Two students at East Tennessee State University’s Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy are the first recipients of a new scholarship program created by Cardinal Health to assist ETSU students who are interested in careers in independent community pharmacy ownership.
Stephanie Elliott and Arissa Vaughn, both in their fourth year at the Gatton College of Pharmacy, will share the 2012 Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship, which will fund half of their tuition for the 2012-13 academic year. A health services company headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health funded the scholarship program at ETSU with a $125,000 gift.
The recipients were selected by the College of Pharmacy’s Scholarship and Awards Committee through a competitive application process. Members of the committee evaluated various criteria for each applicant, including community service, entrepreneurial mindset, history of working in or serving rotations within independent pharmacies, and completed coursework that is geared toward working in or owning an independent pharmacy.
Elliott and Vaughn received official notice of their scholarships Thursday, May 31, during a ceremony at the college attended by leaders from ETSU and Cardinal Health. A native of Jonesville, Va., Elliott began her pharmacy experience working at Jonesville Drug Inc., an independent pharmacy in her hometown. Vaughn, from Kingsport, has worked at Wilson Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy, since 2007. Both are very active in professional and student pharmacy organizations.
The Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship will be awarded annually to one or more students in the College of Pharmacy. Dr. Larry D. Calhoun, dean of the college, expressed his gratitude to the company for including ETSU in its program, which is awarding over $1 million in scholarships to schools nationwide.
“On behalf of the students, faculty and staff at the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, I offer heartfelt thanks to Cardinal Health for this investment in the future of our students and independent community pharmacies,” Calhoun said. “This scholarship endowment will support ETSU students who envision careers in the type of pharmacy practice that dovetails with our mission.”
Mike Kaufman, CEO of Cardinal Health’s Pharmaceutical segment, also said the company started the scholarship program with an eye toward the future.
“We passionately believe in the essential role pharmacists play in making sure patients receive safe, high-quality health care,” Kaufman said. “That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy to invest in developing tomorrow’s pharmacy leaders.”
Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. More information on the company may be found at www.cardinal.com.
To learn more about the Gatton College of Pharmacy, visit www.etsupharmacy.com.
By: Brad Lifford
