SOME FAMOUS PHARMACISTS TO INSPIRE YOU!
Whether you’re a board certified, seasoned pharmacist with many years of experience; a newly inducted pharmacist; a pharmacy student still in college or even hoping to study pharmacy; or perhaps none of the above, you will agree with me that pharmacy is indeed a noble profession.
I mean, apart from being a drug and medicines expert, the role of the pharmacist includes but is not limited to the following: Dispensing medication and filling prescriptions and requests, dispensing over the counter medicines, making extemporaneous preparations/ compounds, working synergistically with other members of the healthcare team(doctors, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics etc), engaging in pharmaceutical care, pharmacovigilance, herbal pharmacy, polypharmacy, ensuring the general health and wellness of the patient and so on. Indeed, the duties of a pharmacist are inexhaustible, regardless of the area of pharmacy they specialize in.
Let’s not also forget that pharmacists are also responsible for the training of future pharmacists (academic pharmacy), manufacturing of drugs, vaccines and the likes (industrial pharmacy) and can even also specialise in various aspects of healthcare; such as pediatric pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, geriatric pharmacy and so on (in the case of clinical pharmacists.)
Now, most pharmacists and pharmacy students, are cognizant of the fact that the beginnings of pharmacy (or apothecary) are ancient, dating as far back as the days of the early men, who were known to squeeze the juices of certain leaves and apply them to wounds for healing, eat certain plants whenever they had one ailment or the other, make infusions, concoctions and decoctions etc.
IT IS IMPORTANT at this point, to talk about the colossal role played by Asclepius and Hygeia. In Greek legend, Asclepius was the god of healing arts, who delegated the role of compounding his remedies to his daughter, Hygeia. She was thus his pharmacist/ apothecary. Some schools of thought even believe that Asclepius and Hygeia can be regarded as the father and mother of ancient pharmacy, respectively. Hygeia is also commonly known as the goddess of health in Greek mythology. Together with her sisters- Aceso, Laso, Aegle and Panacea, they represent the stages of the healing process and pharmaceutical remedy.
In modern times however, many have wondered about whether we have/ had great contributors to the pharmacy profession. Indeed, many are not aware that some of the big names in healthcare and drug discoveries, were actually pharmacists! I have therefore curated below, 7 famous pharmacists, to inspire you; interestingly you may have heard of some of these names due to their contributions to modern medicine and healthcare, but you never knew they were pharmacists. These 7 famous pharmacists include the following, in no particular order.
William Procter, Jr (1817- 1874).
Commonly referred to as the father of modern pharmacy and also the father of American Pharmacy, Prof. William Procter Jr, was an American pharmacist, known for his role in establishing the American Pharmacists Association and his work on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). He was a practitioner, experimenter, editor, association leader and professor. He was the author/ editor of the first pharmacy textbook published in America. Indeed, it goes without saying that every pharmacy student and pharmacist in America, knows about Prof. William Procter, Jr.
Fun fact: You may have heard of Procter and Gamble, P & G for short, the makers of many household items. Apparently, William Procter Jr is also related to one half of the founders of Procter and Gamble. His uncle, who was also named William Procter, was an American industrialist, who together with James Gamble, founded Procter and Gamble. It’s rather interesting that both nephew and uncle, both named William Procter, contributed greatly to modern pharmacy and household/wellness products generally.
Dr. Charles Rice (1841–1901).
Charles Rice is famously known for being the creator of the Modern Scientific Pharmacopoeia and the Father of the National formulary. Being one of the most enigmatic and influential pharmacists of the late nineteenth century, he was outspoken about the need to establish standards for items that pharmacists would compound and dispense. Identified as the creator of the modern scientific pharmacopoeia, Rice established product standards for industry, prescribers, and pharmacists. He is Remembered for his work on the revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).
Sir Alexander Fleming (1881–1955).
Contribution: The discovery of penicillin
Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish physician and microbiologist, famously known and remembered for his (albeit accidental) discovery of the world’s first broad spectrum antibiotic compound, which he named “PENICILLIN”.
Prior to his discovery of penicillin, Alexander Fleming already had a reputation for excellence in medical and chemical research. He actively researched potential drugs with antiseptic properties after watching many soldiers die of sepsis due to infected wounds during World War 1.
However, his discovery of penicillin was completely accidental. When discussing his find, Fleming stated, “When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world’s first antibiotic, or bacteria killer, but I suppose that was exactly what I did.”
Penicillin is currently used to treat a wide number of ailments and is one of the most popular drugs prescribed on the NHS.
John S. Pemberton (1831–1888).
Contribution: Created Coca-Cola
One of the most popular drinks to date, Coca-Cola was invented by trained American pharmacist and Army veteran, John Stith Pemberton, who created the drink in order to counteract his own addiction to morphine. Initially the drink contained alcohol, kola nut and damiana and was marketed as a ‘Pemberton’s French Wine Cola’.
However, by 1886 there were increasing concerns about the alcohol content (but oddly, not the cocaine) within popular drinks such as Coca-Cola. Pemberton then decided to experiment with other ingredients such as base syrup and carbonated water; thus creating the final and world famous Coca Cola drink, we have today.
Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent (1850–1931).
Contribution: Transformed “The Boots Company”(Owners of Boots Pharmacy) to a global giant.
Although Boots Pharmacy (And The Boots Company) was initially started by Jesse’s father John Boot, it was Jesse that turned the company into the global phenomenon that it is today.
The initial Boot’s philosophy in 1877 was to provide “health for a shilling”, making it affordable for those on a lower income. The Nottingham store (the first Boots Pharmacy) was incredibly popular among local residents. Goods were bought in bulk, at a much cheaper price than the brand’s competitors and so could be sold at a considerably lower price.
Till date, Boots Pharmacy is still a thriving business and is still synonymous with quality products at competitive prices, not just in the UK, but also in other countries.
Friedrich Sertürner (1783–1841).
Contribution: Discovered Morphine
Friedrich Sertürner was a German Pharmacist and a pioneer of alkaloid chemistry. As a pharmacist’s assistant, Friedrich Serturner was the first chemist to separate morphium (morphine) from opium. At first, he called it the “Soporific principle” or sleep-inducing active ingredient.
In the 18th century opium was a widely available and addictive drug (and as you may have heard it wasn’t only popular for its medical properties).
Although his discovery was made in 1805, it wasn’t until after 1815 that morphine became widely available for use. It is due to Serturner’s discovery and continuous research into the effects of morphine that we are able to harness its pain relief qualities today.
Ok, this 7th person is someone you probably didn’t even know was a pharmacist. He isn’t famous for what he “discovered”, but rather, for what he became and his contribution to the American growth and economy.
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. (1911–1978).
Contribution: USA Vice President (1965–1968).
Of course, with a degree in Pharmacy, the sky is your limit and one man who proved this was Hubert Humphrey.
Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr., was an American pharmacist who became the 38th Vice President of the United States of America, from 1965–1968. Although he never quite made it to president, Humphrey not only held a licence to practice pharmacy, but was also a political force to be reckoned with.
Serving under Lyndon B Johnson, Hubert Humphrey was known for his scepticism over the Vietnam conflict in the late 1960s and his desire for social reform. In 1968 he ran for Presidency and lost — by less than 1% of the popular vote– to Robert Nixon.
So, there you have it! Whether you're a pharmacist or not, I hope this inspires you to know and believe that you can be ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE AND ACHIEVE ANYTHING YOU DESIRE!
Here’s to your success!👍👏
