MUSC pharmacy students selected for CVS Health/AACP award

Karelys J. Cosme-Rodríguez was one of 21 outstanding student pharmacists selected by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) as recipients of the 2024 CVS Health/AACP Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award for Student Pharmacists, the AACP announced Wednesday. Each awardee will receive a $20,000 scholarship, up from $8,000 awarded to five students in 2023.

A bilingual pharmacy student from Puerto Rico, Cosme-Rodríguez earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon in 2022 and a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Affairs from Nova Southeastern University before coming to MUSC for her Pharm.D.

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to share that I have been awarded the 2024 CVS Heath/AACP Comunnity Pharmacy Health Equity Award!” the second-year student posted after the announcement. “Thank you to my mentors, professors, family and friends who have supported me along the way.” 

The goal of the scholarship program, which was funded by the CVS Health Foundation, is to support students who face financial barriers in pursuit of education including, but not limited to, those who identify as an underrepresented minority student, a student with a disability, or a student with previous or current military service.

The scholarship criteria expanded this year to include any student pharmacist enrolled in their first (P1) year of the professional phase of the Pharm.D. degree program during the 2023-2024 academic year at an AACP member institution. Students enrolled in a 0-6 Pharm.D. program as a P3 (out of P6) student during the 2023-2024 (current) academic year were also eligible. The award is intended to support students with financial need who will advocate for the needs of patients, the profession, and the public, both within and outside healthcare settings. 

Recipients of the 2024 CVS Health/AACP Community Pharmacy Health Equity Award for Student Pharmacists are:

• Anna Azuz, Wayne State University
• Tasneem Elbashir, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Roseline Agyekum, Howard University
• Celina La, Western University of Health Sciences
• Isabella Serna, University of Southern California 
• Eldina  Memic, The University of Texas at Austin 
• Christine Nguyen, Creighton University 
• Rachel Graham, University of California, San Diego
• Ambar Rodriguez Caldero, University of Puerto Rico 
• Luis Díaz-Pagán, University of Puerto Rico
• Catherine Lu, Saint Joseph's University
• Juniki Langle, Campbell University 
• Maheen Polani, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Juliana  Guevara-Montañez, University of Puerto Rico 
• Maria Newlon, Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Richard Schaefer, Concordia University Wisconsin
• Erica Jones, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• Karelys J. Cosme-Rodríguez, Medical University of South Carolina
• Kevin Amon, Campbell University 
• Talia Harvey, South University 
• Ally Lockhart, Wayne State University 

"AACP is grateful for the continued support of CVS Health as we work together toward fostering a diverse pharmacy workforce that will advance the profession and improve patient care," said Lee Vermeulen, AACP executive vice president and CEO. “This year’s outstanding award recipients will undoubtedly make an impact in underserved communities.”

"As the nation’s leading pharmacy chain, we’re pleased to invest in the next generation of community pharmacists through our partnership with AACP," said Prem Shah, executive vice president and chief pharmacy officer, CVS Health, and president, pharmacy and consumer wellness. "We’re focused on cultivating talent and advancing the pharmacy profession in tangible ways. Through these scholarships and other investments, we’ll continue to advance the practice of pharmacy and provide more opportunities for students to enter this important area of health care."

Nearly 200 submissions were received for the 2024 scholarship. In their application essays, recipients described how their lived experiences have contributed to their success in advocating for health equity and the well-being of individual patients in underserved communities across the United States. They also described their vision for improving healthcare through advocacy in the future.