AACP has selected five underrepresented minority (URM) pharmacy students as recipients of the 2023 CVS Health Minority Scholarship, recognizing their outstanding leadership, academic success, and commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy and patient care. Each scholarship awardee will receive a one-time $8,000 scholarship.
“The CVS Health Minority Scholarship is critically important in creating and sustaining a diverse population of student pharmacists who will care for an increasingly diverse population of patients,” said Lee Vermeulen, B.S.Pharm., M.S., FCCP, FFIP, Executive Vice President and CEO of AACP.
“With the support of CVS Health, together we are making significant progress toward eliminating health disparities and creating a world of healthy people.”
Recipients were selected from over 450 submissions describing how their life experiences as a minority student influenced their decision to pursue a pharmacy career.
“Every day, our stores and pharmacies serve people from different cultures, races, ethnicities and genders,” said Prem Shah, Executive Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer and President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health.
“Teaching future pharmacists about the importance of delivering culturally competent and ethnically responsive care are key components to ensuring we are able to meet the different needs of all our patients.”
URM pharmacy students are identified as Black, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The 2023 CVS Health Minority Scholarship Recipients are:
Ama Boamah
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
P1
"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."
Jahlyn Hayes
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Pharmacy
P2
"This scholarship provides me the opportunity to focus solely on my academic and professional development. With the pressure of loans and lingering holds relieved, I can focus on becoming the best nuclear pharmacy student and professional that I can be--both presently and in the near future."
YiuTing Huang
University of Florida College of Pharmacy
P2
"As a first generation Asian American born in the island of Puerto Rico, the CVS Health Minority scholarship will not only provide me with financial freedom but also help me become fully immersed into the profession and be able to prepare myself to provide the highest quality health care there is.
I am honored to represent the CVS Health Minority Scholarship throughout my career, encouraging others that no matter your background, and the difficulties you encounter, if you work hard enough, doors will open for you, giving you the opportunity to inspire."
Funmilola Olateru-Olagbegi
Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy
P2
"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."
Clinton Osei
The Ohio State University School of Pharmacy
P1
"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."
Congratulations to all of this year's recipients.