A Message from TRUST Director Lucas
I stepped into the role of director of TRUST in January 2024. It has been an honor to build upon the foundation established by leaders before me while working to advance TRUST's mission. Since then, we have focused on expanding student engagement, strengthening partnerships, growing our interdisciplinary community, and creating innovative learning experiences that prepare students to become collaborative healthcare leaders.
Our leadership team has also expanded; we were thrilled to welcome both Katie Sasina as TRUST coordinator overseeing operational duties and Jacqueline McGinley as assistant director overseeing community-engaged service initiatives within the program. Their dedication and expertise have already had a tremendous impact on the program and our students.
The past two years have demonstrated tremendous growth for the program. We welcomed two new disciplines to TRUST — the Community Research and Action PhD program from Binghamton University and the Physician Assistant program from Upstate Medical University — further expanding the interdisciplinary perspectives represented within our learning community.
The 2025-26 academic year also marked several important milestones. We admitted the largest cohort of TRUST Scholars in the program's history, reflecting the growing interest in interprofessional education, caring for underserved communities, and community-engaged service learning. We successfully launched and completed our first-ever Rural Health Immersion Program, in collaboration with CNY AHEC, NAHEC, and Alice Hyde Medical Center. This experience provided five students with firsthand exposure to rural healthcare systems, community resources, and the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural populations during a five-day immersive program. We look forward to building upon its success in the years ahead.
Another highlight has been the continued growth of our Student Advisory Board, now entering its second year. The board has become an important voice within TRUST, shaping programming and demonstrating the power of student leadership in interprofessional education. Their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and service continues to strengthen our community.
Our partners outside Binghamton also remain integral to our successes: a key contributor in TRUST, Simone Seward of SUNY Upstate Medical University, has been one of TRUST's strongest collaborators, helping strengthen educational programming, workforce development initiatives, and community partnerships. Her commitment to public health, interprofessional collaboration, and student success has made a lasting impact, and we are grateful for her continued partnership and support.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on expanding student service-learning opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, and increasing engagement with our growing network of alumni. As TRUST continues to evolve, we are committed to ensuring our students are prepared to become collaborative, compassionate, and community-focused healthcare leaders.
As we continue to grow the TRUST community, we encourage you to stay connected through the TRUST LinkedIn group. The group serves as a space to share updates, accomplishments, and opportunities while strengthening the professional network that makes TRUST so unique.
If you are interested in supporting TRUST and investing in student success, consider making a gift through our giving link. As a program that relies heavily on philanthropic support, your generosity directly impacts student learning, leadership development, community engagement opportunities, and program growth. Thank you to those who have already contributed to decreasing barriers to student participation in TRUST.
We invite you to stay engaged and follow along as we continue to expand opportunities for current and future TRUST scholars!
Warm regards,
Rachel Lucas, PharmD, BCCP
Director, The Rural and Underserved Service Track
Clinical Assistant Professor
Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences