Pharmacy Department collection
Series
Identifier: 10-03-001
Scope and Content:
Materials within the Pharmacy Department collection series contain pharmacy department accreditation documents, applications, curriculum changes, correspondence, financial documents and reports, faculty interviews and appointment documents, publications and research papers, newspaper clippings, maps, and awards presented to the pharmacy department. Most of the documents date to the early 1900s, with some recent publications and maps that are from the early-mid 2000s as well.
Dates
- 1991-2016
Access:
A majority of the Pharmacy department files are restricted due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the documents contained in the files, such as accreditations documents, applications and curriculum changes, faculty salaries and interviews, budget and financial documents, and committee meeting minutes. However, some files are open for research, such as publications, newspaper clippings, awards, correspondence, and photographs.
Pharmacy Department Historical Sketch:
The Pharmacy department at Wilkes was officially established in the year 1996, with the first graduating class being in the year 2000. According to Bernie Graham, the Founding Dean of the School of Pharmacy, the long process of establishing the Pharmacy program at Wilkes began in the early 1990s and required establishing the academic requirements, overseeing first year classes, and hiring faculty and staff members for the program. Graham mentions that the biggest support came from the faculty that was hired to establish the program. For more on his personal account of the establishment of the Pharmacy program, please visit Bernie Graham’s Oral History interview transcript.
According to the Pharmacy Program Development section in the Application to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education for the Accreditation of a Doctor of Pharmacy at Wilkes, the following events led up to the establishment of the Pharmacy program:
In August 1992, the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (SSE), Umid Nejib, was chosen by the University to establish a pharmacy program at Wilkes. The SSE Dean then chose Dr. James T. Doluisio, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin, to provide expert recommendations and advice. On December 1, 1992, Dr. Doluisio met with Wilkes President Chris Breiseth, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mike Lennon, the SSE Dean, Umid, and the Dean of Health Sciences, Ralph Rozelle, to discuss the pharmacy program. In January 1993, Wilkes faculty did the same and visited the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. When the concept of the Pharmacy Program was shared to the Wilkes Long Range Planning Committee on January 18,1993 and the University's Faculty Affairs Committee on January 26th, the feedback was positive. The Board of Trustees also encouraged the new program at Wilkes on February 3rd 1993.
In Late January 1993, a “Team of Advisors” was formed that initially included the Pharmacy Deans of University of Texas, Dr. Doluisio; Rhode Island University, Dr. Louis Luzzi: The University of West Virginia, Dr. Sidney Rosenbluth; and Dr. Jack Cole of the AACP. Later, Ms Patricia Kienle, Director of Pharmacy Services at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre; Dr. Ronald McLean, Interim President and Dean at Albany College of Pharmacy; Dr. Ronald Maddox, Dean of Pharmacy at Campbell University; Mr. John Mariani, Chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy; Dr. William Raub, Science Advisor to the EPA Administrator; Mr. Wayne Yetter, President Astra/Merck Group of Merck and Co., Inc.; and Dr. Paul Wender, Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University were included in the team.
On February 1, 1993, the Department of Education in Harrisburg received a “Letter of Intent” from Wilkes regarding the development of a pharmacy program leading to a Pharm. D. degree. Similarly, the American Council on nPharmaceutical Education (ACPE) was informed on February 5th and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) on February 16th.
On February 17, 1993, the first report “Preliminary Analysis and Recommendations for the Establishment of a Program in Pharmacy at Wilkes was issued and became the main document for discussions and deliberations. On April 20, 1993, Drs. Jack Cole and Richard Penna of the AACP visited Wilkes followed by Dr. Daniel Nona, Executive Director of the ACPE on September 8, 1993. On April 29-30 1993, the Board of Trustees approved the program and requested preparation of additional alternative scenarios for the campus renovation plan. On June 14-16th 1993, the Wilkes staff, administration and a team of Drs. Cole, Doluisio, Luzzi, and Rosenbluth held a conference where they presented their views on the Report of the SSE Dean. On August 3, 1993, the President outlined the $25 million comprehensive campus plans and Wilkes University's intent to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
In June 1994, Bernard Graham, the Founding Dean of Pharmacy was hired by the University followed by Dr. Arthur H. Kibbe, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in August 1994. Wilkes University submitted “Report on the Establishment of a Doctor of Pharmacy Program” to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Dr. Warren Evans and Ms. Dee Ann Koller, The Pennsylvania Department of Education, along with Dr. Larry D. Milne, Dean of Pharmacy at University of Arkansas, Dr. Curtis C. Black, Associate Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Toledo, and Dr. Robert Talbert, Chair of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio conducted an on-site review on April 26-28th 1995. The PDE team insisted on establishing a School of Pharmacy at Wilkes as a result of the on-site review. On May 5, 1995, the Wilkes University Board of Trustees passed a resolution to begin the process of establishing a separate School of Pharmacy. This information was collected from the Pharmacy Program Development section in the Application to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education for the Accreditation of a Doctor of Pharmacy at Wilkes.
During the early to mid 1990s, the Dean of Pharmacy, Bernie Graham, Dean of Engineering: Umid Nejib, and other administrators such as Associate Provost, Mike Lennon, and Wilkes’ 4th president, Chistopher Breiseth, worked through the accreditation process of the new pharmacy program at Wilkes, preparing the curriculum and academic program to be up to Middle States standards. This required numerous reports, applications, and correspondence sent to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. According to the Undergraduate Bulletin from 1996, in August 1995, Wilkes University was granted provisional approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the program in pharmacy leading to the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy. By 1996, Wilkes had the pre-candidate status, which means that Wilkes can finally start having students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program after completing all of the prepharmacy requirements. However, the students are required to apply into the competitive Professional Doctor of Pharmacy program. An Early Admission Program that allows outstanding high-school students to obtain a direct seat in the Professional Pharmacy program, will also be a choice. Additionally, the School of Pharmacy has two academic departments: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences that includes faculty in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics and pharmacy administration. Also the Department of Pharmacy Practice that includes faculty with specialties in general medicine, drug information, psychiatry and pediatrics. Looking at the faculty side, Graham mentioned many important figures involved in the establishment of the pharmacy program. Arthur Kibbe, chair of the pharmaceutical sciences at the time, started the idea of creating a pharmacy program at Wilkes. Initially, Dean of Engineering, Umid Nejib, provided immense support to include the program under the School of Engineering. However, once Bernie Graham joined the team, the idea of an independent department for the Pharmacy school arose. Another important figure, Bonnie Bedford, who was the chair of the Curriculum Committee, was also integral in the establishment process of the department.
Some influential faculty members were crucial to the development and success of the pharmacy program: Dr. Marie Roke Thomas, who is now the chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences along with other notable faculty members: Dave Maize, Anne Lin and Ed Foote. Howard Garret, a staff member at CVS, became the key recruiter for student jobs at Wilkes. His work in getting Wilkes students a job in the pharmaceutical field meant students were able to acquire field experience while still in school. Students having jobs in the pharmacy field was an important part of Wilkes culture because of how easily those jobs brought in connections, networking opportunities. and more employment for Wilkes pharmacy graduates. Additionally, the famous White-coat ceremony became an integral part of Wilkes Pharmacy department culture as well. Graham notes how Wilkes was one of the first universities to adapt this ceremony as a crucial event into the pharmacy school. Other events that became a crucial part of the culture at Wilkes, include the Black-tie ceremony, and the pharmacy fair that ensured that the students had jobs available while in school. In 2002, Bernie Graham took over the nursing department and decided to create a School of Nursing that became part of the College of Pharmacy and Nursing at Wilkes. However, in 2014, Wilkes established the new Passan School of Nursing, making it a standalone department separate from the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. The Nesbitt School of Pharmacy has now formed a newly designed curriculum for the prepharmacy students as part of their prerequisites for the pharmacy program. The prerequisites include: BIO 121, BIO 115 and 116, COM 101, CHM 113 and 115, MTH 100 and 150, CHM 116 and 115, and CHM 235 and 237.
According to the Pharmacy Program Development section in the Application to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education for the Accreditation of a Doctor of Pharmacy at Wilkes, the following events led up to the establishment of the Pharmacy program:
In August 1992, the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (SSE), Umid Nejib, was chosen by the University to establish a pharmacy program at Wilkes. The SSE Dean then chose Dr. James T. Doluisio, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin, to provide expert recommendations and advice. On December 1, 1992, Dr. Doluisio met with Wilkes President Chris Breiseth, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mike Lennon, the SSE Dean, Umid, and the Dean of Health Sciences, Ralph Rozelle, to discuss the pharmacy program. In January 1993, Wilkes faculty did the same and visited the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. When the concept of the Pharmacy Program was shared to the Wilkes Long Range Planning Committee on January 18,1993 and the University's Faculty Affairs Committee on January 26th, the feedback was positive. The Board of Trustees also encouraged the new program at Wilkes on February 3rd 1993.
In Late January 1993, a “Team of Advisors” was formed that initially included the Pharmacy Deans of University of Texas, Dr. Doluisio; Rhode Island University, Dr. Louis Luzzi: The University of West Virginia, Dr. Sidney Rosenbluth; and Dr. Jack Cole of the AACP. Later, Ms Patricia Kienle, Director of Pharmacy Services at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre; Dr. Ronald McLean, Interim President and Dean at Albany College of Pharmacy; Dr. Ronald Maddox, Dean of Pharmacy at Campbell University; Mr. John Mariani, Chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy; Dr. William Raub, Science Advisor to the EPA Administrator; Mr. Wayne Yetter, President Astra/Merck Group of Merck and Co., Inc.; and Dr. Paul Wender, Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University were included in the team.
On February 1, 1993, the Department of Education in Harrisburg received a “Letter of Intent” from Wilkes regarding the development of a pharmacy program leading to a Pharm. D. degree. Similarly, the American Council on nPharmaceutical Education (ACPE) was informed on February 5th and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) on February 16th.
On February 17, 1993, the first report “Preliminary Analysis and Recommendations for the Establishment of a Program in Pharmacy at Wilkes was issued and became the main document for discussions and deliberations. On April 20, 1993, Drs. Jack Cole and Richard Penna of the AACP visited Wilkes followed by Dr. Daniel Nona, Executive Director of the ACPE on September 8, 1993. On April 29-30 1993, the Board of Trustees approved the program and requested preparation of additional alternative scenarios for the campus renovation plan. On June 14-16th 1993, the Wilkes staff, administration and a team of Drs. Cole, Doluisio, Luzzi, and Rosenbluth held a conference where they presented their views on the Report of the SSE Dean. On August 3, 1993, the President outlined the $25 million comprehensive campus plans and Wilkes University's intent to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
In June 1994, Bernard Graham, the Founding Dean of Pharmacy was hired by the University followed by Dr. Arthur H. Kibbe, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in August 1994. Wilkes University submitted “Report on the Establishment of a Doctor of Pharmacy Program” to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Dr. Warren Evans and Ms. Dee Ann Koller, The Pennsylvania Department of Education, along with Dr. Larry D. Milne, Dean of Pharmacy at University of Arkansas, Dr. Curtis C. Black, Associate Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Toledo, and Dr. Robert Talbert, Chair of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio conducted an on-site review on April 26-28th 1995. The PDE team insisted on establishing a School of Pharmacy at Wilkes as a result of the on-site review. On May 5, 1995, the Wilkes University Board of Trustees passed a resolution to begin the process of establishing a separate School of Pharmacy. This information was collected from the Pharmacy Program Development section in the Application to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education for the Accreditation of a Doctor of Pharmacy at Wilkes.
During the early to mid 1990s, the Dean of Pharmacy, Bernie Graham, Dean of Engineering: Umid Nejib, and other administrators such as Associate Provost, Mike Lennon, and Wilkes’ 4th president, Chistopher Breiseth, worked through the accreditation process of the new pharmacy program at Wilkes, preparing the curriculum and academic program to be up to Middle States standards. This required numerous reports, applications, and correspondence sent to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. According to the Undergraduate Bulletin from 1996, in August 1995, Wilkes University was granted provisional approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the program in pharmacy leading to the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy. By 1996, Wilkes had the pre-candidate status, which means that Wilkes can finally start having students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program after completing all of the prepharmacy requirements. However, the students are required to apply into the competitive Professional Doctor of Pharmacy program. An Early Admission Program that allows outstanding high-school students to obtain a direct seat in the Professional Pharmacy program, will also be a choice. Additionally, the School of Pharmacy has two academic departments: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences that includes faculty in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics and pharmacy administration. Also the Department of Pharmacy Practice that includes faculty with specialties in general medicine, drug information, psychiatry and pediatrics. Looking at the faculty side, Graham mentioned many important figures involved in the establishment of the pharmacy program. Arthur Kibbe, chair of the pharmaceutical sciences at the time, started the idea of creating a pharmacy program at Wilkes. Initially, Dean of Engineering, Umid Nejib, provided immense support to include the program under the School of Engineering. However, once Bernie Graham joined the team, the idea of an independent department for the Pharmacy school arose. Another important figure, Bonnie Bedford, who was the chair of the Curriculum Committee, was also integral in the establishment process of the department.
Some influential faculty members were crucial to the development and success of the pharmacy program: Dr. Marie Roke Thomas, who is now the chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences along with other notable faculty members: Dave Maize, Anne Lin and Ed Foote. Howard Garret, a staff member at CVS, became the key recruiter for student jobs at Wilkes. His work in getting Wilkes students a job in the pharmaceutical field meant students were able to acquire field experience while still in school. Students having jobs in the pharmacy field was an important part of Wilkes culture because of how easily those jobs brought in connections, networking opportunities. and more employment for Wilkes pharmacy graduates. Additionally, the famous White-coat ceremony became an integral part of Wilkes Pharmacy department culture as well. Graham notes how Wilkes was one of the first universities to adapt this ceremony as a crucial event into the pharmacy school. Other events that became a crucial part of the culture at Wilkes, include the Black-tie ceremony, and the pharmacy fair that ensured that the students had jobs available while in school. In 2002, Bernie Graham took over the nursing department and decided to create a School of Nursing that became part of the College of Pharmacy and Nursing at Wilkes. However, in 2014, Wilkes established the new Passan School of Nursing, making it a standalone department separate from the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. The Nesbitt School of Pharmacy has now formed a newly designed curriculum for the prepharmacy students as part of their prerequisites for the pharmacy program. The prerequisites include: BIO 121, BIO 115 and 116, COM 101, CHM 113 and 115, MTH 100 and 150, CHM 116 and 115, and CHM 235 and 237.
Extent
8 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Condition Note:
The Pharmacy Department files are in good condition, with minimal to no signs of wear and tear.
Provenance:
This collection was originally donated and transferred to the archives by Arthur Kibbe in September 2013. The collection has been built upon with additional transfers by former Pharmacy librarian, Bridget Conlogue during her time at Wilkes from 2016-2019.
Acquisition:
The original collection was transferred over on September 10, 2013, accession number (0000021, drawer 63) from Arthur Kibbe. Additional transferred materials were donated in 2016-2019.
Copyright:
Wilkes University retains copyright of all department materials.
References:
Bernie Graham’s Oral History Interview
Undergraduate Bulletin from 1996
Pharmacy Program Development section in the Application to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education for the Accreditation of a Doctor of Pharmacy at Wilkes.
Series Descriptions:
The Pharmacy Department Collection is arranged into seven series, with a total of nine subseries:
Series I: Administration, 1993-2013 Series II: Faculty, 1993-2000 Series III: Institutions, 1993-2010 Series IV: Publications, 1991-2016 Series V: Photographs, 2000 Series VI: Maps, c. 2010-2013 Series VII: Objects, 1999-2003
Series I: Administration, 1993-2013 Series II: Faculty, 1993-2000 Series III: Institutions, 1993-2010 Series IV: Publications, 1991-2016 Series V: Photographs, 2000 Series VI: Maps, c. 2010-2013 Series VII: Objects, 1999-2003
Series I: Administration 1993-2013
Series I: Administration 1993-2013, is arranged into three subseries: Subseries I: Committees, 1993-2000, Subseries II: Accreditation, 1993-2013, and Subseries III: Budget/finances, 1993-2010. The documents found in the first subseries are arranged alphabetically, with the remaining two subseries being arranged chronologically. The documents in this series include Wilkes committee meeting minutes, Wilkes pharmacy department accreditation documents, and pharmacy department budget and finance papers.
Subseries I: Committees, 1993-2000
Subseries I: Committees, 1993-2000, is arranged alphabetically by committee name and consists of meeting minutes, curriculum submissions from various Wilkes committees ranging from the early 1990s to 2000. This subseries is restricted due to the confidential nature of topics discussed within including curriculum changes, salaries, and other sensitive information. Specific committees of note include the Academic Program Committee, School of Pharmacy Curriculum Committee, the Health and Science Committee, and the School of Pharmacy Student Sub-Committee.
Subseries II: Accreditation, 1993-2013
Subseries II: Accreditation, 1993-2013: is arranged chronologically and consists of programs, applications, presentations on the accreditation of the Pharmacy program from 1993 to 2013. This subseries contains a lot of restricted materials due to the confidential nature of the accreditation papers that include specific financial information and other sensitive information. Specific persons of note include Bernie Graham, Umid Nejib and Christopher Breiseth.
Subseries III: Budget/Finances, 1993-2010
Subseries III: Budget/Finances, 1993-2010, is arranged chronologically and consists of budget files and other financial documents for the School of Pharmacy from 1993 to 2010. This subseries contains a lot of restricted materials due to the confidential nature of the financial files that include sensitive information on the budget and finances of the pharmacy department.
Series II: Faculty, 1993-2000
Series II: Faculty, 1993-2000, is arranged into two subseries: Subseries I: Correspondence, 1992-2000, and Subseries II: Restricted Files, 1996-1999. The documents in the first subseries are arranged alphabetically, and the second series is arranged chronologically. The documents in this series contain correspondence and letters to Wilkes Faculty members and materials and data on the faculty salaries, interviews and appointments.
Subseries I: Correspondence, 1993-2000
Subseries I: Correspondence, 1993-2000, is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the Wilkes Faculty member and consists of letters, documents, and files on the specific pharmacy faculty members from 1993 to 2000.
Subseries II: Restricted Files, 1996-1999
Subseries II: Restricted Files, 1996-1999, is arranged chronologically and consists of faculty interviews, salaries and accomplishments from 1996 to 1999. This subseries contains all restricted materials due to the confidential nature of the faculty files such as their salaries, interviews and applications.
Series III: Institutions, 1993-2010
Series III: Institutions, 1993-2010, is arranged into two subseries: Subseries I: American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, 1993-2010, and Subseries II: Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1995. The documents in both subseries are arranged chronologically. The documents in this series include applications, evaluations, approvals, and curriculums of the pharmacy department.
Subseries I: American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, 1993-2010
Subseries I: American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, 1993-2010, is arranged chronologically and consists of reports, drafted letters, and applications to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education from 1993 to 2010. This subseries consists of a lot of restricted materials due to the sensitive nature of applications, evaluations, and approvals determined by the Wilkes pharmacy department.
Subseries II: Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1995
Subseries II: Pennsylvania Department of Education (1995): is arranged chronologically and consists of documents on the Pharmacy departments from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 1995. This subseries is restricted because of the confidential evaluations, applications, and curriculum changes for the pharmacy department at Wilkes.
Series IV: Publications, 1991-2016
Series IV: Publications, 1991-2016, is arranged into two subseries: Subseries I: Newspapers, 1994-2016, and Subseries II: Programs/Publicity, 1991-2016. The documents in these subseries are arranged chronologically. The documents in the series include newspaper clippings, research papers, publications, and manuals in the pharmacy department.
Subseries I: Newspapers, 1994-2016
Subseries I: Newspapers, 1994-2016, is arranged chronologically and consists of newspapers and news clippings on pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences from 1994 to 2016.
Subseries II: Programs/Publicity, 1991-2016
Subseries II: Programs/Publicity, 1991-2016, is arranged chronologically and consists of research papers, publications and manuals printed by the Pharmacy department from 1991 to 2016.
Series V: Photographs, 2000
Series V: Photographs, 2000, is arranged chronologically with photographs taken in the pharmacy department.
Series VI: Maps, c. 2010-2013
Series VI: Maps, c. 2010-2013, contains the floor plans and maps of the Stark Learning Center and the Cohen Science Center. The Cohen Science Center was established at Wilkes University in 2014, according to the Wilkes University website and these floors must have been constructed beforehand.
Series VII: Objects, 1999-2003
Series VII: Objects, 1999-2003, is arranged chronologically and consists of awards and other objects presented to the Wilkes University Pharmacy Department
Processed By:
Krisha Patel, Archives work-study, Fall 2025, supervised and edited by Suzanna Calev, Archivist, Fall 2025.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for uncoded script
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu