It’s not every day you meet someone who can throw a jab as effectively as they ace pharmacokinetics, but Michelle Nguyen — a fourth-year PharmD candidate — is anything but ordinary.
By day, she’s studying hard to master her craft as a future pharmacist. By night, she’s sweating at the boxing gym, perfecting her technique to compete for the University of Washington on the world’s stage (with one national championship title already under her belt). Michelle’s story isn’t just one of balance — it’s about grit, community and an unrelenting drive for discipline.
A Puncher’s Chance
When Michelle applied to the UW School of Pharmacy, it wasn’t just the academic rigor that caught her attention — it was the personal touch. During her admissions interview, she was struck by how deeply the faculty valued who she was beyond the transcript. “Professor Douglas Black didn’t just ask about my qualifications,” Michelle recalls. “He wanted to know who I was as a person. I feel seen at the UW School of Pharmacy. You’re uniquely you, and everyone else is uniquely them. That was what really stuck with me.”
That ethos of individuality has stayed with Michelle through her journey, shaping her commitment to excellence not only in the classroom, but in the ring.
As Michelle sees it, her mission as a pharmacy student is about access and exploration. “While others are trying to find their niche in the field, I’ve committed to multiple internships — hospital, retail, ambulatory, research and business — using my four years to explore as many parts of pharmacy as I can,” she explains. “I’ve embraced these years as a learning experience, and I’m grateful for the time and perspectives invested in me by my professors, peers and mentors.”
Boxing for the Soul
Michelle’s introduction to boxing wasn’t some grand plan — it began with an impulsive group fitness class in the ring, motivated by a paper she was assigned to read for her undergraduate neurobiology course. In the article, Michelle read about the difficulty of learning new physical skills as you age. “I thought, ‘Not today!’” she laughs. “Initially, the boxing classes were just for conditioning. It’s a great workout. You sweat a lot.”
For Michelle, what began as simple cardio soon evolved into something more.
She was an undergrad when Michelle stumbled across the Husky Boxing Club tabling in Red Square. Despite being three years into her first degree on campus, the revelation was a welcome surprise (“UW has a boxing team? What?!”). “When I approached them, the boxing team was like family,” she remembers. “Could this be it? Is this what I want?” COVID-19, however, brought all momentum to a screeching halt.
During her first year of pharmacy school, Michelle returned to the Husky Boxing Club on a mission. She secured her place on the team after four grueling weeks of tryouts — a boxing bootcamp that prepared her for competition, mentally and physically. It didn’t take long for Michelle to be welcomed into the fold.
Three years and thousands of burpees later, Michelle earned her national champion title earlier this spring with a first-round knockout, bringing home the win from USA Boxing’s collegiate division.
For Michelle, boxing is more than competition — it’s a crucible for personal growth. “In boxing, you throw hundreds of jabs before they’re perfect,” she says. “Pharmacy’s the same. What you learn as a PY1 will come back into play when you’re a PY3. You learn, you repeat, and eventually, it clicks.”
Michelle embodies this ethos, blending her academic, athletic and entrepreneurial pursuits with ease. The result? A rich college experience of continuous growth, marked by discipline and brought to life by joy. Michelle’s not just boxing to win the match — she’s building the resilience to excel wherever life takes her next.
The Tightrope of Excellence and Achievement
Balancing pharmacy school and competitive boxing isn’t easy, and Michelle doesn’t sugarcoat it. Like most fourth year pharmacy students, her days are booked solid with practice experience in the field while her nights are blocked out for training. “Any plans after 7 p.m. are non-existent,” she says with a laugh. Despite the rigor, Michelle is determined to make the most out of every moment; When she accepted a part-time coaching job at Emerald City Boxing Gym, she spent even more time in the ring.
Cut to today, and Michelle is completing her healthcare administration rotation at O’Connor Hospital in California — a role that’s broadened her career interests. “I never really thought of myself in a management position before,” she admits. “But with the years I’ve spent interning in so many different pharmacy settings, administration and informatics feel like a natural fit.”
As it turns out, athletic champions and healthcare professionals have one thing in common: Their days start early. Kicking things off with a quiet morning in the hospital cafeteria, Michelle is no different, squeezing in some studying before rotations. “It’s my favorite spot, and I’m always hungry anyways,” she remarks. “The cafeteria folks know me well.”
Evenings are reserved for intense solo training sessions in the gym — an effort to maintain the same discipline she practices with the Husky Boxers back in Seattle. “Being away from my team is tough, but I’m pushing myself just as hard so I’ll be ready to compete when I return… Ultimately, it’s about commitment,” Michelle says. “My coaches give their time to train me, my professors invest their years of expertise in my education and my future patients depend on me to put in the work and be my best. I owe it to them to show up fully.”
Drawing from lessons learned during tryouts, Michelle is always prepared for the next right hook from the universe.
“There’s one thing we learned in boot camp that our coaches repeat often during training: ‘Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.’” Michelle holds this mantra close to her heart, letting it carry her through life’s toughest moments — from pharmacy school to the boxing ring. “There were so many times I thought to myself, ‘I can’t do this. It’s too much.’ But then I’d think of those words, repeat them to myself over and over, and find the will to power through.”
A Champion in the Ring (and for Others)
What makes Michelle truly remarkable isn’t just her ability to excel in academics while balancing a packed schedule — it’s her desire to give back.
“I see myself in the new boxers I coach,” Michelle shares.
Much to the benefit of her students, Michelle isn’t shy about sharing the lessons that have shaped her own journey. “At one point, that was me in their shoes,” she recalls. “If I could go back in time, what would I say to myself?” From aspiring competitive boxers to fitness fanatics looking for quick cardio in the ring, everyone has something to learn under Michelle’s tutelage. Ricardo Acuna, head coach of the Husky Boxing Club, echoes this sentiment: “People are drawn to her. She’s always smiling.”
The Husky Boxing Club is more than a training ground for national champions — it’s an exercise in mental fortitude. “Boxing is a solo sport, but you’re never alone,” Ricardo explains. “When you’re running in the rain, you want to hear your teammates cheering you on. We’re gonna make sure you’re ready for competition.”
Michelle agrees. “I’m grateful I have the people I need to pull me through – at the gym and the School of Pharmacy. Whether it’s classmates reviewing therapeutic notes with me on Zoom at 8 a.m., teammates pushing me to hit the bag harder — or listening to lectures in our AirPods while we run, we lean on each other.”
Michelle’s story is a testament to the power of community, competition and sometimes seeing stars: “You’re going to get punched in the face — literally and figuratively,” Ricardo says. “What matters is your attitude toward that. You have to learn and keep moving forward.”
It’s no surprise that our corner of campus is a magnet for doers, dreamers, movers and shakers; Michelle is one of many Husky Pharmacists daring to pursue excellence on their own terms. Her story embodies the magic that happens when passion meets opportunity.
“In the gym, when your muscles are burning — that means you’re doing it right,” Michelle explains. “You’re at the limits of your ability, and that’s when you have the opportunity to push forward.
“So how much can you push?”
