Walgreens in ‘first-of-its-kind’ program to strengthen pharmacist pipeline
Walgreens has launched an innovative program to help its employees pursue a career as a pharmacist.
The pharmacy retailer has teamed up with talent development company Guild to launch PharmStart, a “first-of-its-kind,” fully-funded online education program designed to help eligible team members meet the prerequisite requirements for pharmacy school. Walgreens said the program aims to eliminate barriers to pursuing a PharmD degree, tapping into a new pool of talent while also addressing critical challenges in the pharmacist talent pipeline.
The PharmStart program will begin with an initial group of more than 300 Walgreens associates across six states: Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kentucky. The program is now accepting applications for eligible Walgreens pharmacy technicians and other eligible front-line positions who are interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacist.
“Becoming a pharmacist was a lifelong dream, but the cost of tuition always loomed in the back of my mind,” said Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, who began his career at the company as a front-of-store team member. “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.”
In collaboration with the Walgreens Deans Advisory Council, PharmStart was created in response to a survey of pharmacy technicians, which highlighted that the financial burden of tuition for prerequisite course fees and time constraints are significant obstacles in pursuing a PharmD degree.
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Through the partnership with Guild, all tuition costs are handled directly through the platform and eligible team members will have access to personalized support along the journey including with application assistance, enrollment, education and career coaching.
In addition to PharmStart, Walgreens has introduced several initiatives to support aspiring pharmacists on their journey to a PharmD degree. The Walgreens Pharmacy Educational Assistance Program (PEAP) offers up to $40,000 in tuition assistance, easing the financial burden of pharmacy school.
The Walgreens Student Loan 401(k) Match Program — part of the Retirement Savings Plan — helps team members paying off student loans earn their full match, even if they can’t contribute 4%. Walgreens treats a portion of loan payments like 401(k) contributions, helping reduce debt while building retirement savings.
