The Bicentennial Plus Two Anniversary of the Founding of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy:
Leadership, Success, Failure, and Opportunity

• through my Christian faith that has been a continuing source of encouragement and strength;
• through my parents, sister, and brother;
• through my wife Sue, whom I met and fell in love with at PCP and through the 55 years of our marriage;
• through our sons and their wives–
  
  Eric and his wife Terra and their 6 children;
  Chris and his wife Carmen and their 3 children;
  Tim and his wife Cristina and their 2 children;
• through my mentors and colleagues whose advice and guidance have been of great value;
• through the personal and professional friends, including my students whom I hope learned as much from me as I learned from them. I highly commend Jack Korbutov, the recipient of the Young Alumni Award, for his professionalism and entrepreneurism that have resulted in his excellent and caring practice in such a short period of time since his graduation. His accomplishments and example bring great credit to PCP and our alumni.

For Saint Joseph's University:

1. The still secret merger agreement should be revised to state that the identity and name of the PCP shall be protected in perpetuity. SJU was founded only 172 years ago, and I can't imagine that its administration and Board would ever permit a change in its name (e.g., to St. Victor's [as in Rossi] or St. John's [as in Gans], or even St. Mark's [as in Reid], St. Cheryl's [as in McConnell], or Loyola Philadelphia).
2. PCP should have its own enhanced and separate identity, rather than being a college within the SJU School of Health Professions.
3. There should be a free-standing PCP Alumni Association that functions in partnership with the SJU Alumni Association.
4. There should be a Recruitment and Admissions individual and an Alumni Relations individual who are selected by PCP.
5. There should be a separate publication dedicated to the activities of PCP and its alumni.
6. There should be transparency and accountability for funds provided by PCP alumni and other donors for PCP faculty, scholarships, and programs.

For the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy:

1. So that we never forget – the students come first! There must be a strong commitment to provide the highest quality education and experiences for our students. PCP and its students should be among the highest level performers in available outcome measures (e.g., NAPLEX scores).
2. PCP faculty should be more prominent and visible participants in local, state, national, and international pharmacy organizations and activities, and aspire to hold leadership positions.
3. In addition to the faculty whose education and experience have been obtained elsewhere and are of great value for PCP, there should be more PCP alumni on the faculty.
4. PCP should protect and promote its alumni and other pharmacists who own independent pharmacies. The required APPE community pharmacy rotation should be in independent pharmacies in which students are exposed to and engaged in the provision of comprehensive pharmacy services, entrepreneurism, and community and professional involvement. The success and vitality of independent pharmacies are essential for rebuilding the pool of applicants who wish to pursue study and a career in pharmacy.
5. PCP should employ or retain the services of a pharmacist historian. There should be a required course on the history of PCP and Pharmacy in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.
6. The murals that were removed from the lobby area of Griffith Hall should be restored and replaced. If there is any section that is of concern to some, it should be reviewed and, if necessary, not included.

For PCP alumni:

1. Particularly during recent years in which PCP has been suppressed, restricted, and diminished in its activities and visibility, PCP alumni have been the face and heart of our alma mater. Our alumni have independence, autonomy, and influence.
2. We should provide our experience, wisdom, time, and financial support for the benefit of PCP and its programs, which will also be of benefit for SJU. In counsel with PCP leadership, we should provide financial support for specific initiatives for which our gifts are used. Examples would be support to cover expenses for faculty to participate in professional meetings. On a larger scale, alumni could endow a new professorship to which a PCP alumnus would be appointed.
3. We should be aware of and monitor the position, prominence, and respect for PCP in the profession of pharmacy, our community, and beyond. If serious concerns emerge, we should be prepared to rescue our alma mater.