Two pharmacy faculty awarded named professorships

Two UW School of Pharmacy professors have been awarded named professorships. Bonnie Svarstad is now the William S. Apple Professor and George Zografi is the Edward Kremers Professor.

“Named professorships represent the highest honor the School of Pharmacy can bestow to recognize sustained achievement by our faculty,” said Dean Melvin Weinswig. “We are pleased to be able to acknowledge professors Svarstad and Zografi this way.”

Edward Kremers headed the UW pharmacy school for 43 years until his retirement in 1935. He introduced a number of programs at Wisconsin that had an impact on the national scene, including the first bachelor of science in pharmacy degree and the first doctor of pharmacy degree programs. Although he may be best remembered as an historian of pharmacy, Kremers was primarily a scientist.

William S. Apple was chief executive officer of the American Pharmaceutical Association from 1959-1983. He had a long and fruitful association with the UW School of Pharmacy, earning bachelor of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in pharmacy from the school as well as serving as a member of the faculty for seven years until 1958. During his years at the helm of the A. Ph. A., the field of pharmacy saw momentous changes in the areas of education, practice and economics.

Svarstad was awarded the Apple professorship for her pioneering role in establishing social and behavioral pharmacy at the UW as well as nationally and internationally. She has contributed significantly to a greater understanding of patterns and use of psychotropic drugs in the elderly, factors affecting patient compliance with medication regimens, and attitudes and behavior of pharmacists in their new roles in patient consultation. An associate dean at the school for five years, Svarstad has received national recognition from the A. Ph. A.

Zografi was designated the Edward Kremers Professor in Pharmacy for his many accomplishments and recognitions. He served as dean of the school for five years, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, and is the only person to have been awarded both the highest teaching award and the highest research award of the Association of American Colleges of Pharmacy. Last year he received the UW Hilldale award in the Physical Sciences, a highly prestigious recognition offered within the UW–Madison community.