#United States #Washington #Pharmacists #APhA Foundation #Incentive Grants

APhA Foundation Announces 2026-2027 Grant Recipients

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation recently disclosed the recipients of its prestigious Incentive Grants for the 2026-2027 cycle. This program offers crucial funding for innovative projects that enhance pharmaceutical care, reflecting APhA's commitment to improving health outcomes in the community. A total of 50 pharmacists and student pharmacists were honored this year, receiving initial financial support to initiate or bolster innovative patient care services within their pharmacies.

The Incentive Grants for Practitioner Innovation in Pharmaceutical Care hold the title of APhA’s longest-standing initiative. Over the years, this program has garnered significant backing from partners such as the Community Pharmacy Foundation, funding over 800 pharmacy-centric projects that have remarkably improved health outcomes for numerous patients across various locations in the United States. The focus areas for this year's projects vary widely, including diabetes management, test-and-treat services, and expanded pharmacy access, among others.

In addition to the Incentive Grants, the APhA Foundation also awarded three grants specifically aimed at enhancing immunization practices, made possible through generous support from Merck & Co. This initiative emphasizes equipping pharmacy residents with practical strategies and best practices to optimize project implementation focusing on immunization workflows.

Benjamin Bluml, the executive director of the APhA Foundation, expressed gratitude towards the foundation's partners for their unwavering support, stating, "We are sincerely grateful to our partners, Merck, CPF, and our donors, for continuing this important program. These projects will continue to make waves in pharmacy practice models long after completion."

The following is a list of some notable recipients of the Incentive Grants for Practitioner Innovation in Pharmaceutical Care:
1. Kunal Amin, NEOvations Pharmacy Services
- Project: NEO-VAX Connect - Closing Lifespan Immunization Gaps Through Integrated Care, Pharmacy Outreach, and Community Delivery
- Location: Rootstown, OH

2. Tinarena Awaradia, Western University of Health Sciences
- Project: A Ten-Year Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Run Hepatitis C Clinic Serving an Underserved Desert Community
- Location: Pomona/Palm Springs, CA

3. Lauren Blanco, Family Health Services
- Project: Clinical Pharmacy–Led FIB-4 Risk Stratification in Patients with Diabetes in a Rural FQHC
- Location: Greenville, OH

4. Tatiana Chu, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Project: Assessing the Effectiveness of a Health Literacy-Tailored Community Pharmacist Counseling Program on Hypertension and Medication Knowledge Retention
- Location: Boston, MA

Through such innovative projects, the APhA Foundation solidifies its role as a pioneering entity in the realm of pharmacy. The invaluable support provided by these grants lays the groundwork for pharmacists to implement crucial practices that cater to the needs of their patient populations, ultimately aspiring to enrich healthcare delivery.

Conclusion

The APhA Foundation's commitment to fostering innovation among pharmacists signifies an important step toward improving community health. The recipients of these grants are set to lead various transformative projects over the coming year—projects that aim not only to innovate but also to inspire future enhancements in pharmaceutical care within their communities.