125 Years of Carolina Pharmacy
Check back weekly for updates as we celebrate the 125-year journey that made us the nation’s top-ranked pharmacy school
By Ryan McDaniel
Department of Pharmacy Established
The Board of Trustees establishes the Department of Pharmacy and elects Edward Vernon Howell as Professor of Pharmacy. Howell served as Dean of the School until 1931.
Wright Brothers’ First Flight
In Kill Devil Hills, NC Orville and Wilbur Wright fly what is essentially the first airplane across 120 feet of beach, marking the birth of modern aviation. The School of Pharmacy is in its fifth year of instruction at the time.
John Grover Beard Joins the Faculty
After graduating from the School and receiving his pharmacist license, John Grover Beard joins the faculty. He later becomes the second Dean of the School.
The School of Pharmacy Moves Facilities
The School of Pharmacy quickly outgrew the cramped quarters of the first floor of New West. In 1912 the School moves to Person Hall.
Kappa Psi Fraternity Established
With Professor Beard’s advocacy, the local chapter of the Kappa Psi Fraternity is established at UNC.
The First Women at the School of Pharmacy
Pauline Harriet Bingham and Margaret Lynch enroll at the School of Pharmacy, becoming the first women to join the school since its founding. (Photo from 1917 Class Photo)
The US Enters World War I
When the US enters the First World War in 1917, UNC’s campus is transformed to serve as a military camp. In total, 65 Pharmacy students serve during the war.
Flu Pandemic of 1918
The 1918 influenza pandemic strikes the University hard. Professor Beard, with the aid of his students, is responsible for filling prescriptions for the scores of flu patients on campus.
Alice Noble Joins the School
Alice Noble is hired as the assistant secretary for the School. Ms. Noble goes on to become secretary, then librarian and archivist, then research historian. Her book, The School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina; A History, captures the foundations of the School and its growth through 1960.…
Phi Delta Chi Fraternity Established
With the support of Professor Beard, the local chapter of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity is established at UNC.
First Honorary Degree Conferred
For the first time in its history, the University of North Carolina confers an honorary degree at Commencement. EV Zoeller, a North Carolina pharmacist and advocate for the profession, receives an honorary Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
The School Moves Again
In 1925, after having quickly outgrown Person Hall, the School of Pharmacy moves to “the building occupied by the Department of Chemistry.” In 1931, the building is re-named Howell Hall in honor of Dean Vernon Howell.
Marion Lee Jacobs Joins the Faculty
Marion Lee Jacobs joins the faculty as instructor in pharmaceutical chemistry, returning to the University from which he’d received his Ph.C. degree. Dr. Jacobs later becomes the School’s third dean.
John Grover Beard Becomes Dean
In February, 1931, after serving as dean for nearly 34 years, Edward Vernon Howell passes away. Professor Beard is made Acting Dean immediately thereafter and, in March, is appointed permanently by the Board of Trustees.
Edward A Brecht Joins the Faculty
E. A. Brecht joins the School after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. His addition to the faculty brings the total School of Pharmacy faculty to five. Dr. Brecht later becomes the fourth dean of the School.
Pharmacy Senate is Formed
A group of 30 students form the Pharmacy Senate, a forum to discuss the state of the pharmacy profession. This is the precursor to Student Senate, which still operates within the School today.
Industry Trips Begin
Trips to visit pharmaceutical industry laboratories begin in 1941 and continue annually thereafter. During the years, visits have been made to Parke, Davis and Co., the Upjohn Co., E. R. Squibb and Sons, Abbot Laboratories, and of course, Eli Lilly.
The US Enters World War II
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the US joins World War II. More than 10,000 students and alumni of the University entered the armed services. More than 350 lost their lives in service, including eight students of pharmacy.
North Carolina Pharmaceutical Research Foundation Formed
The Executive Committee of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association establishes the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Research Foundation, renamed in 1989 to the Pharmacy Foundation of North Carolina. The Foundation secures financial resources for the betterment of the School in its quest to transform the teaching and learning of pharmacy.
Division of Health and Medical Affairs Established
The division, a collaboration between the health science schools of the University, is established “to preserve the health of the people of the State through education of young people, to improve health through research, and determine what are and how best to meet the health care needs of the state.”
First PhDs Conferred
Yen-Tsai Chang and Doris Bullard Hawkins become the first two people upon which the School confers a PhD in June and August, respectively.
The School Moves to Beard Hall
After nearly two years of construction work, Beard Hall opens and the School of Pharmacy relocates there. The building, named after the School’s second dean, John Grover Beard, is still home to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy today.
George P. Hager Assumes the Role of Dean
George P. Hager comes to the UNC School of Pharmacy from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, having served there as dean for nine years.
Kappa Psi House Opens
After their original Franklin Street house is scheduled to be bought and demolished by the Town of Chapel Hill, Kappa Psi raises funds to secure a loan and build a new house on Finley Golf Course Road.
Seymour M. Blaug Becomes Dean
Seymour M. Blaug comes to the UNC School of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa. Tragically, his tenure as dean ends when he suffers a fatal heart attack in 1975.
Tom S. Miya Begins His Tenure as Dean
Tom S. Miya comes to the UNC School of Pharmacy from Purdue University where he was the head of the Department of Pharmacology.
Pharmacy Alumni Association Established
The Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) is established to “connect and engage alumni, students, and faculty through social, educational and professional activities.”
William H. Campbell Assumes the Role of Dean
William “Bill” Campbell begins his tenure as Dean, coming to UNC from Auburn University. He serves as Dean until 2003.
The New PharmD Degree
In the words of Dean Campbell, “no matter what happens in pharmacy education we cannot have a UNC graduate with a second class degree.” When the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) approved a policy in 1992 requiring a single entry-level education program at the doctoral level (PharmD), the…
Kerr Hall Opens
The newly-built Kerr Hall opens and the School expands into the space, more than doubling the School’s footprint on campus.
Bob Blouin Begins his Tenure as Dean
Robert “Bob” Blouin assumes the role of Dean, joining the School after 23 years on the faculty ad the University of Kentucky’s College of Pharmacy.
School is Named for Fred Eshelman
The School is officially renamed the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in honor of alumnus Fred Eshelman, BSPhar ’72.
Genetic Medicine Building Opens
In collaboration with the School of Medicine, the Eshelman School of Pharmacy opens the Genetic Medicine Buildin, adding nearly 200,000 square feet to the School’s available space on Chapel Hill’s campus.
The School Expands to Asheville
Seeing a need to reach more of the State of North Carolina, the School expands west to UNC Asheville, taking up residence in Karpen Hall.
Global Pharmacy Scholars (GPS) Program Launches
As part of the School’s strategy for global health care impact, the Globabl Pharmacy Scholars (GPS) Program is launched to give students a semester abroad in real-world health care settings.
Expansion into Marsico Hall
The School expands further into Marsico Hall, just across the street from the Genetic Medicine Building. With this expansion, the School now occupies a total of approximately 431,250 square feet.
Eshelman Institute for Innovation Formed
With an unprecedented gift of $100 million from Fred Eshelman, BSPharm ’72, the School opens the Eshelman Institute for Innovation as a vehicle to accelerate idea generation and develop bold, high-risk, high-reward health care innovations.
Expanding Global Connections
Through a partnership with Monash University and University College London, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy creates the PharmAlliance to improve global healthcare through innovation in pharmacy education, professional practice, research and student collaboration.
Achieving #1 Status
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is ranked the #1 Pharmacy School in the Nation by US News & World Report, a ranking that is repeated in 2020.
Dhiren Thakker Serves as Interim Dean
When Dean Bob Blouin was called upon to serve as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for the University, Dhiren Thakker stepped into the role as Dean on an interim basis.
Angela Kashuba Named Dean
Angela Kashuba assumes the role of Dean of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy after previously serving as Chair of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics.
Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative
Though work in the space was previously funded by the Eshelman Institute for Innovation, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgency for antiviral drugs to combat pandemics. Through a collaboration with the Eshelman Institute, the School, and other UNC stakeholders, READDI is formed as a public-private global organization with the goal…