DUBLIN, Ohio, July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its continued commitment to supporting future pharmacists, Cardinal Health today announced that nine pharmacy schools across the country will collectively receive $2 million in funding through the Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program in 2014.

The company has donated nearly $4.2 million to more than 20 universities through this program since its launch in June 2011.

The nine schools that were selected to participate in this year's Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program were chosen based on their commitment to advancing the independent pharmacy profession. These schools offer curricula focused on operating an independent pharmacy; support student-run chapters of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA); endorse internship and co-op programs with local independent retail pharmacies; and demonstrate high post-graduate placement rates in community pharmacy settings.

"We know community pharmacists play a critical role in improving the cost-effectiveness of healthcare, and in helping patients better manage their overall health," said Mike Kaufmann, chief executive officer of Cardinal Health's Pharmaceutical segment. "We're proud to support tomorrow's community pharmacy leaders through this scholarship program, and we're inspired by the impact we know they'll have on their patients and communities, when they become pharmacy owners."

The nine schools that received pharmacy scholarship funding from the Cardinal Health Pharmacy Scholarship Program in 2014 include:


    --  East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy (Johnson
        City, Tenn.)
    --  The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (Columbus, Ohio)
    --  Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy (Birmingham, Ala.)
    --  Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (Buies
        Creek, N.C.)
    --  Northeastern University Bouve College of Health Sciences, School of
        Pharmacy (Boston)
    --  St. Louis College of Pharmacy (St. Louis, Mo.)
    --  Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy (Auburn, Ala.)
    --  University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health
        Sciences (Stockton, Calif.)
    --  Idaho State University College of Pharmacy (Pocatello, Idaho)

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $101 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products and services to more than 100,000 locations each day and is also the industry-leading direct-to-home medical supplies distributor. The company is a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company operates the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #22 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs 33,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

SOURCE Cardinal Health