That early exposure to the field sparked a passion not only for patient care, but also for the systems that influence how care is delivered. 

Dr. Uprety earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in India in 2019. She applied to continue her academic journey at Howard University’s College of Pharmacy, determined to deepen her expertise in health outcome research. Though separated from her family by multiple time zones and long flights home, she knew the opportunity to study at a university with a strong commitment to inclusivity, research, and community impact was the right decision.  Despite the distance, her family was very proud of this opportunity as this would make her the first person in her family to earn a PhD degree.  

From her first day at HUCOP, Dr. Uprety found herself surrounded by faculty who believed in her potential. She met Dr. Mary K Awuonda, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, in her Biostatistics course and was immediately inspired by her leadership, later asking her to serve as her advisor. Dr. La’Marcus Wingate, Associate Professor, provided consistent guidance in pharmacoeconomics, offering thoughtful feedback on her publications and research development. Dr. Adaku Ofoegbu, Assistant Professor, has remained a pillar within the Ph.D. program, offering mentorship, encouragement, and reassurance throughout her academic journey. 

She also speaks highly of Dr. Earl Ettienne, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs & Industrial Partnerships, whom she describes as “inspirational and approachable,” for continuously encouraging students to aim higher and pursue opportunities with confidence. At Howard, collaboration is not competitive, it is collective. As the community often says, “Onwards and Upwards,” and no student is left behind when opportunities arise. 

Now in her third year, Dr. Uprety has translated her academic knowledge into meaningful community impact. In the summer of 2025, she completed an internship with Voices for Second Chance, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that supports returning citizens as they reintegrate into society from incarceration. Through this experience, she worked with individuals affected by substance use and mental health disorders, gaining firsthand insight into the gaps in treatment continuity after incarceration. 

In addition to her academic and community work, Dr. Uprety has taken important steps toward advancing her professional credentials in the United States. She successfully cleared the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and is currently in the process of becoming a licensed pharmacist in the U.S. She is already a registered pharmacist in Nepal, a milestone that reflects her longstanding commitment to the profession. 
 
Her scholarly productivity continues to grow. In 2025 alone, she published two peer-reviewed journal articles and presented three conference papers. Her published works include “Pandemic Telehealth Utilization among Ambulatory Care Diabetes Patients Managed at an Urban Teaching Hospital in Washington, DC,” featured in Telemedicine and e-Health; “The Influence of Motivation and Memorable Message Receipt on the Exercise and Eating Habits of Black Women”; “Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life and Medication Adherence in Tuberculosis Patients,” published in the International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences; and “A Case Report on Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Severe Anemia,” published in the International Journal of Science and Research (Volume 9, Issue 9). 

Her passion for research and education continues to open doors. Dr. Uprety received a competitive travel grant from ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research to attend the organization’s conference in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 9–12, 2025. There, she presented her poster titled, “Cost-effectiveness of Sulopenem vs. Ciprofloxacin for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A Decision Analysis,” completed in collaboration with Dr. Wingate and Faith Ogini, a fellow graduate student. Sharing her work on an international stage reinforced the global relevance of her research and allowed her to expand her professional network. 

 

A piece of advice from Dr. Uprety: 
“Never be afraid to ask questions, reach out to others, and expand your network. You never know what opportunity lies ahead.” 

Through every step of her journey, Dr. Uprety remains grounded in her purpose to improve patient outcomes by influencing the economic and policy decisions that shape healthcare systems. She looks forward to working in the pharmaceutical industry as a Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) professional after graduation. 

 

Her journey is a another example of how HUCOP students encounter new opportunities to expand their knowledge and expertise, ultimately finding their place across the many fields within pharmacy. The future of pharmacy is bright, and students at Howard University College of Pharmacy continue to lead the way through innovation, research, and service.