Former UM President Visits School of Pharmacy

David Ramsay, DM, DPhil, toured the new Pharmacy Hall and met with faculty and students benefitting from the new space.

By Malissa Carroll
October 26, 2012

On Thursday, October 18, David Ramsay, DM, DPhil, former president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, visited the School of Pharmacy during his return to campus for the unveiling of his official University portrait in the Southern Management Corporation (SMC) Campus Center.

During his time as president, Dr. Ramsay advocated to the Maryland General Assembly on behalf of the School for funding for the new building and was instrumental in persuading the University System of Maryland Board of Regents to support Pharmacy Hall Addition, which officially opened in 2010.

Because Dr. Ramsay was unable to participate in the festivities surrounding the opening of the new building, Dean Eddington invited him to visit the School for a tour.

“Dr. Ramsay was such a supporter of the School of Pharmacy during his 16 year tenure as president of the University,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, dean and professor of the School. “I thought it important for him to see the results of his advocacy on our behalf and to hear directly from our students, faculty, and staff how this building has transformed our education, practice, and research missions.”

The tour began with visits to classes instructed by Robert Beardsley, PhD, professor and vice chair for education in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, and Fred Abramson, BSP, assistant professor of pharmacy practice and science, to showcase the cutting-edge equipment and technology available to faculty and students in the lecture halls and classrooms located in the new building.

Following his visit to the classrooms, Dr. Ramsay met with Maureen Kane, PhD, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences and interim director of the Mass Spectrometry Facility at the School of Pharmacy. She gave Dr. Ramsay a tour of the facility, which is located in a suite of rooms on the seventh floor of the Pharmacy Hall. The purchase of many of the instruments in this facility was made possible by the equipment funds that accompanied construction funds for the addition.

“It was an honor to have the opportunity to show Dr. Ramsay the world-class facilities and instrumentation that were made possible with the new building funds, as well as chat with him about the exciting and diverse research that is now possible with these cutting-edge tools,” said Kane.

Dr. Ramsay also spoke with Steve Fletcher, PhD, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, and Jim Trovato, PharmD, BCOP, FASHP, associate professor of pharmacy practice and science, during his visit to the School.

During his conversation with Dr. Ramsay, Trovato discussed the technologies and resources available in the new practice labs that are used by pharmacy students to introduce and reinforce contemporary pharmacy practice skills. Trovato described how the practice lab simulates pharmacy practice in the community and hospital settings using simulated or standardized patient encounters.

“It is always a great feeling when you can show someone the fruition of their dedication and support to the School of Pharmacy, in this case the new addition to Pharmacy Hall and the new pharmacy practice lab facilities,” says Trovato. “I felt privileged to have the opportunity to show Dr. Ramsay how his support and advocacy has benefitted pharmacy students in providing them with state-of-the-art facilities.”

The tour concluded in the Pharmacy Hall Atrium where Dean Eddington presented Dr. Ramsay with an appreciation plaque

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