(Giving) Back to school: Cardinal Health shows commitment to pharmacy education with additional $1 million scholarship fund

Pictured above: 2014 participants of the Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program

LAS VEGAS — As part of its continued commitment to the practice of pharmacy and the future of the profession, Cardinal Health this year will award a total of more than $1 million to 10 pharmacy schools across the country through its Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program.

“We understand the impact independent pharmacists have on their communities, and the significant role they play in providing cost-effective care that improves patients’ health,” said Jon Giacomin, CEO Cardinal Health's Pharmaceutical segment. “Supporting future community pharmacy leaders through this scholarship program is an honor, and we continue to be inspired by the next generation of innovative, patient-focused pharmacy owners as they begin serving their communities.”

In addition, all scholarship recipients receive an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a pharmacy ownership workshop at the University of South Carolina. Cardinal Health provides the funds to the schools, which, in turn, select the students. The scholarships are intended for fourth and fifth year pharmacy students who have demonstrated an interest in independent pharmacy through their coursework, extracurricular activities and residencies.

The schools selected to participate in the Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program were chosen based on their commitment to advancing the independent pharmacy profession. All of the schools offer curricula focused on operating an independent pharmacy, support student-run chapters of the National Community Pharmacists Association, endorse internship and co-op programs with local independent retail pharmacies and demonstrate high post-graduate placement rates in community pharmacy settings.

This year’s winning Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program schools include:

• Lipscomb University, Nashville

• North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.

• Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio

• Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.

• South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

• University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.

• University of Montana, Missoula, Mont.

• Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.

• Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, Calif.

• Wingate University, Wingate, N.C.

In the last four years, Cardinal Health has donated a total of more than $5 million to 28 universities through the program.

Drug Store News will be covering all the action at Cardinal Health RBC 2015 in a series of exclusive daily editions, in both print and digital formats. To keep up with all of the highlights, visit DrugStoreNews.com/Cardinal-Health-RBC or follow #RBCWin on Twitter.