Joseph Rezents ’23

Hometown: Rochester, MN

Major: Health Sciences

Area of Focus: Pre-Med and Patient Care

University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) alum Joseph Rezents says UMR’s focus on health care education and its partnership with Mayo Clinic helped shape his path toward a career in pharmacy.

Rezents chose UMR for its strong support of aspiring health professionals and the opportunity to form close connections with faculty. His Capstone experience, which included clinical research with Mayo Clinic’s Precision Population Science Lab, broadened his understanding of how each step of research contributes to patient care. 

“Even the smallest tasks can play a meaningful role in moving research forward,” he noted.

Hands-on work in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Sleep Medicine and rigorous coursework in the life sciences prepared him for graduate school by strengthening his perseverance and clarifying the type of health care professional he hoped to become. 

“UMR pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect and helped me see what I’m capable of,” he said.

Rezents credits chemistry faculty member Xavier Prat‑Resina as a major influence on his academic and personal development, noting that Prat‑Resina’s passion for teaching and research continues to shape his approach to learning and resilience.

He is now pursuing his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities while working as a pharmacy intern for Fairview Health Services and Allina Health. He will begin clinical rotations across Minnesota later this year and recently earned NASM personal training certification to support others in health and wellness.

Learn more about the Pre-Med and Patient Care area of focus at UMR.