Today, CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) unveiled two initiatives aimed at assisting pharmacy students: an upgraded PharmD tuition aid program for eligible CVS Pharmacy® interns and a new scholarship for students enrolled in pharmacy schools across the country.
The enhanced CVS Health PharmD tuition aid program offers a $20,000 yearly award to eligible CVS Pharmacy interns. Additionally, the new CVS Health/American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award will provide $20,000 to 21 exceptional student pharmacists facing financial obstacles in their educational journey.
Prem Shah, Executive Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at CVS Health, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting the next generation of pharmacists through financial assistance and practical experience. The initiatives aim to strengthen the bond between pharmacists and their communities while addressing the declining number of pharmacy school applicants.
The PharmD tuition aid program will grant up to $20,000 to 2024 PharmD graduates interning with CVS Pharmacy as of April 30, 2024. The program will later extend to CVS Pharmacy interns in their final two years of pharmacy education. Recipients will benefit from a flexible learning program with year-round opportunities to gain valuable experience.
The CVS Health/AACP Student Advocacy & Community Health Equity Award, developed in collaboration with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the CVS Health Foundation, seeks to promote diversity in pharmacy education and patient care. Awardees will demonstrate leadership, academic excellence, financial need, and a commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession.
Shah stressed the importance of culturally competent care and the goal of recruiting candidates who advocate for health equity and patient well-being. CVS Health’s partnership with AACP aims to solicit feedback to improve the pharmacy profession and create a supportive environment for future pharmacists.
Lee Vermeulen, Executive Vice President and CEO of AACP, expressed gratitude for the partnership with CVS Health in meeting the financial needs of students committed to serving underserved communities and addressing health disparities.
