Founding Dean of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, Bernard Graham, has been honored by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.

Dr. Graham was awarded the Mortar and Pestle Award at the 2017 Pennsylvania

Pharmacists Association annual conference on Sept. 23.

The award is in recognition of lifetime service, dedication and commitment to pharmacy.

The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association is made up of 2,300 pharmacists and pharmacy students across the state. It is a leading voice of pharmacy in Pennsylvania and promotes the profession through advocacy, education, and communication.

In receiving the award, Dr. Graham said: “I was both surprised and humbled by the award. I am extremely grateful to be recognized by my professional colleagues for a lifetime of work.”

Graham established the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University in 1994, making it the 82nd school of pharmacy in the country.

Graham was Dean of the school for 22 years before recently stepping down in July. He is currently on sabbatical leave, and will return in a new role in 2018. In May 2017, he was honored with the title Dean Emeritus.

During his time at Wilkes University he has mentored and trained more 67 faculty members and has led, taught, and mentored over 1,200 students.

“The award is actually an award for the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy,” Graham said. 

“Nothing could be accomplished without the magnificent faculty and staff and the wonderful students in the pharmacy program. It also is a notable indication of the support by the University administration for this premier professional program,” he added.

“Wilkes University and the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy affords some unique service and leadership opportunities and any of our students participate in sports and University governance.

  “Our students also have remained very involved with local and state-wide professional organizations, especially the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, and have the opportunity to attend and actively participate in their professional meetings.”

“I encourage students to learn interprofessionality and to take advantage of the many learning opportunities available in this comprehensive University.”

Last week, Graham was named 2017 Distinguished Alumnus of the School of Health Sciences at Purdue University, where he received his masters degree in 1974 and his Ph. D in bionucleonics in 1976.