PHARMACY

Graduated in 1982
Retired from Merck Pharmaceuticals
 

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State University?

A: It was easy to commute and the cost at the time was reasonable.

Q: What inspired you to pursue pharmacy?

A: Many influential friends at Wayne State educated me on a career in pharmacy, and I'm thankful for their influence!

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: This question is challenging, as so many professors in Pharmacy School stood out. Paul Munzenberger saw my potential during my interview for acceptance and allowed me to enter the pharmacy program, and we continued our relationship as friends after graduation. Others, like Louis Ferdinand or Dr. Tracy made the topics very interesting to learn, while I've also become friends with Geralynn Smith, who has played an influential role in my career.

Q: Share some reflections about your time at Wayne State:

A: When you start at Wayne State, knowing what lies at the end of college is difficult. Besides a quality education in pharmacy, I met my best friend and wife, Linda, in pharmacy school.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: While we were in pharmacy school, clinical pharmacy was just starting and the role of pharmacists in the clinical setting was being established. Now, with the graduation of well-qualified PharmDs, the role of the pharmacist on multiple medical teams is well-established. How exciting for our profession!

Q: Tell us a bit about your career.

A: The best that I can offer as a career highlight is being able to give back to Wayne State, the college that provided me with a career and wife. Since Linda was a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship while in college, we established an endowed scholarship to help those students who came from financial backgrounds similar to ours. Lastly, being involved in — and now being an Emeritus Member of — the Board of Visitors and contributing to the pharmacy program at Wayne State has been very rewarding.

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A:  Since retiring from my 30-year career at Merck Pharmaceuticals, I now teach business classes at Schoolcraft College. I also created a Pharmacy Technician Program for Schoolcraft that is fully accredited at the highest levels. Being able to be a mentor to young students that are in a similar situation to me when I was their age is very satisfying. Still able to ski and take trips to the Rockies!

---

The Doctor of Pharmacy program at Wayne State University is a four-year curriculum in the heart of Detroit. Approximately 100 students are enrolled in each year of the program. WSU Applebaum information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The application process or the Doctor of Pharmacy program begins each July.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.