PQA has launched a new scholarship program to help pharmacy and other health care professions students from diverse backgrounds attend the 2023 PQA Annual Meeting, May 10-12, in Nashville, Tenn. 

This program is open to students who have completed at least their second year of study in a pharmacy or other health care degree program – and are part of racial, ethnic and other minority groups who are underrepresented in quality and health care leadership positions.  

PQA is particularly interested in increasing representation in its programs among individuals who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander or Asian.  

We recognize that these categories are far from complete to account for our nation’s diversity, which is why we’ve allowed applicants to share their information on their own terms. We are tracking the White House’s recent proposals for revising the federal race and ethnicity standards, and we look forward to updating our approach in the future based on these proposals and feedback from our members and program applicants. 

Self-nominations will be accepted through a form on the PQA website through Friday, March 17. 

Individuals selected for a scholarship will receive complimentary registration to the meeting and MUQ Live workshop, three nights’ hotel and a travel stipend. Scholarship recipients also will have a complimentary registration to our pre-meeting Medication Use Quality Live workshop on May 10.  

This scholarship opportunity is part of the PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program and our commitment to build a quality workforce that represents the nation’s diversity.   

HQIQ: Teaching Pharmacy Students the Fundamentals of Quality   

PQA has another new opportunity for students this year. 

The PQA Healthcare Quality IQ (HQIQ) program teaches pharmacy and other health professions students the basics of quality measurement and strategies to improve medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. It provides more than 20 hours of specialized learning opportunities in quality and is part of PQA’s commitment to train the next generation of medication use quality professionals. 

Sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions (PQS), HQIQ centers around Medication Use Quality (MUQ), PQA’s nationally accredited continuing education and certificate program. Students selected to participate in HQIQ through a self-nomination process will receive scholarships to attend the 2023 PQA Annual Meeting, May 10-12, in Nashville, Tenn. The meeting includes a special four-hour MUQ training event.   

HQIQ is open to undergraduate and graduate students who have completed their second year of study in a pharmacy or other health care degree program. Self-nominations will be accepted through a form on the PQA website through Friday, February 24. Selected participants will be notified in early March.  

Comparing the Diversity Scholarship Program and HQIQ 

The Diversity in Quality Scholarships for the PQA Annual Meeting and the HQIQ program have many similarities. We have developed a table to help students understand the distinctions between the two. Students can self-nominate for one or both of these opportunities. Please email Academics@PQAalliance.org with any questions.