The American Pharmacists Association Foundation has selected fourth-year Doctor of Pharmacy student Jennifer Levine as the 2016 recipient of the Charles C. Thomas scholarship.
The APhA Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., received a record 92 applications from 62 schools and colleges of pharmacy. Of the applicants, eight students received scholarships this year. Scholarships are awarded to recognize exceptional demonstration of leadership skills and academics through active involvement in the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists.
Levine will graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in May 2016. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry with a minor in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2012.
She has served as a leader and active member in many student organizations, including APhA-ASP chapter president of the Carolina Association of Pharmacy Students, vice president of the Recruitment Ambassadors Program, Student Health Action Coalition, and Phi Lambda Sigma. She is the current vice chair of the APhA-ASP National Education Standing Committee. Levine has worked as a student intern and executive intern for Target Pharmacy in the Research Triangle area. She is pursuing a residency in ambulatory care pharmacy and has additional interests in academia and global health. This past August, she traveled to Malawi for a global pharmacy rotation.
“During my time in pharmacy school, I wanted to develop myself as a leader and get involved in teaching and patient care opportunities outside of the classroom,” Levine said. “Through APhA, I became passionate about patient care and community outreach events, as well as policy and advocacy.”
Levine’s specific scholarship honors the distinguished pharmacist Charles C. Thomas. Thomas is a 1965 graduate of the Auburn University School of Pharmacy. While a student at Auburn, he founded Phi Lambda Sigma, the national pharmacy leadership society.
“UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy has been a great place to develop as a leader because I have had amazing mentors. One is Dr. Macary Marciniak, our APhA-ASP chapter adviser, who served as APhA-ASP chapter president during her time in school,” Levine said. “I look up to her, and she is full of amazing ideas, compassion and is extremely passionate about APhA.”