Share
Celebrating 70 Years of Pharmacy Education, Research and Practice at UBC
On November 4, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC) celebrated its 70th anniversary. As I sit at my desk writing this guest post, I can scarcely begin to imagine what it was like for the 64 students that made up the very first pharmacy class at UBC. Our historical records and photographs give me a sense of what daily life was like. I know that their classrooms were converted air force huts and that chemistry, pharmacognosy, and biology were part of their course load. I also know a teaching dispensary with real medications was created to provide them with hands-on learning experiences.
UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences dispensary in the Biological Sciences building was maintained as a teaching model, c.1950. (L-R) Dr. Gordon Groves and Ray Le Huquet.
But did they know that they were joining a profession that would eventually become one of the most trusted in Canada? Or that their successors would one day be faced with the possibility of prescribing marijuana and using patient DNA to deliver personalized medical treatments? Did they know that as one of the very first classes of pharmacy students in BC, they were some of the first pharmacists to contribute to the rich history of pharmacy education, research and practice in the province? No, I doubt they did.
The College of Pharmacists of BC (as you know) celebrated its 125th anniversary this year and in 2017 the BC Pharmacy Association will be celebrating its 50th. And like the very first class of UBC pharmacy students, I doubt that the College, Association or Faculty knew just how much they would accomplish – individually and together – in the many years that followed their establishment.
Today, the Faculty is a top pharmacy school (#2 in Canada and #31 in the world, QS World University Ranking) that offers a number of degree and continuing education programs in pharmacy practice and research. Our student numbers have grown well beyond 64 and our facilities offer “non-hut” learning environments with state-of-the-art teaching and scientific equipment. Despite all that has changed, however, one thing hasn’t. The Faculty remains committed to providing the best possible educational platform it can for pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists – both in training and experience – to make a difference in people’s lives.
What will the next 70 years look like? That’s a question for my future successor to write about when the time comes to celebrate the Faculty’s 140th anniversary. In the meantime, you can learn more by visiting our website.
Faculty members, staff and students gathered to form “7” and “0” for this commemorative 70th anniversary photo. Photo by Ivan Yastrebov.
Jimi Galvão, Dipl PR, Dipl CRM, BFA
Jimi is the director of communications and marketing for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC. He has more than 15 years of experience in developing professional, creative and engaging communications and marketing initiatives for the not-for-profit, arts, government, and education sectors.
Jimi’s academic background is in the visual arts, museum studies, and public relations. He is particularly interested in graphic and information design.
- Guest Post, UBC
