Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship enters fourth year, applications now open

Growing program supports Indigenous representation in pharmacy and health care

The Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC), in partnership with the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), has opened applications for the 2026–2027 Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship. The program, now in its fourth year, supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit students pursuing careers in pharmacy across Canada and helps address the underrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in health programs.

Interest in the national scholarship continues to grow. In the most recent cycle, nearly 30 students applied for 3 PharmD scholarships and 2 pharmacy technician scholarships. Since its launch, the program has received nearly 100 applications and distributed more than $230,000 in funding to Indigenous learners.

Scholarship recipients receive financial support to help offset tuition and other costs, along with opportunities to connect with IPPC, CPhA and program sponsors through mentorship and ongoing engagement.

Supporting Indigenous leadership in pharmacy

“We continue to be inspired by the stories of the scholarship applicants and encouraged by the number of Indigenous students entering the pharmacy profession,” said Amy Lamb, Executive Director of the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada. “Continued growth of the scholarship program is vital to strengthening Indigenous-led and determined pharmacy practice evolution, ensuring that we continue to dismantle structural barriers to Indigenous representation and leadership in Canada’s health systems,” Lamb added.

For many students, the impact of the scholarship goes beyond financial assistance.

“Receiving the IPPC scholarship was incredibly meaningful to me, both personally and professionally,” said Alexa Harvey, a 2025–2026 scholarship recipient. “Beyond the financial support, it gave me the confidence to become more involved and to use my voice, particularly as an Indigenous pharmacy student. It encouraged me to continue engaging in leadership and advocacy, and to help uplift and motivate other Indigenous pharmacy students to stay involved and see themselves reflected in the future of the profession.”

A growing opportunity for partnership

The Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship is made possible through the support of partners and sponsors committed to advancing equity, representation and reconciliation within the pharmacy profession.

As one of the founding sponsors of the program, Sobeys National Pharmacy is honoured to support the IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship. “Our commitment to increasing the representation of Indigenous health-care professionals is one we hold deeply, and we're proud that it aligns with the direction set out in UNDRIP Article 23, TRC Call to Action 23, and MMIWG Call for Justice 7.8,” said Jim Johnston, VP & General Manager, Sobeys National Pharmacy. “We believe representation is essential to better health outcomes and lasting systemic change, and since 2023, we've valued the opportunity to connect with scholarship recipients and support their journeys in pharmacy.”

Organizations interested in supporting the program can connect with IPPC and CPhA to learn more about partnership opportunities.

 

About the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada
The Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) is an Indigenous-led association established to connect and support Indigenous pharmacy professionals and help all pharmacists provide better care to Indigenous patients by creating and promoting pharmacy practice models that respect the safety, equality, strengths and teachings of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. More information is available at www.indigenouspharmacy.ca.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Amy Lamb
Executive Director
Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada
ceo@indigenouspharmacy.ca

Tyler Gogo
Senior Manager, Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
tgogo@pharmacists.ca