CVS Health Scholarships: Investing in Diversity and the Future of Pharmacy
CVS Health is committed to fostering an inclusive community by promoting diversity of thought, background, perspective, and experience to advance pharmacy education and improve patient health. As the leading health solutions company, CVS Health serves millions of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures across the country. Pharmacists, because of their closeness to their communities, represent the diversity of those patients and understand their lives and experiences.
CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students
The CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students is awarded to outstanding underrepresented minority (URM) students who have been accepted into or are currently enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. This scholarship, in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), represents a commitment to an inclusive community and promoting diversity of thought, background, perspective, and experience to advance pharmacy education and improve patient health.
Each year, five outstanding underrepresented minority students who are entering or enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program are selected to receive a CVS Health® Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for the CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students, applicants must meet specific criteria:
- Must be a URM student.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- GPA for current degree program must be 2.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale. Applicants from schools with other grading systems are still eligible to apply for the scholarship.
- Must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy and patient care.
Applicants are asked to describe how their life experiences as a minority student influenced their decision to pursue a pharmacy career. They also select one aspect of their background or one characteristic about themselves and explain how it will contribute to their success in pharmacy and the well-being of future patients.
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Scholarship Details
If a scholarship is awarded to an accepted (not yet enrolled) pharmacy student, the award will be granted to the institution after the individual has started classes in the PharmD program.
CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award for Student Pharmacists
The CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award for Student Pharmacists, funded by the CVS Health Foundation, will be awarded to outstanding student pharmacists who face financial barriers in their pursuit of education. This includes, but is not limited to, those who identify as an underrepresented minority student, a student with a disability, or a student with a previous or current military service to include national guard and reserves.
Eligibility and Requirements
For the 2025-2026 academic year, scholarship applicants must be enrolled as a (P1) or (P2) in a 3-year OR 4-year Pharm.D. program; OR enrolled as a (P3) or (P4) in a 0-5 OR 0-6 Pharm.D. program at an American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) member institution.
Qualified applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Students must be able to demonstrate that they face financial barriers in their pursuit of education. To qualify, students must have filed or be claimed as a dependent on the most recent Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low-Income Level listed below. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines are used to determine what constitutes a low-income family.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Students must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession and patient care.
- GPA for current degree program must be 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale.
Each awardee will receive a single $20,000 scholarship. AACP will pay the scholarship funds for each awardee directly to the pharmacy college or school where the student is currently enrolled. Funds will be dispersed in fall 2025 after the 2025-2026 academic year begins.
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Goal of the Program
The CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Award is intended to support students who will care for the needs of patients in underserved communities, the profession, and the public, both within and outside healthcare settings. The purpose of the scholarship is to reduce financial barriers for student pharmacists in pursuit of a Pharm.D. degree who are committed to addressing health disparities and the well-being of individual patients in communities across the United States.
Voices of Scholarship Recipients
The impact of these scholarships is best understood through the words of the recipients themselves.
Funmilola Olateru-Olagbegi, a P2 at Notre Dame of Maryland University, shared:
"I have faced many challenges as a minority student pursuing a career in the field of pharmacy. Despite my struggles, I have managed to utilize my drive to keep me on my path. With this prestigious scholarship, I will be granted the opportunity to fully focus on further developing my craft as a student pharmacist. I hope to not only excel at my current and future leadership opportunities within pharmacy school but also aim to propel the field of pharmacy with my skills, experience, and innovative mindset."
Ama Boamah, a P1 at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, said:
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“I am honored to be a recipient of the CVS Health Minority Scholarship. My motivation growing up was to give back to my community, and being a pharmacist was the best way I saw myself serving underrepresented groups. When I got into pharmacy school, the thought of taking out loans weighed on me. As a recipient of the CVS Health Minority Scholarship, some financial burdens associated with pharmacy school has been alleviated and will offer me the opportunity to focus more on my personal, educational and professional development. The empowerment I have received from this scholarship will fuel my zeal to do better always, not only for me, but the greater world. Through this generous scholarship, I will have more time to take up more volunteering roles that focus on bridging health disparities for minority groups.”
Clinton Osei, a P1 at The Ohio State University School of Pharmacy, shared:
“My name is Clinton Osei, and I recently achieved a significant milestone by completing my bachelor’s degree and earning a Master’s degree. This accomplishment is particularly special to my family and me because I am the first person in my family to attain such a high level of education. Unfortunately, both of my parents couldn’t graduate from high school due to the lack of resources and educational opportunities in our home country, Ghana. Currently, I am pursuing my dream of becoming a pharmacist, which has been both a blessing and a burden. On one hand, it is an exciting journey, but on the other hand, the financial responsibilities associated with the program pose challenges. As a young adult, I strive to contribute and alleviate some of the financial burden on my parents. They are already working two jobs to support my siblings, while I take care of the household bills. My passion for becoming a clinician has always been stronger than any of the life challenges I have faced. This determination is the primary reason why I am seeking financial support for the pharmacy program. If I am fortunate enough to be awarded this scholarship, I intend to utilize it to pay off my tuition, which will help me stay focused and excel in my academics. With the scholarship’s assistance, my family can direct their attention to taking care of my siblings, rather than having to work double shifts and struggle to meet my financial needs while I am in the program. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and eventually contributing back to my community and society as a whole. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship.”
Jahlyn Hayes, a P2 at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), said:
"This scholarship provides me the opportunity to focus solely on my academic and professional development."
Leah Bishop, a second-year pharmacy student, received a 2020-2021 CVS Health Minority Scholarship. Bishop received an $8000 scholarship and national recognition. Selection for the highly competitive scholarship is based on students’ leadership, academic success, and commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy and patient care.
CVS Health PharmD Tuition Assistance Program
The CVS Health PharmD tuition assistance program is available to all eligible CVS Pharmacy interns and consists of a $20,000 award per year. This summer, 2024 PharmD 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.
The Importance of Diversity in Pharmacy
“Providing culturally competent care is critical to meeting the needs of the many different communities we serve,” said Prem Shah, Executive Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer, CVS Health and President, 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, BSPharm, MS, FCCP, FFIP, Executive Vice President and CEO of AACP.
Addressing the Decline in Pharmacy School Applications
As outlined in The Rx Report: The future of community pharmacy opens doors to healthier communities, pharmacy school applications have decreased by more than 60% in less than a decade. CVS Health's investment in scholarships and tuition assistance programs is a crucial step in attracting and supporting the next generation of pharmacists.
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