We’re thrilled to announce the 2022 Walmart Health Equity Scholarship winners! The Walmart Health Equity Scholarship for Pharmacy Students is a scholarship program launched in 2022 thanks to the generosity of Walmart in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

About this scholarship program

The Walmart Health Equity Scholarship for Pharmacy Students, launched this year, is awarded to PharmD students who plan to serve in rural areas, medically underserved areas or populations (MUA/Ps), or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) upon graduation. The scholarship program aims to promote and support a diverse population of student pharmacists who will advance health equity.

The 2022 Walmart Health Equity Scholarship Winners

Kenneth Richardson, University of Pittsburgh

Kenneth is a fourth-year pharmacy student at the University of Pittsburgh. He is excited to continue his education and start his career, working to advocate for healthcare professionals of color.

I cannot thank the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and Walmart for considering my selection for the Walmart Health Equity Scholarship for Pharmacy Students! This award is a validation that I chose a career path that is authentic to me, and I am beginning to realize the fruits of my labor throughout my journey.

This scholarship will support my goals in pursuing a 2-year post-doctoral residency program and becoming a clinical pharmacist. I aspire to become a trusted healthcare provider within my communities and help bridge gaps in healthcare access and quality for vulnerable populations. This award will allow me to continue advocating for rising healthcare professionals of color, affirming that they can do it too and to never give up.

Nathalie Iribe, University of Southern California

Nathalie is a third-year pharmacy student at the University of Southern California. She looks forward to making an impact on those in the Los Angeles community and beyond.

My name is Nathalie Iribe, and I am a third-year pharmacy student at the University of Southern California. As a first-generation student, I knew that I wanted to pursue pharmacy to serve minority communities and promote health equity, given that pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers. Initially, my only concern for accepting my offer to pharmacy school was the cost. Therefore, I am truly grateful for these scholarship opportunities for pharmacy students. With this scholarship, I am able to focus more of my energy on community events like health fairs, mentorship, and student outreach events. I hope that through my involvement in my community and my school, I am able to inspire future generations of pharmacy students to do the same so that we can collectively create an impact on the quality of healthcare services offered to those in our community of Los Angeles and beyond.

Jannell Jeffers, Thomas Jefferson University

Jannell is a fourth-year pharmacy student at Thomas Jefferson University. This scholarship will help her apply for post-graduate programs to expand her knowledge.

I am very grateful to be a recipient of the Walmart Health Equity scholarship! This scholarship will allow me the opportunity to apply to post-graduate programs. My goal is to equip myself with as much knowledge as much as possible so I can deliver the best care to my future patients.

Karisse Lora, University of Connecticut

Karisse is a fourth-year pharmacy student at the University of Connecticut. She looks forward to advocating for her community in her future pharmacy career.

In my career as a future pharmacist, I will be committed to practicing individualized care with all of my patients while also being able to approach health disparities to effectively serve those in need. Health disparities emphasize the need for healthcare professionals to recognize the issues faced by urban underserved populations in order to provide quality patient care. As a future pharmacist, I look forward to serving as an advocate for my community and other underrepresented populations. This scholarship will help me attain my goal of pursuing a post-graduate program that will further my personal development and professional growth. I am blessed to be a recipient of this award and am extremely thankful for this honor.

Elise Moore, University of Minnesota

Elise is a second-year pharmacy student at the University of Minnesota. Her goal as a future pharmacist combines her career aspirations with her passion for community work.

I am excited to see how my goal of joining my career interest in pharmacy with my passion for community work and my desire to advocate for the black community comes together. I am proud of the progress I am making and the knowledge I am gaining along the way through both the UMN PharmD/ Master of Public Health curriculum and my work in the Minneapolis community. I anticipate that my ability to push my boundaries of comfort and my desire for learning will define this chapter of growth in my life. This scholarship is a reminder that an intentional focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion deserves to be celebrated and recognized. I am hopeful that I can lift up other people interested in these efforts along the way and encourage this way of thinking to be part of the holistic process of how we as pharmacists deliver patient care.

Vindya Perera, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Vindya is a fourth-year pharmacy student at Northeast Ohio Medical University. She is excited to work in a collaborative environment to serve her community.

This scholarship will help me apply my skills and passion for serving my community, which has grown throughout my training. I plan to pursue a career in ambulatory care pharmacy and hope to join a practice where I can work collaboratively with physicians and other providers to provide the highest-quality, comprehensive medical care to uninsured and underinsured patients. I am so grateful for this opportunity!

Rena Reid, University of Pittsburgh

Rena is a third-year pharmacy student at the University of Pittsburgh. Receiving this scholarship will enable her to continue her is research around medical literacy in underserved communities.

The Walmart Health Equity Scholarship will help me achieve my academic and career goals. This scholarship will provide me with the means to continue my research regarding health literacy for underserved communities. I am an intern for a community pharmacy where I see many examples of where communication can be improved between patients and staff. I hope to bring this research with me in my future career endeavors. My current career path is leading me to work for the United States Public Health Service, where I hope to continue reforming healthcare for my underrepresented neighbors. I am forever grateful for this scholarship and the doors it will open for my future.

Stanley Otiwu, University of Georgia

Stanley is a fourth-year pharmacy student at the University of Georgia. He aims to create a nonprofit pharmacy to serve medically underserved areas.

I have always understood there is no such thing as “too soon.” It is never too soon to devote yourself to what you are truly passionate about. For years, I have known I want to serve medically underserved areas. My goal is to create a nonprofit pharmacy of my own. Every year, billions of dollars of medications go unused and expire. I aim to match surplus medicine that would otherwise be wasted with patients who would otherwise not be able to afford them to provide affordable medication to millions. To resolve the national drug pricing epidemic and create health equity, we must first help the communities most harshly affected. In short, I am passionate about the public health of underserved communities, and I dedicate my career to serving them. The Walmart Health Equity Scholarship will allow me to continue pursuing the education necessary to turn these dreams into lasting change.

Jacee Billings, Texas Tech University

Jacee is a fourth-year pharmacy student at Texas Tech University. She looks forward to getting involved in clubs that will allow her to give back to her community.

Thank you so much for contributing to making my educational dreams of becoming a pharmacist a reality. Pharmacy school definitely is an investment and this financial help will lessen that burden. It will allow me to participate in clubs throughout the school that I may have not been able to afford to participate in without this scholarship and give me the opportunity to give back to my community through service work. I can now grow into a better leader and person through this contribution and serve underserved population to the best of my abilities.

Maya Harris, Howard University

Maya is a fourth-year pharmacy student at Howard University. She aims to aid in the improvement of public health in her work as a pharmacist.

This scholarship will help me to achieve my career goals by assisting me with the expenses of my education and my boards so that as a pharmacist I can aid in the improvement of public health through research and education awareness, and help address barriers that exist for optimal healthcare in medically and financially underserved areas.

Congratulations to the scholarship awardees

Please join us in congratulating these deserving students on their achievements! We can’t wait to watch them grow and succeed as they pursue careers in the pharmacy industry.