How Kindness Carries Forward

The life of a pharmacist a century ago is impacting those studying pharmacy today

Story by Ryan McDaniel | Published March 19, 2024

It is amazing to think that the impressions we leave on the people around us today can have a lasting impact decades from now. Take David Simeon Chapman, for example. Born over 140 years ago, in 1881, David likely never thought that his steady kindness toward others would be the catalyst that led to a financial boost for dozens of students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy over a century after he himself graduated from the School.

David Simeon Chapman’s graduation headshot, c. 1907

After graduating in 1907 with his Graduate of Pharmacy (PhG) degree, David worked as a pharmacist in Durham. There, he met his wife, Emma, an obstetric nurse. They were married in 1916 and had a daughter, Mary. In 1921, David took a partnership stake in Owl Pharmacy on Main Street in Durham, buying out his partner the following year.

David operated the pharmacy with compassion and empathy. When the Great Depression caused incredible hardships for most Americans, David extended credit to many of his customers who could no longer afford medication. Unfortunately, because of the Great Depression and other factors, business declined at Owl Pharmacy and David was forced to close shop in 1938. He finished his career as a pharmacist at C.E. King & Son and then Don Booth Pharmacy.

But the kindness, optimism, and compassion that David maintained with his customers and in his daily life made an impression on people, including his daughter, Mary. She and her husband, Louis, were both also college graduates and they firmly believed in the power of a good education. In 2005, they made endowed gifts to UNC to support scholarships at the School of Business and the School of Pharmacy. Mary and Louis decided to name the endowed scholarship at the School of Pharmacy after her father – the David Simeon Chapman Scholarship.

Since the scholarship’s inception, Mary’s daughter, Emmaly, and her husband, Barry, have continued to contribute to the fund, helping to increase the scholarship amount throughout the years. “We recognize how important a good education is for young people and want to help ensure that the door stays open to all,” Barry observes.

Emmaly remembers her grandfather, David, as “a constantly cheerful and unfailingly kind man . . . He was obviously quite ambitious as a young man, and life dealt him some harsh blows, but he always maintained his upbeat attitude and his kindness towards others.”

Now that simple kindness that David showed, that made an impression on those he met, makes an impact on the lives of students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy: those like second-year PharmD student, Kashish Patel, the most recent David Simeon Chapman Scholar.

“What has surprised and heartened me most is the unwavering sense of community and support that permeates every corner of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy,” Kashish observes. “Here, collaboration is not just a buzzword but a way of life.”

Kashish traces her passion for pharmacy back to joining her grandparents on their medical appointments. “It was the pharmacist who illuminated the complexities of drug interactions and potential side effects, opening my eyes to the profound impact of pharmaceutical science on individual well-being,” she recalls.

Despite her parents pushing her to pursue medicine or dentistry, Kashish followed her heart to pharmacy. She has never once regretted it, instead diving into the abundant opportunities available to her. She works part time doing oncology research in the William Zamboni Lab; she is an active member of Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) and Mentoring Future Leaders in Pharmacy (MFLIP); and she serves as co-chair of Operation Diabetes in Carolina Association of Pharmacy Students (CAPS), organizing community events to offer free screenings and counseling.

“Just last week, standing in the middle of all the stalls of Carrboro’s Farmers Market, I felt immensely gratified by the experiences I am gaining through collaborating with different patient projects within CAPS to educate and empower our community about health,” she reflects.

With two years of training left, Kashish is still exploring the myriad career paths open to her. She may just as easily find her calling in drug development, clinical care, or research. One thing she is certain of: “I am committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities, ensuring access to safe, effective, and compassionate pharmaceutical care for all.”

That commitment is the same that David Simeon Chapman maintained as a pharmacist a hundred years ago – a connection that, like the impact of his kindness – has carried forward since then.