Sachio Hunter may not yet know just how his career will evolve, but there’s one thing he can be sure of: His role as a mentor to other Black men in pharmacy will leave a mark on his life, as well as those who come after him.
The third-year University of Florida College of Pharmacy student would say mentorship runs in his family. Hunter has a firm set of footsteps to follow — those of his father, Horace Hunter Jr., a member of the UF College of Pharmacy class of 1983.
“My dad’s journey has inspired me to focus on addressing health disparities. I still remember visiting the college as a young man and seeing his class picture on the wall; he was one of just two Black students,” Sachio Hunter said. “His example showed me that this college and this profession can be a place for Black men. That inspired me to be that same example for those coming after me.”
Following his father’s lead
Though Sachio Hunter had contemplated a career in pharmacy long before his acceptance to the University of Florida, his father pursued the field following an “aha” moment in his first undergraduate year.

“I was originally studying the prerequisites for mechanical engineering at UF, and my friends — who all came from Fort Pierce, Florida — were doing medical or dentistry tracks. My friends told me how they wanted to join those fields so they can go back to make a difference in our town of 38,000,” Horace Hunter said. “So, I passed by the College of Pharmacy, went inside, and ended up talking with a faculty member about my options. I applied and was accepted.”
After graduating from the UF College of Pharmacy, Horace Hunter launched a career in clinical pharmacy — first in his hometown of Fort Pierce, then Boca Raton, and finally back in Fort Pierce.
Among his many proud memories, one innovative achievement remains top of mind: conceiving and launching a satellite pharmacy in the operating room of Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in Fort Pierce in the mid-1990s. Hunter scrubbed in alongside surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and others to reduce medication-related errors during procedures and assure proper dosages for each patient.
“It was the greatest feeling, going home after a day in the operating room, knowing that I helped save someone’s life,” Hunter said.
Lessons that last decades
When reflecting on his experiences as a UF pharmacy student, one lesson left such an impact on Horace Hunter that he’s imparted it to his son. He recalled the day when he attempted to balance trying out for UF’s track team in the 400-meter event with making it to a pharmacy exam on time.
When Hunter arrived 15 minutes late to the exam room and the professor gave him a failing score, his class grade dropped from an A to a B. Rather than allowing the moment to discourage him, Hunter used the episode to reinforce his commitment to his pharmacy studies.
“At first, I was really dejected. It just stuck with me for some reason,” Hunter recalled. “Now I tell Sachio, ‘Don’t ever leave class, and don’t have any hard feelings with a professor being stringent. If you fail the test, it’s not the end of the world. Just keep working hard.’”
Sachio Hunter said this moment in his father’s history continues to inspire him to do his best and give himself grace for any missteps along the way.
“Academics were something my dad prided himself in, and when he failed one exam, he felt like it really fueled him to be even better and to pursue even more opportunities in pharmacy,” Hunter said. “I feel like that’s the mindset with which I came into pharmacy school: Any failure that I do have, I treat as a learning experience and an opportunity for me to bounce back better and stronger. That’s something that I’ve tried to implement in every experience I’ve had in pharmacy school.”
Creating a bright future for all
These days, Horace Hunter is winding down his four-decade career, though he is frequently tapped by colleagues for guidance culled from his long tenure. When he’s not talking through a pharmacy issue on the phone, he’s trying to make a little time to sit back and reflect on all he has achieved, not to mention marvel at everything his son will accomplish in the future.

“My proudest moment is when Sachio told me he wanted to go to pharmacy school at the University of Florida,” Hunter said. “It’s nice to know, now that I’m ending my career, a legacy is starting with Sachio, who will continue protecting and caring for patients and their medications.”
Sachio Hunter, who holds numerous leadership positions — including the class of 2026 student council president, the Phi Lambda Sigma vice president, a UF College of Pharmacy student ambassador, and a UF Health Shands Hospital pharmacy intern — said his father is a source of guidance as he navigates his rigorous training. He may pursue a fellowship or residency in pediatrics or health care administration, followed by a role in clinical pharmacy or industry.
“Watching my dad thrive as a clinical pharmacist, from running his own business after pharmacy school to eventually transitioning into the hospital setting, opened my eyes to the possibilities this career path offers,” Sachio Hunter said. “It has inspired me to aim even higher, pushing myself to achieve more and surpass the goals he set. I am always a mentor. I want to show other Black students that pharmacy is a path to success and leadership for us.”