۽ֱ’s College of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences
continues with great achievements.
Just recently, on Oct. 18, the college held a press conference announcing an agreement
between ۽ֱ and a Shreveport company to license an olive oil-based nutraceutical developed
by a ۽ֱ pharmacy professor.
Monday, the same college held a check presentation to recognize an alumnus’ $60,000
contribution toward a superior graduate scholarship that will support Doctor of Pharmacy
students.
The contribution was made by Dr. Salvador “Sal” Scaccia who received his Pharm.D.
from ۽ֱ in 2002, which was the first Doctor of Pharmacy graduating class at ۽ֱ.
Scaccia said the scholarship is very important to him as a way to give back to his
alma mater for the gratitude and the successes he has made in his pharmacy career.
“I want to be able to give other students the same or even better opportunities for
success,” said Scaccia. “Giving back and doing our part to better the world is an
important concept that we should focus on and try to make happen every day.”
The Louisiana State Board of Regents offers matching opportunities for specific university
endowments, including superior graduate scholarships. Scaccia’s gift will be submitted
in the form of a proposal to the Louisiana State BOR to receive a competitive match
of $40,000 to create a $100,000 endowed superior graduate scholarship that will create
funds in perpetuity. The scholarship will be named the TLC-Dr. Salvador Scaccia Endowed
Superior Scholarship for Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Dr. Glenn Anderson, Dean of the College of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences, expressed
his gratitude to Scaccia adding that education takes commitment, including time, the
energy to go through challenging courses and the finances that students’ families
have to come up with to support their children through their college years.
“These kinds of gifts that go through perpetuity where you’re able to help those students
reduce that debt-load not only helps them, but helps the community that we serve and
the communities our alumni serve,” said Anderson.
Scaccia said his time at ۽ֱ prepared him for the real world, adding that he left
۽ֱ as a more experienced, educated and confident young man ready to conquer the world.
“The friendships and bonds that I made at ۽ֱ are lifelong,” said Scaccia. “Education
was top-notch. The educators were challenging, yet caring, and the family atmosphere
in the College of Pharmacy was an experience that was unique and fulfilling.”
۽ֱ President Nick J. Bruno said he is happy to see Dr. Scaccia returning some of
his success to the university where his career began.
“Hopefully, his gift will serve to our other alumni as a challenge for them to come
forward and to also help their university and their College of Pharmacy to excel in
ways that we have not seen before,” said Bruno.
About Dr. Scaccia:
After graduation from the University of Louisiana Monroe, Dr. Salvador Scaccia started
as the head retail pharmacist in an independent community pharmacy before beginning
his tenure in specialty pharmacy in 2005. In 2008, Scaccia opened Total Life Care
Rx Pharmacy, today known as Kroger Specialty Pharmacy. Here, he serves as Senior Vice
President and oversees more than 450 employees across Louisiana, Texas, and California.
He is currently on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, and
he has also served as president of the Greater New Orleans Pharmacy Association for
10 years.
In November 2010, Scaccia was honored by Gambit Magazine of New Orleans as one of
the top 40 people under the age of 40 for his accomplishments and contributions that
he has made to New Orleans in the area of business. He was also recognized by the
Young Leadership Council (YLC) of New Orleans in July 2017 as a Role Model for his
being an extraordinary example for the young professionals of New Orleans and the
community at large in his respective profession.