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Announced in June 2023, a $2.5 million gift from Shoppers Drug Mart — the largest ever gift to AV���ֲ�’s Faculty of Health —will support diversity, equity, and inclusion in health education, and research that aligns with Nova Scotia’s . The funding will enable innovations that improve access to health care among underserved populations and rural communities across Nova Scotia and beyond.

“We’re proud to support AV���ֲ�’s Faculty of Health and the advancement of our shared vision and commitment to creating better access to quality health care for Canadians,” says Jeff Leger (BScPH’95), President of Shoppers Drug Mart.

“This donation will amplify the important work the Faculty of Health is doing to identify and fill gaps in the health-care system,” he adds. “But more importantly, it will help fund future generations of health-care professionals from diverse backgrounds. By investing in their future, we’re investing in a health-care system that better represents the needs of our country.”

Breaking down barriers

A portion of the gift will create scholarships for undergraduate students studying pharmacy, physiotherapy, or occupational therapy who identify as Black Nova Scotians or Indigenous, or who are from New Glasgow or North Sydney. The scholarships will help break down existing barriers to health education and increase diversity in the health professions. There will also be bursaries to make rural-area clinical placements more accessible and affordable for students.

Dr. Brenda Merritt, Dean of the Faculty of Health, says the gift reflects the vision Shoppers Drug Mart and AV���ֲ� share of creating a solid foundation to tackle the increasingly complex health-care challenges facing society.

“We need more innovative collaborations and more diversity in perspectives to solve them,” says Merritt. “We are thankful for the incredible support of Shoppers Drug Mart. This will help spark innovation in teaching, research, and patient-centred care. It will also enable us to create exceptional learning opportunities for our students and strengthen our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. That has the potential to enhance the health and well-being of all Canadians.”

Susan Mansour (BScPharm’81, MBA’90) is the Director of the College of Pharmacy and Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Health. She says the gift will help clear a path to success for students.

“It’s going to have a significant impact on students in the College of Pharmacy,” says Mansour. “Given the many pressures on pharmacy students in the current environment, student financial need has skyrocketed in the last few years. The need for pharmacists in the Maritimes is currently high and this gift will generously assist students in earning their degree and starting to contribute to health care.”