CVS Health Foundation and PQA launch scholarship program

SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- The CVS Health Foundation is teaming up with the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) on a new scholarship program to support student excellence in projects related to healthcare- and pharmacy-related quality.

The goal of the PQA-CVS Health Foundation Scholars Program is to improve education surrounding quality measures and value-based models of care, and foster student interest and engagement in the development of quality-related initiatives. Students selected for this program will conceptualize and develop quality-related initiatives either in the performance-measurement or implementation topic areas. Additionally, scholars will present a poster of their project or concept beginning at the 2017 PQA Annual Meeting.

"PQA is very excited to partner with the CVS Health Foundation to launch this new scholars program. Student engagement in the quality landscape is an increasingly important priority as healthcare continues to shift toward value-based models," said Sam Stolpe, PQA senior director of quality strategies. "The PQA-CVS Health Foundation Scholars Program creates a unique opportunity to recognize students and their mentors for helping to advance healthcare and pharmacy related quality."



Through this joint venture, PQA and the CVS Health Foundation will provide scholarships for up to 15 student-mentor pairs for the first year, with potential to expand the program in subsequent years. Scholarships will be awarded to each student to support their expenses to attend and participate in the PQA Annual Meeting and the PQA Leadership Summit.  Student-mentor pairs will gain access to PQA forums and networking opportunities to share their work with the entire Alliance.



"We are committed to supporting the best and brightest students and future pharmacy leaders," said Eileen Howard Boone, president, CVS Health Foundation.  "We are proud to partner with PQA - the leader in quality performance and measurement for medication management - and we're excited to see the innovative student-mentor projects that emerge through this initiative."



More information about the PQA-CVS Health Foundation Scholars Program can be found at http://pqaalliance.org/academic/scholars.asp. Students interested in applying should submit their application no later than June 1.