The AmerisourceBergen Foundation & Good Neighbor Pharmacy Announce Inaugural Recipients of Scholarship Program Supporting Black and African American Future Pharmacists

Conshohocken, Pa. (July 10, 2023) – Good Neighbor Pharmacy (GNP), a national independent pharmacy network offered through AmerisourceBergen, in partnership with the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization focused on supporting health-related causes, is delighted to announce the winners of its inaugural Good Neighbor Pharmacy Scholarship program, focused on advancing diversity and inclusion across the pharmacy profession.

The four students will receive their scholarships beginning in the 2023-24 school year, as part of the program, which aims to cover the education expenses of Black and African American graduate students pursuing a Pharmacy Doctorate Degree, preferably at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

To commemorate the first year of the program, four pharmacy school students (one rising P1, P2, P3, and P4 student) were selected to receive $25,000 for each remaining academic year of their four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program. In subsequent years, a new rising P1 student will be selected to join the pool of previous winners, filling the space left by the graduating P4 student.

This year’s inaugural recipients are:
• Joshua Conley, a rising P1 student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.
• Samarah McCroskey, a rising P2 student at the University of Toledo, OH.
• LaNisha Potts, a rising P3 student at Howard University, Washington DC.
• Abigail Owusu, a rising P4 student at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

The four students have been invited to attend Good Neighbor Pharmacy’s annual ThoughtSpot event in Las Vegas from August 2-6, which draws nearly 5,000 independent pharmacy owner attendees for a series of live and on-demand continuing education (CE) sessions and certification programs, valuable networking events in a bustling exhibition hall, opportunities to investigate buying and much more. The students will be celebrated during the event’s general session and have the chance to meet with Good Neighbor Pharmacy and AmerisourceBergen leaders.

“The Good Neighbor Pharmacy team extends our warmest congratulations to the four remarkable individuals who have been selected as the first recipients of our Good Neighbor Pharmacy Scholarship,” said Jenni Zilka, President of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. “Through this scholarship program, we have been afforded the incredible opportunity to meet and support the aspirations of some of the nation’s best and brightest Black and African American future pharmacists and pharmacy owners. While this program is a small step, we remain steadfast in our commitment to actively participate in the ongoing journey of fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within the pharmacy industry and practice.”

“Despite more than doubling since 2014, only 5% of licensed pharmacists in the United States identify as Black or African American – a statistic that does not reflect the communities pharmacists serve, with approximately 12 percent of US population identifying as Black or African American,” said Ann Anaya, AmerisourceBergen’s SVP & Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “We know that diversity in healthcare is essential to advancing health equity. When a patient is represented and culturally understood, it increases the potential for better health outcomes.”

The AmerisourceBergen Foundation and Good Neighbor Pharmacy’s shared effort to support a more diverse pharmacy workforce through the creation of the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Scholarship aligns with the AmerisourceBergen Foundation’s commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion by engaging in partnerships with likeminded organizations to support projects that have a goal of providing both humans and animals, with a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

“The AmerisourceBergen Foundation is immensely proud to partner with Good Neighbor Pharmacy, whose commitment to advancing inclusion in pharmacy practice and ownership aligns seamlessly with our organization’s mission to invest in causes that enable healthier futures for all,” said Gina Clark, President of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation. “The recipients of the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Scholarship represent the bright future of pharmacy, and we are confident that they will make a lasting difference in the lives of countless patients.”


About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen fosters a positive impact on the health of people and communities around the world by advancing the development and delivery of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. As a leading global healthcare company, with a foundation in pharmaceutical distribution and solutions for manufacturers, pharmacies, and providers, we create unparalleled access, efficiency, and reliability for human and animal health. Our 41,000 global team members power our purpose: We are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #10 on the Fortune 500 with more than $200 billion in annual revenue. Learn more at https://amerisourcebergen.com/.  

About the AmerisourceBergen Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of AmerisourceBergen Corporation, the Foundation is aligned in its mission to support efficient and safe access to pharmaceutical care around the globe. The AmerisourceBergen Foundation supports nonprofits year-round through a robust grantmaking process which includes proactive disaster response support to strategic partners: Americares, Direct Relief, Healthcare Ready, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, NCPA Foundation, NOMV, and Wings of Rescue. During times of need, it is the collection of AmerisourceBergen, its associates, and the Foundation that come together united in a responsibility to create healthier futures and effectively support relief efforts. Together, these organizations work tirelessly around the clock to expand access to quality healthcare, improve patient outcomes and ensure that healthcare providers are able to receive the products they rely on to treat those who are immediately impacted. For more information about the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, visit www.amerisourcebergenfoundation.org.