The 2025-2026 AACP Professional Affairs Committee has had dialogue regarding potential groups to socialize the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies document during the 2025-2026 academic year. Please choose the three groups that you would like to have the Professional Affairs Committee focus on during this academic year. Please complete this short prioritization survey by Friday, October 17, 2025.

AACP Joins National “We’re Your Pharmacist” Campaign

AACP is pleased to be an official supporter of ASHP’s We’re Your Pharmacist, a national public awareness campaign bringing visibility to pharmacist contributions to patient care and public health across practice settings and specialties. Visit www.yourpharmacist.org to learn more. 

Officers

Robin M. Zavod (Midwestern University) President

Margarita DiVall (Northeastern University) President-elect

Anandi V. Law (Thomas Jefferson University) Immediate Past President

Gloria R. Grice (University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis) Speaker of the House of Delegates

Brookie M. Best (University of California, San Diego) Treasurer

 

Program Overview

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Transformation Center and the Academia-Community Transformation (ACT) Pharmacy Collaborative launch Cohort 2 of the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars (CPSS) program designed to inform and inspire students from all backgrounds who are interested in pursuing a career in community pharmacy. Through asynchronous learning modules, mentorship, networking, a group poster presentation, workshop training on leadership and self-awareness and networking event at the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting, the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars (CPSS) program aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of career paths in community pharmacy. The program will accept up to 20 students from colleges and schools of pharmacy for the 2025-2026 program. The overall program requires approximately 3 hours per month between September 2025 and June 2026 in addition to attendance at the AACP Annual Meeting on July 18-21, 2026, in Grapevine, Texas. 

The 2025-2026 application is now closed.

Meet the 2025-26 Community Pharmacy Student Scholars!

Sponsorship

Thanks to our Champion sponsor, CPESN® USA, and Leading sponsor, Walgreens for their generous commitment to support the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars program. Their sponsorship has made a significant impact on our ability to deliver meaningful, high-quality programming to the students of the program.

Program Advisory Committee

Special thanks to our advisory committee members: Macary Marciniak (Committee lead), Meagan Brown (Committee lead), Sophia Herbert, Alyssa Vogel, Cody Clifton, and Wes Nuffer

Program Objectives

1. Describe the various roles and responsibilities of a community pharmacist in patient care and scope of practice expansion.  
2. Describe the process for career advancement in community pharmacy and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to build a sustainable career pathway.  
3. Develop a network of peers and mentors interested in community pharmacy practice.  
4. Discuss contemporary areas of interest regarding community pharmacy practice advancement.  
5. Develop a poster to showcase a vision for the future of community pharmacy and a career development plan in community pharmacy.  

Student Eligibility

Qualified applicants will meet the following requirements. Applicants must:

• be enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program at an AACP member institution;
• be enrolled in an anticipated graduation class of 2028 in a four-year program OR in an anticipated graduation class of 2027 in a three-year program;
• be in good academic standing in the Pharm.D. program;
• have a strong interest in enhancing their skills and preparation for a career in community pharmacy practice;
• submit a completed application by the deadline; and
• agree to abide by the terms in the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars Guide, including mandatory attendance at the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting. 

All eligible students are invited to apply. No more than one student will be accepted per institution.  

Student Expenses  

The student is responsible for covering expenses related to transportation, lodging, and meals to the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting, if accepted. AACP will cover the expenses associated with creating group posters for the 2026 meeting as well as provide complimentary registration to the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting. The estimated costs can be found in the Program Guide.

Mentorship

Through this program, students will have the opportunity to learn from two distinct mentors, one from within their own institution (the faculty mentor) and one within a local community pharmacy practice site identified by the student, their community practice mentor or AACP (the practice mentor).  

• The faculty mentor commits to working with the student as they explore community pharmacy practice advancement for the duration of the program. They ensure that the student is prepared for each of their group meetings and provides feedback regarding the student's program deliverables.  
• The practice mentor commits to working with the student in the environment of their community practice site, immersing the student in the day-to-day responsibilities of a community pharmacist. In addition to this, they assist the student with designing a project around community pharmacy practice advancement that would be applicable to advancing the transformation of the community pharmacy practice site.   

Faculty Mentor Eligibility

Faculty mentors must meet the following requirements:  

• the faculty mentor must be a member of AACP and have experience/involvement with research, teaching, service in community pharmacy;  
• submit a letter of support on behalf of the student as part of the CPSS application process; and  
• agree to abide by the terms in the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars Guide.  
• Encouraged to attend the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting.  

Practice Mentor Eligibility

Practice mentors must meet the following requirements:  

• the practice mentor must have an active community pharmacy practice;  
• submit a letter of support on behalf of the student as part of the CPSS application process; and  
• agree to abide by the terms in the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars Guide.  
• Encouraged to attend the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting.  

Mentor Expenses

Faculty and practice mentors are responsible for all expenses associated with participating in the program, including the meeting registration fees and travel expenses for the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting.

Download Materials

• Application Instructions
• Full Program Guide with Timeline and Commitment 

The application for the 2025 CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Award for Student Pharmacists program is now closed.

Program Information

The CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Award for Student Pharmacists, funded by the CVS Health Foundation, will be awarded to 21 outstanding student pharmacists who face financial barriers in their pursuit of education. For the 2025-26 academic year, scholarship applicants must be enrolled as a (P1) or (P2) in a 3-year OR 4-year Pharm.D. program; OR enrolled as a (P3) or (P4) in a 0-5 OR 0-6 Pharm.D. program at an American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) member institution. Selected awardees must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to care for patients in underserved communities. Each awardee will receive a single $20,000 scholarship. 

Goal of the Program

The CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Award is intended to support students who will care for the needs of patients in underserved communities, the profession, and the public, both within and outside healthcare settings. The purpose of the scholarship is to reduce financial barriers for student pharmacists in pursuit of a Pharm.D. degree who are committed to addressing health disparities and the well-being of individual patients in communities across the United States.  

Eligibility Requirements

Qualified applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Eligible student statuses during the 2025-26 Program:
  • For the 2025-26 academic year, scholarship applicants must be enrolled as a (P1) or (P2) in a 3-year OR 4-year Pharm.D. program; OR enrolled as a (P3) or (P4) in a 0-5 OR 0-6 Pharm.D. program.
• Students must be able to demonstrate that they face financial barriers in their pursuit of education. To qualify, students must have filed or be claimed as a dependent on the most recent Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low-Income Level listed below. The Low-Income Level is based on 200 percent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines and used to determine what constitutes a low-income family. (Table 1) 

Table 1: 2024 Low-Income Levels
Persons in Family or Household	Income Level
1	$30,120
2	$40,880
3	$51,640
4	$62,400
5	$73,160
6	$83,920
7	$94,680
8	$105,440
*For each additional person, add $10,760

3. Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
4. Students must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession and patient care.
5. GPA for current degree program must be 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale. Applicants from schools with other grading systems are still eligible to apply for the scholarship.
6. Students must submit a completed application by the deadline.
7. A student may only receive the CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Award once. 

Scholarship Notification

1. Completed applications are due Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Time (HT).
2. Completed applications will be reviewed by August 2025.
3. Scholarship recipients will be notified via email during Fall 2025.
4. Funds will be forwarded to the student’s institution during Fall 2025.
5. Additional information will be requested from awardees (e.g., media release, photo) during Fall 2025.
6. AACP will announce the scholarship recipients on the AACP and Pharmacy Is Right for Me websites and social media in Fall 2025.
7. CVS may also release related announcements about the scholarship recipients via the company’s communication channels.

Scholarship Payments

A single scholarship in the amount of $20,000 each will be awarded to twenty-one (21) outstanding students. AACP will pay the scholarship funds for each awardee directly to the pharmacy college or school where the student is currently enrolled. Funds will be dispersed in fall 2025 after the 2025-2026 academic year begins. Each institution will exclusively apply the scholarship funds to the awardee’s tuition and/or fees. 

Scholarships Questions

Please contact AACP at scholarships@aacp.org with questions. 

 

As the organization representing U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy, AACP emphasizes the critical role pharmacists play in providing safe and effective recommendations for over-the-counter medicines being sought by their patients.

A spotlight on pharmacy closures affecting communities across the United States.

Know of a pharmacy that recently closed and isn't on the map? Send us the pharmacy name and address at our email: aacpcenter@aacp.org

Welcome to AACP! 

On behalf of everyone at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, we are thrilled to welcome you to AACP! We are excited to support you in making meaningful connections, accessing valuable resources, and getting involved in opportunities that help you grow and thrive within our community.

The AACP CEO Dean/Development Officer Fundraising Development Program Planning Committee is seeking potential panelists for the closing session of the program.  The Fundraising Trifecta: Data, Strategy, and Development Storytelling for Impactful Advancement will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 8 am – 1:00 pm (the day after the 2026 AACP Interim Meeting) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The purpose of this program is to enhance the effectiveness of fundraising efforts by equipping participants with the knowledge, strategies, and tools needed to secure philanthropic support.

The program sessions include:

•  Creating a Modernized Fundraising Program: The objective of this session is to expand and enhance the utilization of data for fundraising
• Effective Management of Your Fundraising Program: The objective of this session is to strengthen the management of fundraising strategy
• Development Storytelling in Today’s Higher Education Environment: The objective of this session is to reinforce the role of development storytelling and communication in fundraising

If you plan to attend this program and have interest in sharing your experiences on one or more of the program session topics listed above, please complete this form by Friday, October 17, 2025.  Up to three panelists will be selected for the 45-minute session that will further apply the concepts from the program to the pharmacy philanthropy environment.

A small honorarium will be available for the panelists selected to speak at this program.

Please contact Lynette Bradley-Baker, COD staff liaison and Renae Chesnut, Dean Emerita, Drake University, for more information. 

Thank you for considering this opportunity.
 

Trailblazers in Community Pharmacy Advancement

ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence have demonstrated significant commitment to pharmacy advancement in the following areas: teaching, service, scholarship, leadership, and partnerships.

The ACT Pharmacy Collaborative Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence Report: A Blueprint for Community Pharmacy Excellence in Academia
 

Download Report

The ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence have each created a unique approach to excel in areas of teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. We have also uncovered some notable commonalities and patterns indicating how each of these Centers have excelled in advancing community pharmacy practice and education. The report, made possible by support from the Community Pharmacy Foundation, highlights ways that the Academy can learn alongside these Centers of Excellence to strengthen their efforts and support of community pharmacy. Some highlights include:

• Team Effort: 
  • Support from leadership and administration within the college/school is critical. This may come in the form of specific funds dedicated for community-based efforts, inclusion of community-based practice advancement within the strategic plan, and development of dedicated workgroups and taskforces.
  • A core group of dedicated community-based faculty at the school creates the vision and foundational work (partnerships, research, and teaching) to build upon.
• It Takes Continued Time and Focus:
  • Success may not be seen overnight – and that is OKAY!
  • Many of the current Centers of Excellence have been on their journeys for many years and are still striving to grow, but there is an opportunity for colleges/schools to learn from each other.
• Key Approaches for Impact: 
  • Colleges and schools of pharmacy looking to enhance their impact should focus on the seven universal approaches utilized by all 17 Centers of Excellence. Some examples of these include:
    • Community practice partnerships (faculty practice sites, research partners, organizational partners to grow service)
    • Integration with state and national groups/initiatives to support community pharmacy
• Maximize Impact Across Key Areas: 
  • Pharmacy colleges/schools should also consider prioritizing activities that enhance their efforts across all or most areas of interest: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. Some examples of these include:
    • Post-Graduate Training (Community-based Pharmacy Residency Programs and/or Fellowships)
    • Faculty involvement in community pharmacy practices (committed core of multiple faculty)

Inaugural ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence:

• Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy
• The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
• Purdue University College of Pharmacy
• University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) College of Pharmacy
• University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
• University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
• University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
• University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy
• University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
• University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
• University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy
• University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
• University of Washington School of Pharmacy
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy
• Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy 

The Centers of Excellence will serve as ambassadors for pharmacy academia through convenings with leaders in pharmacy and healthcare, uniting to mobilize and amplify community pharmacy practice transformation efforts. These trailblazers will inspire and inform community pharmacy advancement across the pharmacy academy.

 

Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence Program Overview

Information about applications reopening will be shared here when available

For questions/support, please email aacpcenter@aacp.org.

The Academia-Community Transformation (ACT) Pharmacy Collaborative will recognize schools and colleges of pharmacy who are committed to advancing community pharmacy practice. Schools and colleges will be invited to submit an application to be recognized as a Center of Excellence based on commitment to community pharmacy advancement in the following areas: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership support. Centers of Excellence will be recognized at the AACP Annual Meeting, and the designation will remain for a total of 5 years once achieved. After this time, schools/colleges will be invited to resubmit to maintain the designation.

Eligibility

ACPE-accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy. 

Application Instructions

Additional details coming soon.

Key Application Areas

• Teaching
  • Didactic, Experiential, Post-graduate
• Service
• Scholarship
• Leadership Support
• Partnerships

Application Review

Eligibility Review

• AACP staff will confirm that accredited schools completed the entire application, and the application will be moved through a peer review evaluation process.

Evaluation Criteria

• Reviewers will look for evidence that the school/college is committed to advancing community pharmacy practice through teaching, service, scholarship and leadership support. The strength of evidence provided will determine if the program is designated as a Center of Excellence or an Emerging Center of Excellence. 

 

Special Thanks

This program would not have been possible without the dedicated workgroup members listed below and the support of the Community Pharmacy Foundation. 

William (Bill) Doucette (Lead), Stefanie Ferreri (Lead), Jenny Bacci, Kim Coley, Bianca Daisy-Bell, Cody Clifton, Chris Daly, Kenneth Hohmeier, Nicholas Leon, Sarah Oprinovich, Sarah Ray, Jessica Robinson, Kate Rotzenberg, Kayce Shealy