New Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program Enhances Educational Opportunities and Job Placements for Pharmacy Students

Recently ranked number 15 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Health Care Jobs list, pharmacists blend science and patient care to improve health outcomes and overall patient wellbeing. Now, thanks to a partnership agreement with Geisinger, students educated in Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia College of Pharmacy will have even more academic and professional support as they enter the highly desirable field of pharmacy.

The new Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program offers select, qualified, first-year and matriculated Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students a job opportunity with Geisinger following graduation, along with a $20K forgivable loan in their fifth year, to be repaid through 24 months of employment with the Pennsylvania-based healthcare system. 

The program will also pair pharmacy students with a mentor from the company — in most cases, an alumnus from the University’s Philadelphia College of Pharmacy — as they navigate the pre-professional years of their program. As students near completion of their professional years, they will then be given preference for experiential-learning opportunities within the health system.

“Whether it’s in one of the hospitals, ambulatory direct-patient care or one of several other patient care services, we would give them preference for placement to complete their advanced practice experiences in the final year of school,” explains Daniel Longyhore, PharmD, EdD, BCACP, system director of knowledge management at Geisinger. 

Mentorship and experiential learning are a cornerstone of the PharmD program, which encourages students to apply their classroom and laboratory knowledge across diverse real-world practice settings like Geisinger.

“Geisinger is nationally recognized as a leader and innovator in patient care, pharmacy management, research and education,” says Edward Foote, BS ’87, Pharm D ’91, John Wyeth Dean of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and associate dean of the School of Health Professions. “Saint Joseph's University’s Philadelphia College of Pharmacy has a long and meaningful relationship with Geisinger and this program will only serve to enrich our collaborative efforts. We are so pleased to offer the Geisinger Scholars Program opportunity to our students.”

The program selection process will begin on April 1 and applications will be accepted until the available positions are filled.

“We are delighted to be able to partner with Saint Joseph’s University’s Philadelphia College of Pharmacy for the Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program and support the college’s future pharmacists,” says alumnus Michael A. Evans, BS ’96, RPh, MBA, FASHP, chief pharmacy officer at Geisinger. “We look forward to providing students in the program access to Geisinger Pharmacy, pharmacists, pharmacy techs and our innovative pharmacy practice models to inspire their own personal and professional identities.”

Interested students should contact the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions, Laura Waite, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, at lwaite@sju.edu for more information.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education.