New award created to support pharmacy students from underrepresented groups
Thanks to the generosity of Safeway, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta now has the Safeway Award in Pharmacy for First Nation, Inuit and Métis, LGBTQ2s+ and gender and visible minority pharmacy students in any year of study. The award aims to better support the growth of equity, diversity and inclusion in pharmacy education and the profession of pharmacy as a whole. The award has been endowed, so it will support student pharmacists in their training for many years to come.
Safeway Pharmacies believe that success comes from bringing diverse thoughts, experiences and perspectives to the table,” said Jim Johnston, Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at Sobeys Inc. “We are proud to work with the University of Alberta to provide an award that emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusion in pharmacy education and the pharmaceutical field.”
“Our Faculty’s, and profession’s, biggest strength is our people,” says Christine Hughes, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta. “But we still have work to do for pharmacists to better reflect the patients and communities that they serve. This award is another important step towards equity, diversity and inclusion in pharmacy, and making pharmacy education more accessible. We are very grateful to the Safeway team for their generous donation and support of EDI.”
The inaugural Safeway Award in Pharmacy will be given out in the 2021-22 school year. Selection will be based on academic standing and demonstrated leadership, community engagement and/or volunteerism.
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