Walgreens is rolling out a new education initiative to support pharmacy technicians interested in becoming pharmacists.
PharmStart is an online education program that covers the cost of prerequisite coursework requirements for eligible pharmacy technicians and other frontline Walgreens staff interested in pursuing a PharmD degree.
Four more notes:
- Walgreens launched PharmStart in partnership with Guild, a talent development company. Through the program, all tuition is covered directly through the Guild platform, according to an April 23 news release. Participants also have access to personalized support, including assistance with pharmacy school applications, enrollment and career coaching.
- The first cohort will include more than 300 Walgreens team members in Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Applications are now open for eligible employees.
- The program was created after a survey of Walgreens technicians revealed tuition costs and time constraints are key obstacles to pursuing a PharmD degree.
“Becoming a pharmacist was a lifelong dream, but the cost of tuition always loomed in the back of my mind,” Rick Gates, Walgreens’ chief pharmacy officer, who started his career as a frontline store member, said in a news release. “Today, we’re continuing to chip away at those financial burdens, ensuring team members can pursue their passion for pharmacy without the burden of debt being a barrier to success.” - PharmStart builds on Walgreens’ other initiatives aimed at making pharmacy education more affordable. Those include up to $40,000 in tuition assistance through its Pharmacy Educational Assistance Program and a student loan 401(k) match that helps employees pay down debt and save for retirement.