125th Anniversary Celebrations Set for School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will celebrate a century and a quarter of research, teaching and learning as part of "125 Years of Discovery, Change and Progression," a series of educational and social events to be held Sept. 14-18.

Founded in 1886, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is UB's second official school, the only pharmacy school in the State University of New York system and a nationally ranked leader in academic health care.

It is considered the birthplace of academic biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, beginning with the pharmacokinetics research and theoretical principles of groundbreaking UB professor Eino Nelson in the 1960s, to the work of UB Distinguished Emeritus Professor Gerhard Levy, widely considered the "father of pharmacodynamics."

Among the scheduled events is the Sept. 16 keynote address, open to the public, by Steven Sutton, PhD '83, who will discuss "Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals: A Global Problem Come Home."

Wayne Anderson, PhD, who has been dean of the pharmacy school since 1995, says he is proud of the school's many great accomplishments over the past 125 years, and is looking forward to the return of alumni, the schedule of events and the opportunity to share memories.

The anniversary celebrations will provide a look ahead at what's planned for UB pharmacy and the pharmacy profession as well as a look back at the school's many accomplishments.

"This will be an exciting time when we look at our plans to continue the growth of our school and the future of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences," Anderson says.

Activities also will include tours of the soon-to-be-completed John and Editha Kapoor Hall on the UB South Campus, which will become the pharmacy school's new home in 2012. Made possible, in part, through more than $10.8 million in support by John Kapoor, who received his PhD from UB in 1972, the state-of-the-art facility will unite the pharmacy school with the other health science schools that make up UB's Academic Health Center.

Plans for the 147,000-square-foot Kapoor Hall include a state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Care Teaching and Learning Center, patient assessment suites, a model pharmacy for student training, student organizational and meeting spaces, study areas, computer labs, social gathering spaces, offices, conference rooms, an apothecary museum and a café, as well as silver certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a green building national rating system.

Scheduled to open in the spring, the new building also will provide facilities to enhance proteomics, protein therapeutics, pharmacogenomics and clinical and translational research.

The 125th anniversary celebratory events -- from presentations by guest speakers, to continuing education programs, to a gala dinner -- reflect the school's rich history of excellence in research, education and community service. They include:

* Sept. 14: "No Pressure: Simple Hypertension Management for an Ambulatory Setting," Mark Wrobel, PharmD, '05, UB clinical assistant professor, 5:30 p.m., Buffalo Niagara Marriott.

* Sept. 15: Gerhard Levy Distinguished Lectureship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, "The Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences: 'What Hath Levy Wrought?,'" Leslie Benet, PhD, professor of bioengineering and therapeutic sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 12:30 p.m., 121 Cooke Hall, UB North Campus.

* Sept. 16: Open house and tours, 5:30-9 p.m. Cooke and Hochstetter Halls, North Campus; keynote address, "Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals: A Global Problem Come Home," Steven Sutton, PhD, '83, associate professor, University of New England College of Pharmacy, 7 p.m., 121 Cooke Hall. A reception will follow.

* Sept. 17: South Campus Tours including John and Editha Kapoor Hall, 10:30 a.m. to noon; Gala Dinner Dance, 6 p.m. to midnight in the Buffalo Club, 388 Delaware Ave.

A complete list of events and information is available at http://fb.me/QVRqoP92.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system that is its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities