PHSR Administrative Director Retires After 41 Years of Service to UM Campus

Faculty and staff from the UM School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine gather in Pharmacy Hall to celebrate Diane Kaufman’s incredible career.

By Malissa Carroll
December 11, 2012

On Thursday, Nov. 29, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy hosted a celebration to honor the career of Diane Kaufman, administrative director for the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (PHSR). Kaufman’s career with the University of Maryland spans more than 40 years, including 11 years with the School of Pharmacy. She retired on Saturday, Dec. 1.

“It’s no secret that Diane is one of the most respected and well-liked members of the School of Pharmacy,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy. “With the length of her tenure on campus and her vast institutional knowledge, she has been a valuable resource and constant source of wisdom to her colleagues.”

Kaufman joined the School of Pharmacy in October 2001, after holding a number of positions within the University of Maryland School of Medicine for approximately 30 years. She was hired at the School as a division manager and took on a growing sub-department within the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS). In 2004, this sub-department officially separated from the PPS department to become the PHSR department. Kaufman helped resolve many of the issues involved with the formation of this new department, and with her assistance, it has grown to include 18 well-funded faculty and a well-respected graduate program.

“Diane is the glue that has held PHSR together since the department began,” says Ilene Zuckerman, PharmD, PhD, professor and chair of PHSR and one of the speakers at Kaufman’s retirement celebration. “Her vast institutional knowledge is invaluable and the way she interacts with others is remarkable. Faculty, staff, and students always feel comfortable walking into Diane’s office to discuss an issue. She is patient, understanding, fair, and a fantastic listener. She deserves the best in the future, and I wish her health and happiness in the next phase of her life.”

During her time as administrative director for PHSR, Kaufman witnessed the tremendous growth of one of the department’s recharge centers: Pharmaceutical Research Computing (PRC). PRC’s revenue increased from $200,000 to more than $800,000 per year. This Center touches and supports numerous grants in the PHSR department as well as the UM campus. Kaufman worked with the School and an outside consultant to establish an exceptionally sound process to make sure that the recharge center would withstand federal audit for the rate schedules used.

“To say that Diane has made an exceptional contribution to the campus community is an understatement of the breadth and scope of what she has accomplished over the years,” says William Cooper, associate dean for administration and finance at the School of Pharmacy. “Through personal dedication and hard work, Diane gained the respect and confidence of PHSR faculty and the School’s administration. She is someone who I look up to because of her knowledge, personal integrity, and desire to do the right thing while serving others.”

Kaufman also briefly spoke at the celebration, thanking everyone who attended and reminiscing on her time at the School of Pharmacy.

“I would like to thank the School of Pharmacy; working here has been a treasure,” says Kaufman. “I’ve made many memories and have enjoyed every minute of the time I spent here. I will truly miss interacting with the faculty, students, and my wonderful administrative team.”

Kaufman’s team also expressed their well wishes to her as she enters retirement.

“Even though Diane is my supervisor, I am continually amazed by her willingness to get down in the ‘trenches’ with her team to get the job done. Her calm demeanor makes it easy to perform my duties, even when the department is in crisis mode,” adds Laverne McCoy, a member of Kaufman’s administrative team.

Other staff members who only recently joined Kaufman’s team also expressed what a joy it has been to work with her, if only for a few months.

“Even though I have only been with the School of Pharmacy for two months, Diane has shown me what it is like to be patient and understanding,” says Cassandra Smith, an administrative assistant for the PHSR department. “Learning a new position can be trying at times, but when you have someone like Diane who you can go to with all of your questions, it makes the process that much easier. She will be missed.”

Other speakers at the celebration included: C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, professor of pharmacoeconomics and Kaufman’s former supervisor in PHSR; Mordecai Blaustein, MD, professor of physiology at the School of Medicine and Kaufman’s former supervisor before her transfer to the School of Pharmacy; Sarah Dutcher, PHSR graduate student; and Linda Simoni-Wastila, BSPharm, PhD, professor in PHSR who delivered the toast for the evening.

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