Alumni Spotlight: Cecil Buguis (Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory Science)

Before he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati Online, Cecil Buguis already had years of medical laboratory experience under his belt. He still wanted to learn more.

As Laboratory Director of Winkler County Hospital District, Cecil oversees daily laboratory operations in a rural setting. He’s passionate about precision medicine—a type of care that’s personalized to each patient’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle—and improving access to care in overlooked areas.

When he discovered UC’s online Master’s in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare (PGx), he knew that he’d found the right path forward.

We spoke with Cecil about his experience as an online pharmacy student and how UC’s program “transformed” his health care career. 

Cecil’s professional background spans multiple areas within health care, including clinical diagnostics, quality improvement, and health care leadership. Along the way, the world of pharmacy piqued his interest—specifically how medications are selected, monitored, and individualized for each patient.

“Throughout my career, I have seen that patients receiving the same medication and dose can experience very different therapeutic responses or adverse effects,” Cecil said. 

When a treatment plan involves medication, this difference in effectiveness can have a huge impact on patients—both positive and negative. From here, the study of pharmacogenomics originated. It’s now a newer but vital field within the pharmacy industry, and it has become an integral part of Cecil’s professional practice.

His motivation for pursuing UC’s PGx program?  

“It provides the scientific and clinical framework needed to translate genetic information into safer, more precise, and more patient-centered treatment decisions,” he said.

According to Cecil, UC’s program stood out due to its academic rigor, faculty expertise, and online format. He wanted a curriculum that was highly specialized and emphasized the connections between topics like genetics, pharmacology, clinical interpretation, drug development, and ethics. At the same time, he also needed a program that would allow him to continue working full time.

“I was looking for more than a general genomics degree,” he added. “I wanted a program that would help me understand how pharmacogenomic evidence can be evaluated and applied within actual health care systems.”

As mentioned above, Cecil went in search of a rigorous education and found it at UC Online. The rigor didn’t begin and end with his coursework; Cecil found it easy to take what he had learned offline, into the real world, and apply those lessons at work.

“The program's emphasis on practical assignments, literature evaluation, project development, and real-world implementation made it especially relevant to my responsibilities as a laboratory leader and healthcare professional,” Cecil explained. 

Grant-writing, project management, strategic thinking, collaboration—these are just several skills that Cecil strengthened throughout his graduate program. What he learned wasn’t confined to the study of pharmacogenomics, either. His coursework sharpened his ability to identify measurable outcomes; improve clinical workflows; and offer strong clinical recommendations. 

As for collaborating across laboratory medicine, pharmacy, and other areas, Cecil named this as “an essential skill for implementing personalized health care.” 

But for Cecil, pursuing his master’s degree is about more than skill-building or advancement. Ultimately, his experience at UC has helped him make a bigger impact within the communities he serves. 

“The most meaningful aspect of pharmacogenomics is its potential to move healthcare away from a one-size-fits-all approach,” he shared. “I’m especially interested in the responsible implementation of pharmacogenomics in rural and underserved settings, where access to specialists may be limited and preventing therapeutic failure or an adverse drug event can have a major impact.”

Even so, studying pharmacogenomics has also broadened his perspective as a laboratory director. 

“The program has reinforced that genetics is only one component of clinical decision-making,” Cecil continued. “It must be integrated with medications, comorbidities, laboratory data, ancestry, environmental factors, and patient preferences.”

Cecil’s experience as a UC student was transformative, but it wasn’t without its challenges.

His regular routine consists of “a demanding laboratory leadership position, family responsibilities, and additional professional commitments,” so asynchronous learning was non-negotiable for Cecil.

After seeing that UC checked this box, he wasn’t disappointed by his experience. 

“The asynchronous schedule gives me flexibility to review lectures and complete coursework when I am most focused, while the clear weekly structure keeps me accountable,” he said.  

Like many learners who work full time, Cecil relied on organization and time management to stay on top of his studies. Sometimes he had to sacrifice evenings or weekends to study; other times, his coursework naturally aligned with projects and problems at work, allowing him to apply what he’d learned in the real world.

He also made time to participate in class discussions and connect with his professors. This wasn’t required to complete his degree, but it proved to be invaluable to his development as a laboratory professional.

“Dr. Carey, Prof. Magura and the UC faculty created an environment that was supportive while still expecting a high level of scientific rigor,” he reflected. “Their accessibility and detailed comments made the online environment feel personal and collaborative rather than distant. The mentorship I received also encouraged me to think beyond completing individual assignments and to consider how each project could contribute to my professional role, future research, and service to patients.”

Throughout it all, the key for Cecil was staying engaged in his online coursework and breaking large assignments into smaller tasks. Some assume that online degree programs are inherently easier than their in-person counterparts, but Cecil thinks this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“Flexibility does not make the program less demanding, but it makes advanced education achievable for a working professional and parent.”

A particularly impactful experience for Cecil was the Drug Development Project, a two-course sequence wherein Cecil was tasked with “developing a structured, evidence-based proposal” to solve an identified health care problem.

The Drug Development Project courses stretched his writing abilities—from grant-writing to communicating complex genomic topics to different audiences. He learned to craft grant proposals that demonstrated both scientific value and operational feasibility. Furthermore, his coursework strengthened his ability to assess and evaluate scientific evidence. “Journal clubs, case analyses, and pharmacogenomic guideline evaluations” all allowed Cecil to practice assessing clinical recommendations rather than accepting them at face value.

And as a working professional, Cecil didn't have to wait to use what he was learning online. The skills and knowledge he honed through these courses translated seamlessly to his career, proving the value of his education in real time.

“They helped me see how laboratory professionals can contribute not only to test performance,” Cecil explained, “but also to clinical implementation, interprofessional education, program evaluation, and healthcare innovation.” 

The courses’ impact didn’t stay confined to the virtual classroom. In fact, it helped Cecil contribute to a successful grant proposal, which was officially approved to support Diabetes Care and Management initiatives—an outcome he described as deeply meaningful. 

Reflecting on the experience, Cecil said, “It validated that the knowledge gained through the program was not confined to an academic exercise; it could support a tangible initiative with the potential to improve access, education, care coordination, and outcomes for patients in a rural community. It also reinforced my belief that advanced education is most valuable when it is translated into service.”

After graduating with his master’s degree, Cecil wasn’t ready to finish his Bearcat journey quite yet. His next step? Enrolling in UC’s online Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) program. 

His biggest motivator is expanding the clinical and consultative role played by lab professionals.

“Laboratory data influences many health care decisions, yet the connection between the result and the final clinical action is not always fully optimized.”

By pursuing his DCLS, Cecil sees himself bridging the gap between clinical decision-making and laboratory science, particularly in rural hospitals like the one he serves. His PGx education is also crucial here; as he advances in the clinical laboratory field, he aims to better integrate genomic results with other clinical factors. 

In many ways, his master’s degree gave him a foundation in precision medicine that he can carry into doctoral-level study.

“I want to help laboratories move beyond producing technically accurate results toward providing greater interpretive, consultative, and implementation support,” Cecil shared. It has strengthened my commitment to precision medicine, laboratory stewardship, interdisciplinary education, and equitable access to innovation. Most importantly, it has given me the confidence to translate complex scientific concepts into practical initiatives that can improve care in resource-limited and rural healthcare settings.”

When asked to share his advice with future online learners, he emphasized the importance of knowing your “why.” 

“A strong sense of purpose makes it easier to persist when work and family demands become intense,” he said.  

Cecil also encouraged learners who are balancing work and school to use it to their advantage. When you apply your coursework to real workplace problems, you’re more likely to retain and continue to use what you’ve learned. Not to mention, it also reminds you that time invested in your learning is always valuable. 

“There may never be a perfect time to return to school, but consistent effort, realistic planning, and a willingness to ask for help can make advanced education achievable while working.”

Cecil’s story demonstrates the impact continuing education has had on his professional career. We’re cheering him on as he pursues his second degree with the University of Cincinnati Online!

Are you also interested in going back to school? Whether you’re looking to change careers or take yours to the next level, you’ll have access to the resources and support you need as an online UC student. We offer 100% online health care programs from associate to doctoral level—and one of them may be the perfect fit for this phase of your life.

Start a conversation with UC today. Your Enrollment Services Advisor is available to offer personalized guidance based on your goals and on your timeline.