USC School of Pharmacy receives gift supporting international outreach and education

A $200,000 gift to the International Center for Regulatory Science by philanthropist D.K. Kim will expand global outreach efforts by the USC School of Pharmacy, establishing international service and summer scholars program funds.

The gift will create the D.K. Kim International Service Fund to support clinical service programs that will train pharmacy students to become primary health care providers to patients in underserved areas of developing countries, providing much-needed medical services to individuals who may not otherwise receive proper care.

It will also establish the D.K. Kim Summer Scholars Program Fund, advancing regulatory science internationally by supporting a one-month summer program for students from a variety of countries.

“We’re honored by the support the D.K. Kim Foundation has provided to our students,” said School of Pharmacy Interim Dean Glen Stimmel, who noted that the school will begin work on both programs immediately.

“The funding allows us to advance unique programs related to global engagement that otherwise would be very difficult to support,” said Frances Richmond, director of the International Center for Regulatory Science.

The first group supported by the D.K. Kim International Service Fund will travel to Cambodia in December under the leadership of USC associate professor of clinical pharmacy Naomi Florea, who has organized a number of highly successful clinical trips to various countries. The first Summer Scholars program will take place in July, with participants from Korea, Taiwan and China.

The initiative is part of The Campaign for the University of Southern California, a multiyear effort to secure $6 billion or more in private philanthropy to advance USC’s academic priorities and expand the university’s positive impact on the community and world. The campaign has raised $5.3 billion to date.