The School’s donor-funded scholarships advance student pharmacists’ development and preparation for an evolving profession

By Katie Ginder-Vogel

“Scholarships go beyond their monetary value — they are investments in us as people,” says Joey Jimenez, a third-year PharmD student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy. “They allow us to overcome financial barriers, recognize our contributions to the School and community, and push us to build a better tomorrow.”

Jimenez is one of the 148 student pharmacists at the School who received one of 176 donor-funded scholarships to offset the costs of tuition, housing, food, travel, and other key elements of their educational experience. The impacts are huge, with their effects rippling throughout each recipient’s professional career.

“I am incredibly grateful for that initial scholarship, because it gave me the freedom to chase my dream of becoming a pharmacist, without constantly worrying about how I would afford this journey.”
—Joey Jimenez

“The funds help with books, groceries, and incidentals,” says Mary Rice (BS ’75). As a donor and a member of the School’s Scholarship Committee, she sees scholarships’ impact on students firsthand. “A student also might be able to pay for a career-changing membership to a pharmacy organization or cover their costs for an important professional conference. These effects are huge as students start their careers.” 

‘Freedom to chase my dream’

Growing up in the Chicago suburb of Elgin, Illinois, Jimenez knew he wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. As an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, he started working at a nearby Walgreens during the COVID-19 pandemic. The store became a central hub for COVID-19 vaccines, and Jimenez was responsible for packaging and distributing vaccine supplies to other stores in the district. 

“This experience gave me a firsthand look at the critical role pharmacists play in their communities,” he says. “I had the chance to practice point-of-care testing, even before I knew what that term meant, and to help administer vaccines — all experiences that taught me the impact pharmacists can have on public health. These early experiences built my skills and deepened my commitment to becoming a pharmacist.” 

Jimenez made the choice to attend pharmacy school at UW–Madison when he received a scholarship with his acceptance letter. 

“I am incredibly grateful for that initial scholarship, because it gave me the freedom to chase my dream of becoming a pharmacist, without constantly worrying about how I would afford this journey,” he says. “The sense of relief I felt that day lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders — something I’ll never forget. The impact of that one scholarship, and the others I have been fortunate enough to receive for the past three years, has been profound.” 

Jimenez says his scholarships have motivated him to work harder in his courses; serve as a director for the School’s student ambassadors, who help welcome the next generation of future pharmacists; and work at the William S. Middleton Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“I am deeply committed to making a positive impact within and beyond our campus,” he says. “These scholarships have supported me financially and inspired me to give back.”

Through the pharmacy fraternity Phi Delta Chi, Jimenez volunteered to work at the School’s Grandparents University pharmacy major over the summer. At the event, which gives grandparents or other UW–Madison alumni the opportunity to bring a younger family member to campus to learn about the campus’ varied educational programs, he introduced children to pharmacy. 

“Working with the children and their grandparents was fun and rewarding — it gave me a new appreciation for sharing knowledge and mentoring others,” he says. “The experience sparked an interest in possibly pursuing teaching in some capacity in the future. Being able to give back and make a difference, even in small ways, has shown me the impact that we can have on others and the importance of community.”

Jimenez credits his ability to volunteer with the freedom provided by his scholarships.  

“I can truly focus on the things I’m passionate about — developing myself as a student, future pharmacist, and a person,” he says.

Motivated to make a difference

It’s students like Jimenez that motivate Rice to get involved. She was inspired to become a pharmacist by her father, Mylan Sinclair, owner of Appleton Pharmacy. When he turned eighty, Rice and her siblings honored him with a scholarship at the School of Pharmacy. 

“I’m the oldest of six in my family, and my brother and I both became pharmacists because of my dad,” Rice says. “He was our mentor and role model growing up, so we wanted to honor him because he always gave back to the profession — by being a preceptor, by being active in state organizations, and by being involved with School.”

The Mylan Sinclair Family Scholarship has supported 17 students since it was created in 2006, and before he passed away at age 91, Sinclair was able to meet many of the recipients.

“My dad lived to be 91, so for eight to 10 years, he would meet us in Madison for the scholarship recipient reception,” Rice says. “He loved meeting the students — he loved teaching and mentoring pharmacy students and was always very proud of their accomplishments.”

Rice, too, enjoys meeting the student pharmacists supported by the scholarship, which has been supported by her family and friends, as well as the Pharmacy Alumni Association.

“Getting to hear from and meet the recipients of my dad’s scholarship is really special,” Rice says. “It’s humbling and gratifying — they’re such high-caliber students, professionally and personally.  I truly appreciate learning how my dad’s scholarship, in a small part, can help pharmacy students reach their goals. It makes me very proud to be an alumna of the School.”

Supporting the profession

As the profession of pharmacy evolves, the field needs pharmacists who graduate ready to take on new challenges.

“Pharmacy is becoming increasingly complex, with new cell and gene therapies costing in the millions, and pharmacists are needed to help navigate this complexity, through their ability to communicate at different levels to both providers and patients,” says Brent Eberle (BS ‘98).

Eberle spent 20 years at the Madison-based pharmacy benefits manager Navitus and recently left to become the president of CivicaScript, a not-for-profit generic drug manufacturer founded by Navitus, Elevance Health, and numerous members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association that is dedicated to making quality generic medicines affordable and available to everyone.

Upon Eberle’s departure, Navitus has established a scholarship fund in his honor, to support pharmacy students’ journey to the cutting edge of the profession.

“I truly appreciate learning how my dad’s scholarship, in a small part, can help pharmacy students reach their goals. It makes me very proud to be an alumna of the School.”
—Mary Rice

“On behalf of Navitus, we appreciate the challenges of being a pharmacy student,” Eberle says. “These scholarships play a role in helping reduce stress and providing more flexibility for the students to focus on improving themselves, within and beyond the classroom. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the School of Pharmacy on this important work.”

Rice also sees scholarships as a way for School of Pharmacy alumni and friends to give back to the profession and help shape its future.

“I certainly encourage people to think about giving,” says Rice. “Many of us are so supportive of the profession and want to see it continue to evolve and advance. It makes me so proud to see the impact pharmacy students at the School have on our profession.”