Abby Davies, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, is helping to revolutionize health care access for women through community pharmacies. As the recipient of the American Foundation for Pharmacy Education/American Pharmacists Association Community Practice Fellowship, she is focusing her dissertation on expanding contraceptive access via South Carolinaʼs Pharmacy Access Act.
“My dissertation topic uses reproductive health to make a direct impact without necessarily having to be in a hospital or clinical setting,” Davies explains. “As a woman, I wanted to do anything I possibly could to better the health care of other women in my community and in the United States.”
Daviesʼ academic journey took an unexpected turn when faculty mentors recognized her leadership potential. “I had a job in health care consulting that I was excited about,” she recalls. “But Gene Reeder had a conversation with me and said, ʻNot to persuade you, but I really think you could be a leader, and I really think our Ph.D. program would help you a lot with that.ʼ”
As a woman, I wanted to do anything I possibly could to better the health care of other women in my community and in the United States.
Her current research develops implementation strategies to help pharmacists prescribe self-administered contraceptives, with a particular focus on rural health care access. “A lot of people live very close to the community pharmacy in rural areas, but they donʼt necessarily live close to other forms of health care,” Davies notes.
Daviesʼ commitment to community service began during her undergraduate years as a Service Saturday site leader. “It really made me feel connected to Columbia,” she says. “I think it just makes everything a little bit more meaningful when you actually see that itʼs doing something for the greater good of your community.”
Her academic excellence has been recognized through significant achievements, including as a member of the national championship team for the 2024 CLARION Healthcare Case Competition and receiving the 2024 Charles Yandell Award and the 2025 Ritedose Corporation Graduate Student Scholarship.
“I donʼt think alumni who support those awards truly understand how much that means to students,” Davies reflects.
Topics: Graduate Program, Research