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 

March, 1897

Department of Pharmacy Established

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.

December, 1903

Wright Brothers’ First Flight

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.

September, 1909

John Grover Beard Joins the Faculty

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.

1912

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.

May, 1915

Kappa Psi Fraternity Established

Kappa Psi Fraternity Established

With Professor Beard’s advocacy, the local chapter of the Kappa Psi Fraternity is established at UNC.

1916

The First Women at the School of Pharmacy

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)

April, 1917

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.

1918

Flu Pandemic of 1918

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.

July, 1921

Alice Noble Joins the School

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.…

May, 1922

Phi Delta Chi Fraternity Established

Phi Delta Chi Fraternity Established

With the support of Professor Beard, the local chapter of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity is established at UNC.

May, 1922

First Honorary Degree Conferred

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.

1925

The School Moves Again

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.

Fall, 1926

Marion Lee Jacobs Joins the Faculty

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.

December, 1929

Rho Chi Fraternity Established

The Xi chapter of Rho Chi, an honor society for high academic achievement, is established at UNC. Professor Beard becomes an honorary member of the society.

March, 1931

John Grover Beard Becomes 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.

1932

Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree Established

The four-year course leading to the degree of S.B. in Pharmacy is established in 1932. This degree replaces the Ph.G. degree by 1934. For several years the curricula of the degree are adapted to three different paths for students: 1) for candidates expecting to become retail pharmacists, 2) for those…

1933

Master of Science Degree Established

Shortly after the S.B. degree is established, the School begins offering the S.M. degree.

Fall, 1939

Edward A Brecht Joins the Faculty

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.

January, 1940

Kappa Epsilon Sorority Established

The Lambda chapter of the Kappa Epsilon sorority is formally established at UNC. The charter members are seven students who had previously organized as the Kappa Epsilon Society in 1938.

1940

Pharmacy Senate is Formed

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.

Spring, 1941

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.

December, 1941

The US Enters World War II

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.

December, 1946

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.

1949

Division of Health and Medical Affairs Established

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.”

1951

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.

November, 1959

The School Moves to Beard Hall

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.

January, 1966

George P. Hager Assumes the Role of Dean

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.

1970

Kappa Psi House Opens

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.

August, 1974

Seymour M. Blaug Becomes Dean

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.

January, 1977

Tom S. Miya Begins His Tenure as Dean

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.

1980

Pharmacy Alumni Association Established

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.”

August, 1992

William H. Campbell Assumes the Role of Dean

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.

1996

The New PharmD Degree

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…

2002

Kerr Hall Opens

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.

July, 2003

Bob Blouin Begins his Tenure as Dean

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.

2008

School is Named for Fred Eshelman

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.

2008

Genetic Medicine Building Opens

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.

2011

The School Expands to Asheville

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.

2014

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.

2014

Expansion into Marsico Hall

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.

2014

Eshelman Institute for Innovation Formed

Bob Blouin, Cheryl Folt, Fred Eshelman, and Pat McCrory cut an Old Well shaped cake

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.

2015

Expanding Global Connections

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.

2016

Achieving #1 Status

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.

2017

Dhiren Thakker Serves as Interim Dean

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.

2019

Angela Kashuba Named Dean

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.

2020

Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative

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…

2022

The School Celebrates 125 Years of Excellence

In 2022 we celebrate our 125 year anniversary. We are taking time to reflect on our history, celebrate our present successes, and look forward to a bright future!