CVS Health expands pharmacy tuition aid and scholarship programs

Contributed CVS Health is expanding its tuition assistance and scholarship programs for pharmacists.

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CVS Health has announced two new offerings for pharmacy students in its effort to support the next generation of pharmacists.

The Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based health solutions company is offering an enhanced PharmD tuition assistance program for eligible CVS Pharmacy interns, and a new scholarship for students enrolled in pharmacy schools nationwide.

The PharmD tuition assistance program is available to all eligible CVS Pharmacy interns. The CVS Health/American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award will grant $20,000 to 21 outstanding student pharmacists who face financial barriers in pursuing their education.

According to an April 2023 report in the Pharmacy Times, pharmacy school applications have decreased by more than 60% in less than a decade. With an increasing need for community pharmacists nationwide, CVS said it “is more important than ever to increase exposure to the profession and to grow and stabilize the volume of future pharmacists.”

Under the tuition assistance program, this summer pharmacy graduates who intern with CVS Pharmacy as of April 30, 2024, can apply for up to $20,000 towards their final year of tuition.

In the fall, the program will be expanded to CVS Pharmacy interns in their final two years of pharmacy education, with $20,000 available for each year while working as an intern for CVS Pharmacy.

Recipients will participate in a more flexible learning program with year-round opportunities to enhance their ability to obtain valuable experience before starting their post-graduate professional career in pharmacy, CVS said.

In collaboration with the AACP and the CVS Health Foundation, CVS said, the Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award promotes diversity of thought, background, perspective and experience to advance pharmacy education and improve patient health.

The scholarships are intended to promote and support a population of student pharmacists who will care for an increasingly diverse population of patients as part of a healthcare team. Selected awardees must demonstrate leadership, academic success, financial need and a commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy and patient care, CVS said.

“Our goal is to recruit candidates who are advocates for health equity and the well-being of their patients,” said Prem Shah, executive vice president and chief pharmacy officer for CVS Health and president of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness.

“AACP is committed to fostering a diverse pharmacy workforce that will advance the profession and improve patient care,” said Lee Vermeulen, executive vice president and CEO of AACP. “We are grateful for our partnership with CVS Health and for their help in meeting the financial needs of students who will provide quality care to patients in communities that are too often underserved and suffer health disparities.”

To learn about the Student Advocacy & Community Health Equity Award or to apply for future scholarships, visit AACP.org. To apply to become a CVS Pharmacy Intern in your area, visit CVS.Jobs/ExperienceRx.