The College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences concluded a year of celebration with a 25th Anniversary Gala on April 28 at Artspace in Raleigh.
Speaking to an audience of more than 200 attendees, Dean Ron Maddox, PharmD, shared how the College’s story is one of firsts:
- Opened the nation’s first pharmacy school in over 35 years when founded in 1986
- Offered the first PharmD degree in North Carolina
- Nationally led the PharmD curriculum as the first to require a community pharmacy rotation
- First class posted 100% on the national and state pharmacy board exams
- First pharmacy program to receive full accreditation after pre-candidacy status
Dean Maddox recognized the College’s pharmacy graduates for maintaining a 98% passage rate on the NAPLEX board exam during the first 25 years. And he acknowledged the success of the College’s growth to offer programs in clinical research, pharmaceutical sciences, physician assistant practice, and public health.
He continued by thanking the many faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends in the audience for believing in Campbell University’s pharmacy program and helping to make it a tremendous success, “I am grateful to each of you for your passion, commitment, and hard work in making the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences what it is today.”
During the event, the Alumni Association honored Dean Maddox and his wife Suzan for their dedication and service to the College over the past 25 years. Serving as founding dean, Dr. Maddox and his family relocated from Atlanta to Buies Creek in 1985 to start the new program.
“Tonight my first recognition is actually for you, Mrs. Maddox, with a special gift. It is a watercolor of the house that you helped build,” said Alumni Association Past President Steve Kearney, PharmD ’94, as he presented Mrs. Maddox with a painting of Maddox Hall.
Kearney thanked Dean Maddox for his committed leadership to Campbell’s pharmacy program. “For someone to step out of their comfort zone and come to Buies Creek, and to have a tremendous vision of what the future of health care should look like, that has to be someone who is invested,” Kearney said. “Not only that, but it has to be someone who has a vision that most can’t see.”
As the College prepares to step into the next 25 years, Kearney spoke about the vision for the future. “Most everyone I talk to, when they’re talking about the future of health care, envision every primary care provider working together to benefit the patient. And again, who is there with that vision at Campbell leading us forward…Dean Maddox,” Kearney said. He presented Dean Maddox a commemorative bowl from the Alumni Association.
“I thank you for the recognition, but more than that, I thank you for your friendship. It has been a blessing in my life to have the opportunity to work with each of you and to develop this program,” said Dean Maddox. “It’s been a great 25 years.”
Photo: Alumni Association Past President Steve Kearney, PharmD ’94, presents Dean Maddox and his wife Suzan a watercolor of Maddox Hall and commemorative bowl for their dedication and service to the College over the past 25 years.