Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program

Select Students Earn a Job Upon Graduation...

...and $20,000 for Pharmacy Education

Save on the cost of your pharmacy education and get a head start on a Geisinger career with the Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program.

This unique program provides

  • a job offer in Geisinger upon graduation from Wilkes University’s Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, provided the student meets requirements.
  • a $20,000 loan payable from Geisinger to selected students when they successfully enter the fifth year of the six-year pharmacy program. Geisinger will forgive the loan for scholars employed by Geisinger for two years immediately following graduation from Wilkes or the end of a post-graduate residency.

Wilkes University and Geisinger developed this unique opportunity to reduce the cost of education and recruit highly skilled pharmacists to Geisinger. Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars who do not complete two years of employment at Geisinger must repay the loan.

How You Benefit

In addition to the job offer and $20,000 forgivable loan, Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars will benefit from:

  • a Geisinger pharmacist mentor as well as a Wilkes University faculty advisor;
  • opportunity to participate in Geisinger initiatives as part of your educational curriculum;
  • priority access to Geisinger for introductory and advanced program experiences;
  • flexible employment opportunities as early as the P1 year.

I had the opportunity to complete a rotation at Geisinger Health Plan during my final year of school, which led me to pursue a managed care pharmacy residency.

Leslie Shumlas PharmD ’19 Health Plan Pharmacist at Geisinger Health Plan

Who May Apply

To apply to the Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program, students must be:

  • High school seniors who have committed to Wilkes’ Pre-Pharmacy Guaranteed Seat Program with:
    • minimum high school grade-point average of 3.5
    • high school percentile 90th or greater (for those without a GPA)
    • signed contract and tuition deposit
  • Willing to be employed as a pharmacist anywhere in the Geisinger external website system, which has locations throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Preference will be given to candidates who apply by March 30.

More than a quarter of Geisinger’s 400-plus pharmacists earned their degrees from Wilkes University’s Nesbitt School of Pharmacy.

About Geisinger Pharmacy Services

Geisinger’s pharmacy team external website is recognized for leading innovative and evidence-based programs of care delivery, research and education. Backed by the support of a large health care system that leads with innovative methodologies, cutting-edge research and clinical expertise, the pharmacy team has been recognized for excellence in multiple areas.

Services include:

  • Health system and community pharmacies
  • Inpatient and outpatient services
  • Specialty pharmacy
  • Home infusion pharmacy
  • Pharmaceutical service for Geisinger Health Plan

Researchers in the Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes external website work to innovate and evaluate medication use and quality within the services provided by pharmacy.

Contact Us

To learn more about the Geisinger Pharmacy Scholars Program and Wilkes University’s Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, contact:

Dr. Julie Olenak

Assoc Dean, Adms/Studt Affairs
Nesbitt School of Pharmacy

Stark Learning Center SLC 117C
julie.olenak@wilkes.edu
(570) 408-4288

Justin Collins

Director of Admissions and Student Affairs
Nesbitt School of Pharmacy

Stark Learning Center 117D
justin.collins@wilkes.edu
(570) 408-4122