Student Pharmacist Sahej Chawla Receives American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation Scholarship
Sahej Chawla, a third-year student pharmacist in the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, received the Robert D. Gibson Scholarship from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation!
The APhA Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is committed to research that demonstrates the positive impact of pharmacists in the healthcare industry. Through their Student Scholarship Program, the APhA Foundation annually recognizes exceptional students from pharmacy schools across the country. Chawla is among 22 students who were awarded scholarships by the APhA Foundation this year.
“I feel grateful to receive this scholarship,” she shared. “Not only will this help financially toward my professional development and career, but it also represents a recognition of my dedication to our APhA chapter. This scholarship encourages me to continue striving for excellence, both academically and professionally, and reinforces my commitment to making meaningful contributions in my field.”
To qualify for an APhA Foundation scholarship, a student must demonstrate academic success in a pharmacy program, as well as active involvement in their campus APhA chapter.
Chawla is the immediate past president of the APhA/California Pharmacists Association (CPhA)-Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) chapter at UCI. During her time as Chapter President, the chapter received its APhA Charter, and she served as the first Chapter Delegate for UCI at the 2023 APhA Annual House of Delegates.
“Students should get involved with our UCI APhA chapter because it provides a national network, professional development, advocacy, and leadership opportunities. Through this organization, students can participate in outreach events, such as health fairs, to give back to the community,” Chawla stated.
Next year, she will be completing an APPE (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience) with APhA’s practice department in Washington, D.C.
“I am excited to share that I have been selected for the APPE rotation with APhA Pharmacy Practice & Government Affairs,” she said. “I am looking forward to learning more about the pharmacy practice, regulatory activities, and grassroots advocacy.”
Chawla currently serves on the CPhA Board of Directors. She is also a Graduate Advisor for Rang De Irvine, a Bhangra dance team at UCI. In the past, she has served as a UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Student Representative.
“Sahej is a dynamic student leader,” said Dr. Sarah McBane, Founding Associate Dean for Pharmacy Education. “She has shown herself to be capable of motivating her peers to action, as evidenced by the success of the APhA/CPhA-ASP chapter’s outreach events. She is a well-rounded student pharmacist whose interest in addressing health disparities aligns with the mission of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. This is another example of our students’ excellence. The UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences continues to make its mark on the profession at the local, state, and national levels.”