“It was truly an unforgettable experience,” said Maria Cabrera, TRIO Upward Bound Coordinator. “The students were inspired—not just by the experiments, but by the people they met. Seeing scientists who look like them and who shared stories of their own career paths made a real impact.”
On March 31, 2025, a group of students from Community College of Philadelphia’s TRIO Upward Bound program stepped into a world many had never imagined: the research labs of Teva Pharmaceuticals’ West Chester site. The visit, hosted and arranged by Dr. Mehran Yazdanian—Vice President of R&D Operations at Teva and a generous donor to the College—offered students a hands-on look at pharmaceutical science in action. From donning lab coats to running real-time experiments and analyzing data, the students experienced the thrill of scientific discovery up close.
“It was truly an unforgettable experience,” said Maria Cabrera, TRIO Upward Bound Coordinator. “The students were inspired—not just by the experiments, but by the people they met. Seeing scientists who look like them and who shared stories of their own career paths made a real impact.” Dr. Yazdanian and his team provided mentoring and encouragement, helping students understand both the scientific and human sides of pharmaceutical research. Many students left expressing newfound excitement about science careers—some even envisioning themselves as future researchers.
For Aimie Contarino, Director of TRIO Upward Bound at the College, the day was about more than science—it was about possibility. “For the Upward Bound students—all of whom plan to be the first in their families to attend college—the visit to Teva Pharmaceuticals was more than a tour,” she said. “They spent time in the Research and Development lab, participated in a hands-on lab activity led by Teva professionals, had some fun learning about personal protective equipment, and even tasted ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. The Teva team was warm, encouraging, and generous with their time—graciously creating space for our students to ask questions and explore new worlds.”
For Dr. Yazdanian, creating access to science has been a lifelong commitment. “Since my graduate school days in Pharmaceutics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I’ve been passionate about introducing students to science in meaningful ways,” he shared. “There’s something powerful about walking into a lab, using real equipment, talking to scientists—it’s where curiosity becomes confidence.” Since joining Teva in 2011, he’s prioritized community engagement, regularly partnering with local organizations to bring students from middle and high schools into the company’s labs.
That sense of transformation was echoed by Anthony Gonzalez, a junior at Building 21 High School and participant in the visit. “The tour of Teva Pharmaceuticals was much more of an adventure than I expected,” he said. “I was introduced to their practices, equipment, and surprisingly got an in-depth look at a day in the life of a scientist. I didn’t just learn about their work—I learned why they love doing it. The visit opened my eyes to a career in the pharmaceutical industry. I can now say that because of this visit I am considering this field.”
The Teva visit is part of a broader vision Dr. Yazdanian shares with Community College of Philadelphia: that all students—regardless of background—deserve access to opportunity. His philanthropic support helps extend that vision beyond the walls of the classroom. “We hope these visits spark an interest that lasts a lifetime,” he said. “And that students walk away knowing that a future in science is within their reach.”
The students who participated in the visit are part of CCP’s TRIO Upward Bound program, a federally funded college-preparatory initiative serving high school students from Benjamin Franklin, Edison, Frankford, and Kensington high schools. The program offers academic support, tutoring, mentoring, cultural enrichment, and college-readiness services—all at no cost to students or their families. Designed to help participants become first-generation college students, Upward Bound empowers them to pursue higher education and long-term career success.
“At the heart of TRIO Upward Bound is the belief that potential is everywhere—even if opportunity isn’t,” said Cabrera. “When our students get to experience something like this, it shifts what they believe is possible.” Thanks to leaders like Dr. Yazdanian, and the ongoing partnership between the College and its supporters, more students are seeing the future not just as a dream—but as something they can build, step by step, starting now.