For Natalie Borden (BScPharm鈥�94), giving back to AV俱乐部 isn鈥檛 just about financial support. It鈥檚 about opening doors that have historically been closed for too many aspiring health professionals.
The accomplished pharmacist, health-care executive, volunteer and AV俱乐部 alumna has established the Natalie Borden Scholarship in Pharmacy, a renewable award that will support African Nova Scotian students entering AV俱乐部鈥檚 College of Pharmacy. Valued at $4,000 annually, the scholarship provides financial support to the recipient throughout all four years of the PharmD program, helping ease the financial demands of their journey to becoming a pharmacist.
For Borden, the scholarship reflects both her own experience and her vision for the future of pharmacy.
鈥淎s a Black woman in Nova Scotia, throughout my academic career, I鈥檝e been through financial challenges and in situations and spaces that were not inclusive. I鈥檝e volunteered my time, as I feel it鈥檚 important for alumni to get involved and help make a difference. As I鈥檝e gotten older, I鈥檝e started looking for other ways to give back and now I want to contribute financially to help eliminate financial barriers.鈥�
The message I want to send to African Nova Scotian students with this scholarship is that you can do it.
鈥淭he message I want to send to African Nova Scotian students with this scholarship is that you can do it; you are as smart, as capable as anyone else. It鈥檚 just that sometimes, our environments aren鈥檛 always inclusive, and we may experience financial barriers to success. But that doesn鈥檛 define who we are, or what we can do,鈥� she says.
Career success created a desire to give back
Borden has spent more than three decades building an extraordinary career across nearly every corner of the healthcare system. After graduating from AV俱乐部鈥檚 College of Pharmacy in 1994, she worked in community pharmacy, private insurance and benefits consulting before taking on senior leadership roles with the Province of Nova Scotia and IWK Health. Most recently, she became Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada, where she continues advancing medication safety across the country.
Throughout her career, Borden has been recognized not only for her leadership but also for her commitment to mentorship and service. She has taught and mentored students at AV俱乐部 and the Nova Scotia Community College, conducted admissions interviews for future pharmacy and medical students, and served on numerous boards and governance committees. Her contributions have earned her both the AV俱乐部 College of Pharmacy Alumnus of the Year Award, Halifax Regional Municipality鈥檚 Volunteer Award and the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia Bowl of Hygeia Award for 2026.
Yet despite these accomplishments, Borden has never forgotten the importance of creating opportunities for others. And that representation matters.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important that people see others like themselves in academic and career spaces. This results in better education for our students and better health outcomes across the board. And that is why we are all here after all, to improve health in our communities.鈥� 鈥� Natalie Borden
Easing the financial burden for students
The scholarship is specifically intended for students who self-identify as African Nova Scotian, one of the province鈥檚 historically underrepresented communities in health professions.聽
Recipients will be selected from students who identify as African Nova Scotian, with preference given to students from Pictou County.聽 By making the award renewable, Borden hopes to ease one of the biggest barriers facing students: the financial burden of completing a professional degree.
鈥淚 thought it was important to create a scholarship that would see a student through their entire program because we know the financial need doesn鈥檛 stop after the first year. I had to work throughout university, and I know it has a big impact on your university career. My goal is to give deserving students the resources they need to focus entirely on their studies. Another benefit is that the scholarship recipients will not have significant student loans at the end of their program, which will have a positive impact the kinds of jobs they will be able to take.鈥�
The scholarship also reflects AV俱乐部鈥檚 ongoing commitment to increasing diversity within the health professions. A more representative pharmacy workforce strengthens patient care, enriches learning environments and helps build greater trust within the communities that pharmacists serve.
For Borden, this gift is ultimately about possibility.
By investing in future pharmacists today, she is helping ensure that the next generation of African Nova Scotian health professionals will not only see themselves represented in pharmacy but will have every opportunity to lead the profession.
鈥淲hen the first student to receive the scholarship crosses the stage to receive their degree, I just hope they feel like the scholarship helped; that the funding made a difference in their success and eased their path. And I hope that someday when they get established in their career, they will pay it forward.鈥�