College of Pharmacy

Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Taylor Benavides, PharmD

October 14, 2022 • Uncategorized

Taylor Benavides, PharmD

Assistant Professor in Pharmacotherapy

Hometown: Breckenridge, TX

With a specialization in internal medicine, Dr. Benavides practices at Medical City Arlington and teaches in the cardiology/renal and infectious diseases courses in the pharmacy program. He is the faculty advisor for the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association (NHPA) student organization. 

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

It means taking time to admire and honor individuals from whom we received our identity and culture. From the world-renowned to our family members, they were—and continue to be—the foundation for our inspiration and growth.

How are you inspired by your heritage in your work?

My heritage allows me to better care for patients with a similar background. Because I am more familiar with their culture and barriers to optimal care, I am better able to advocate for my patients when making medical decisions.

What is your proudest moment in your career as a pharmacist?  

I was performing a medicine reconciliation for a patient. While collecting her medication list and assessing her adherence to each medication, she reported she did not take any of her medications. When asked about her barriers to adherence, she became tearful. She reported she didn’t know what her medications were for and was scared to take them, as she was recovering from an addiction and was worried that they would be addictive. I explained how each of her medications worked, their indication, and that her medications had no addiction potential. She thanked me profusely. This interaction with her reinforced in me that patient education can be as impactful as the medications themselves, and taking a little more time to talk with a patient when needed can make a big difference in their well-being.