Arlington, Va.—The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy has selected 21 outstanding student pharmacists as recipients of the 2024 CVS Health/AACP Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award for Student Pharmacists. Each awardee will receive a $20,000 scholarship, up from $8,000 awarded to five students in 2023.
The goal of the scholarship program, which was funded by the CVS Health Foundation, is to support students who face financial barriers in pursuit of education including, but not limited to, those who identify as an underrepresented minority student, a student with a disability, or a student with previous or current military service.
The scholarship criteria expanded this year to include any student pharmacist enrolled in their first (P1) year of the professional phase of the Pharm.D. degree program during the 2023-2024 academic year at an AACP member institution. Students enrolled in a 0-6 Pharm.D. program as a P3 (out of P6) student during the 2023-2024 (current) academic year were also eligible. The award is intended to support students with financial need who will advocate for the needs of patients, the profession, and the public, both within and outside healthcare settings.
Recipients of the 2024 CVS Health/AACP Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award for Student Pharmacists are:
"AACP is grateful for the continued support of CVS Health as we work together toward fostering a diverse pharmacy workforce that will advance the profession and improve patient care," said Lee Vermeulen, B.S.Pharm., M.S., FCCP, FFIP, AACP Executive Vice President and CEO. “This year’s outstanding award recipients will undoubtedly make an impact in underserved communities.”
"As the nation’s leading pharmacy chain, we’re pleased to invest in the next generation of community pharmacists through our partnership with AACP," said Prem Shah, Executive Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer, CVS Health, and President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness. "We’re focused on cultivating talent and advancing the pharmacy profession in tangible ways. Through these scholarships and other investments, we’ll continue to advance the practice of pharmacy and provide more opportunities for students to enter this important area of health care."
Nearly 200 submissions were received for the 2024 scholarship. In their application essays, recipients described how their lived experiences have contributed to their success in advocating for health equity and the well-being of individual patients in underserved communities across the United States. They also described their vision for improving healthcare through advocacy in the future.