New Diversity Fund
Thanks to the generosity and vision of UConn School of Pharmacy alum and board member James (Jim) LaFlamme, R.Ph. ‘79, MS, FACHE, the UConn Foundation has instituted a new Diversity Committee Programming Fund to benefit School of Pharmacy students. The fund will support University-approved expenses of the student led School of Pharmacy Diversity Committee that are related to initiatives intended to foster and enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
LaFlamme, a long-time supporter of the School, is the founder and CEO of Biopharma Global, an international regulatory affairs firm focused on Orphan Drugs and rare diseases. The company is based in Vienna, Virginia.
“The School of Pharmacy and its graduates should look like our society” said LaFlamme after his gift was announced at the School’s fall Executive Board meeting in October. “This is important because different ethnic-communities in this country have different needs and expectations, language barriers, slang barriers. Developing a diverse pharmacist community can help us understand these needs and deliver the healthcare necessary in a way that individual communities will embrace. Recruiting and in turn supporting pharmacy students from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities will help us achieve the goal of providing high quality pharmacy services, overcoming multiple barriers that exist in the various communities across America.”
“We are so appreciative of Jim’s gift to our School and students,” says Philip Hritcko, Dean. “Being able to support experiences, curriculum, and travel that opens minds to diversity and inclusion will facilitate financially unencumbered personal and professional growth for our students.”
LaFlamme has challenged his fellow Pharmacy alumni to support the fund pledging $25,000 to match all gifts if an additional $25K can be raised during this academic year. To date the Foundation reports $5,750 in additional commitments to the Pharmacy Diversity Committee Programming Fund.
Mentorship – Seeking Mentors
In response to Diversity Committee student requests, the School for Pharmacy Foundation is also now reaching out to alums to ask if they are interested in being a Pharm.D. mentor for students seeking like-mentors. Mentorship involves being available for occasional one-on-one meetings, either online, over the phone, or in person.
“The perspective alums have, their past history at the school, like experiences, and time outside working in in the ‘real world’ is invaluable to rounding out professional and experiential education,” says Hritcko.
If you are an alum with a Pharm.D. and would like to add your name to this program please email pharmacy@uconn.edu
