Columbia University College of Pharmacy - Apothekan Yearbook (New York, NY)

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2), van 5 essaae P Of the seventy-two members of this class entering in September, 1940. but twenty-two remain to constitute the graduating class of February. 1914. Nearly cue-half of its original number is in uni- form, stationed at various points and ably rendering pharmaceuti- cal or medical service in the armed forces. Although their name ' - can- not appear on the commencement program, they have graduated in the sense tha t they are al ready making use of the knowledge gained at the College. It is our hope that they will return in due course to resume where they left off and join you as graduates. This is the fourth graduating class since our country entered upon the grim business of war, which lias taken priority o er all other interests and in which speed is of the utmost importance. You have participated in this speeding- up process, and your willingness to adjust yourselves to an increased educational load has made the ac- celeration possible. In addition, many faced disturbing uncertain- ties in regard to their service status and the ability to concentrate on study under these conditions speaks well for their determination to finish the task they had begun. While but few can expect to enter civilian pursuits immediately upon graduation it is hoped that before too long you will be able to turn your attention to the occupation for which vou haAe trained. In view of the widespread interest in postwar conditions, I will venture a bit ol speculation as to what the future holds for you and other graduates of these Avar classes. Undoubtedly, the question of greatest importance is where and how will those now in war service and war industry find occupational opportunity at the conclusion of hostilities. In my opinion pharmacy need have no fear of a postwar unemployment problem and this will more than compensate for the main difficulties which have beset pharmacy and pharmacists in these war times. The earlier Selective Service rulings affecting pharmacy students severely curtailed student bodies throughout the country and the quota feature of the present ruling precludes any possibility of restoring the usual number of graduates. Thus pharmacy, from a long-range viewpoint, gives promise of being more fortunately situated in the postwar period than the manv other occupations which have received preferential treatment. Essentiality is a word with which pharmacy has now become thoroughly familiar, and in manv instances it has brought about radical changes in the character of the present-day drug store. Trends toward a limitation of store activities to dispensing service and the sale of medicinal merchandise were apparent before the war, and the extremes of general merchandising were slowly giving way to more conservative policies. The exigencies of war have stripped the retail pharmacy of many extraneous features and. perhaps more important, they have emphasized the real reason for its existence. The role of the licensed pharmacist in this retail pharmacy has also been sharply defined on the basis of essential service. It is reasonable to believe that at least some of these changes will be permanent. The fact that so many pharmacy graduates in service have been assigned to general medical branches rather than pharmaceutical duties may also be advantageous to the future of pharmacy. In many instances the pharmacists so situated will have greater and more intimate contact with the soldier or sailor than the medical officers. This close contact may create a clearer under- standing of pharmacy ' s claim to recognition as a medical and health service profession in the mind of the service man. He will carry his impressions back to civilian life and view pharma- cists in quite a different light. Furthermore, these ex-service men will constitute a substantial block of our citizens, and as such their opinions will carry weight. Another possibility which may influence opinions about pharmacy lies in the fact that the service pharmacist, whether in a medical unit or in a hospital, is in closer contact with physicians than he would be in civilian life. This association may also be productive of a clearer appreciation of pharmacy and pharmacists by medical men. Finally. I turn to the matter of your relationship to the College after graduation. One of my objectives has been to foster a spirit of loyalty which will lead the graduates to regard the College as a living body of which we are all necessary members. The numerous requests for recommendations and other assistance during the past few years indicate that the idea is not without foundation. They emphasize the fact that each graduate, whether or not he realizes it, has a life interest in this College by virtue of his degree. Vou of 1944 now acquire such an interest and I hope that it will cause you to regard its welfare as your own. My best w ishes go with you. Very truly yours, CHARLES V. BALLARD. Dean.

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=Jjedicat ton ELIHU STEIN September 27. 1922 June 5, 1943

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF VICTOR J. SAKAL ASSOCIA TE EDITOR Carlo L. Russo PHOTOGRAPHY Herbert B. Beh Michael Friedland BUSINESS MANAGER Bernard Weinstein Features: Robert J. Schwan, Marvin Hoffman, George Cohen. Shirley Jaffe, Rudolph Notkoff Faculty Adviser: Professor Frank Pokorny