The Best Medicine
Art and music are how Myron Laban interacts with the world. UIC's College of Pharmacy helped him reach his goals.
Myron Laban PharmD ’18 said “I was always making art, but I never had a direction.” For Laban, the degree he earned from the UIC College of Pharmacy was more than a path toward a stable income.
The rigorous and broad education he procured allows him to thrive as a “floater,” or traveling pharmacist, where he sets his own hours and decides what days he can work — and when.
This flexibility allows him to pursue his passions as an artist and musician.
“I saw other artists, like Hebru Brantley and J.C. Rivera, and create a narrative and a character, and base their work around that,” Laban said. “I started to pursue that two or three years into university.”
From these models, Laban forged his own identity.
His dedication led him toward “Best New Visual Artist” from the Chicago Reader and write-ups from PBS, CBS and USA Today. His paintings have hung in the United Center, and he has even sold some to NBA players. And he’s kept going — recording music independently with his friend Maurice Mayes and releasing it on streaming platforms.
His songs were picked up by local radio stations Vocalo and The Mix and have also appeared on NPR. Laban described UIC as “an introduction to the world,” for its diversity of cultures and backgrounds.
“There's more to life than your art,” he said. “Understanding the world around you helps you. I think you need to go live a life outside of your art in order to make good art.”
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