July 7, 2008
The North Carolina Health Careers Access Program has recognized the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy with the Cecil G. Sheps Leadership Award for the School’s efforts to increase the diversity of its student population and the health-care workforce.
The NC-HCAP is an interinstitutional program of the UNC system designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged students who are educated, trained, and employed in the health professions. The Cecil G. Sheps Leadership Award recognizes individuals or entities that have proactively sought out and implemented strategies to increase underrepresented minorities in a health science discipline and/or who have worked in partnership with NC-HCAP to support its mission and activities.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award,” says Clinical Assistant Professor Carla White Harris, BS, RPh, the director of recruitment and diversity initiatives at the School. “We understand that diversity in higher education is necessary to ensure the social and human capital required to form meaningful and respectful relationships needed to live and work in a diverse world.”
White Harris, who was tabbed to lead the School’s new recruitment and diversity initiatives in 2007, oversees the development and execution of a student-recruitment plan for the doctor of pharmacy program. The plan’s long-term goal is to enhance the quality and diversity of students applying to the School.
“North Carolina—and the nation as a whole—is grappling with a shortage of pharmacists, and the problem is particularly acute in certain areas,” says Bob Blouin, dean of the School. “We believe that by recruiting young people from underserved areas and populations to the practice of pharmacy, we will not only increase the overall number of pharmacy practitioners, but we will also increase the number of pharmacists who choose to practice in areas where they are most needed.”
Initially, the School is focusing its efforts on students in their first year of college, White Harris says. As the program grows, the School will shift its focus to high school students.
“Research has shown us that by the tenth grade many children already have a good idea of the career path they want to follow. Images are very powerful in forming those ideas,” she says. “If a child doesn’t see people like themselves in pharmacy practice, they may believe that pharmacy is not a career that is open to them. I want to make sure that they know that pharmacy is a career open to anyone willing to put in the work.”
“The creation of a director of recruitment and diversity initiatives position is a testament to the School’s commitment to producing a diverse pharmacy workforce,” says Patrena Benton, the director of NC-HCAP. “We applaud Dean Blouin’s leadership in this area and Carla’s collaborative interest in supporting pipeline programs and her recruitment efforts in student diversity.”
The award will be presented at the closing ceremony of NC-HCAP’s Science Enrichment Preparation Program on Friday, July 11, at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center.
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