CVS Health, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to be honored for pharmacy training initiative

BOSTON — Associated Industries of Massachusetts announced on Thursday that CVS Health and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission will receive the 17th Annual John Gould Education & Workforce Development Award for their Health Pharmacy Technician Program.



The award will be presented at AIM’s 100th Annual Meeting at the Boston Westin Waterfront Hotel.



The award was established in 1998 to recognize the contributions of individuals, employers, and institutions to the quality of public education and the advancement, employability, and productivity of residents of the Commonwealth. In 2000, the award was named after John Gould, upon his retirement as president and CEO of AIM, to recognize his work to improve the quality of public education and workforce training activities in Massachusetts.



The Pharmacy Technician Training Program, created in partnership with the MRC, has become one of CVS Health’s signature training programs and serves as a model of the commonwealth’s commitment to job-driven training. The program is an eight-week training session for MRC consumers who are seeking employment and have shown interest in careers in health services.



To support the program, CVS Health has shared its pharmacy technician training curriculum and provided access to its learning-management system. MRC provides added resources and expertise around soft-skills training and job readiness to meet the needs of MRC consumers while addressing CVS Health’s staffing needs.



The first cohort of the program was conducted during the summer of 2014 with nearly 30 pre-screened, qualified candidates. That group yielded an 89% success rate, based on the number of trainees hired. The second class graduated 43 consumers on March 23 in a ceremony held in the Great Hall of Flags at the State House. Several graduates have already obtained employment and others are moving forward in the employment process with CVS.



“The most critical challenge before us is affording every citizen the opportunity to participate in and contribute to building our commonwealth’s future,” said Richard Lord, AIM’s president and CEO. “We are pleased and proud to honor this successful collaboration between a major employer and a key public agency to prepare motivated people for productive and rewarding career paths.”