USPHS Pharmacy Category Celebrates 75th Anniversary

From left to right: RADM Jerome Halperin, USPHS (Ret.); Mrs. Patricia Kachik; RADM Edgar Duncan, USPHS (Ret.); RADM Art Lawrence; RADM John Babb; RADM Richard Walling, USPHS (Ret.); RADM Richard Bertin, USPHS (Ret.); RADM Michael Beatrice, USPHS (Ret.); and RADM Richard Church.

On Friday, 18 November 2005, the Pharmacy category of U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps celebrated its 75th Anniversary in Gaithersburg, MD, by honoring past and present Chief Pharmacists and Flag officers. The banquet was attended by over 180 pharmacists, spouses, family members, and friends. Special guests included Surgeon General VADM Richard H. Carmona; Office of the Surgeon General Chief of Staff, RADM Robert Williams; Chief Research Officer, RADM Richard Wyatt; Chief Pharmacist Officer, U.S. Army, COL Isiah Harper; Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, LtCol Everett McAllister; and representatives from the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacists. Eight of the eleven former and current Chief Pharmacists and Flag officers, including RADM Edgar Duncan, USPHS (Ret.), the first pharmacist Flag officer and first African-American pharmacist Flag officer, attended the celebration. Mrs. Patricia Kachik represented her deceased father, CAPT George Archambault, who was the first PHS Pharmacy Liaison Officer (forerunner to a Chief Professional Officer). CAPT Archambault was fondly remembered that evening by many of the attending pharmacy Flag officers as a great leader and mentor.

The Pharmacy category has grown from those two original pharmacists in 1930 to 930 pharmacists today. There are PHS Commissioned Corps pharmacists placed in all Operating Divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, and State. They provide clinical service to patients in clinical trials, U.S. Coast Guard members and their families, Native Americans, Federal inmates, and illegal aliens. They administer national health benefit programs; regulate food, drugs, medical devices, biologics, and radiologicals; oversee Federal grant programs; monitor the public health status of the citizens; prepare the Federal, State, and local governments for all hazards; and respond to domestic and international public health emergencies. PHS pharmacists truly protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the Nation.

One highlight of the evening included a historical presentation of the Pharmacy category, by CAPT Robert E. Pittman, Chief Pharmacy Consultant for the Indian Health Service. In his presentation titled, Public Health Service Pharmacy, the First 75 Years, CAPT Pittman recounted the early years of the PHS and the Pharmacy category, beginning with the establishment of the PHS Marine Hospital Service in 1798. He also noted the employment of non-commissioned PHS pharmacists in the late 1800s, and the first two pharmacists to receive commissions on 23 July 1930, LT Edwin M. Holt and LT Edgar B. Scott. CAPT Pittman concluded by recognizing the leaders in PHS pharmacy, including Chief Pharmacist Officers and PHS pharmacists who have served as presidents of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the American Pharmacists Association.

Those who attended the 75th anniversary celebration had the opportunity to review a copy of the Pharmacy Commissioned Corps Reserve Entrance Exam (circa 1965), which was used as part of the application process for the PHS Commissioned Corps. The examination, biographies of the honorees, and CAPT Pittman’s slides, are all posted on the Pharmacist Professional Advisory Committee (PharmPAC) Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/pharmacy/hist.html.

The focal point of the evening was a special ceremony recognizing the category’s Chief Pharmacists and Flag officers. Each Chief Pharmacist and Flag officer honoree was presented with a specially numbered, commemorative pharmacy challenge coin mounted in a handsome wood display with his name and title etched in brass. The pharmacy challenge coin was commissioned by the PharmPAC, in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary. The experience can best be reflected with this quote from one of the Flag officer attendees ‘...in all my years of service I have never experienced such an intense feeling of pride for pharmacy and our service to this great Nation...’.

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