The Ronald L. Williams Memorial Fund was established in 2004 by the APhA Addiction Practitioner Interest Group (PInG) (now known as the Pain, Palliative Care, and Substance Use Disorder Community) in honor of Ron Williams who served as the long-time coordinator of the Pharmacy Section at the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies.

As a member of the APhA Staff from 1968 until 1998, Ron devoted his untiring attention to improving the health and careers of pharmacists with alcohol and drug dependencies. During his career, Williams was instrumental in the development of Pharmacist Recovery Programs (PRNs) that assist pharmacists and student pharmacists who have become affected by dependence on alcohol and other drugs. Due to Ron’s efforts, countless lives have been saved throughout the years.

The memorial fund, building off of initial contributions made by the members of the APhA Addiction PInG and administered by the APhA Foundation, provides two (2) $1,000 scholarships annually to student pharmacists attending the APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders in Salt Lake City, Utah. Scholarship recipients will be required to prepare a one-page publishable report for Student Pharmacist magazine on their experiences at the APhA Institute.

How to Apply

Student pharmacists who are interested in applying should visit the APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders website.

General Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must:

• Be a member of the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) or Student Pharmacists Community

• Provide a letter of intent (750 words) describing:

  • Why they wish to receive the scholarship;

  • What they expect to gain from attending the APhA Institute,

  • How they intend to incorporate the knowledge of substance use disorder and recovery into their academic experience and future practice.

Program Timeline

The APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders Scholarship Committee will choose recipients based on careful review of completed materials. Applications are due in February and the APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders is held in May.