John Gans, Philly school dean, appointed to top APhA position

Drug Store News, June 12, 1989

John Gans, Philly school dean, appointed to top APhA position

WASHINGTON - The American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) has named John A. Gans as executive vp and ceo, said R. David Cobb, APhA chairman.

Gans, a member of APhA for 22 years and currently dean of pharmacy at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, is scheduled to take up his new duties in July.

His appointment follows a two-month executive search by a special committee headed by Philip P. Gerbino, APhA trustee and chairman-elect, to find a replacement for Jack F. Schlegel, who resigned in March.

"We are elated to announce this appointment," said Cobb. "Dr. Gans has the vision and leadership qualities to move the association forward. He has distinguished himself in the field of pharmacy, with diverse experience in the areas of practice, research and education."

"In my opinion," said Gans, "APhA must provide the light, the vision, to serve as a beacon for all of pharmacy, directing us in these changing and challenging times to achieve our professional sense of purpose. We - the board, the membership of APhA, with affiliated state associations - need to set the agenda for safe and effective drug use in America."

Before becoming dean of pharmacy at Philadelphia last year, Gans was chairman of the pharmacy department at the college in various clinical pharmacy positions since 1970.

From 1974 to 1985, he was managing director of Pharma-services, which provides consulting and dispensing pharmacy services to nursing homes.

Earlier appointments

Prior to his association with the college, Gans was assistant director of pharmacy services at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for two years, and earlier was a community pharmacist in Broomall, Pa.

He served for nine years in the APhA House of Delegates and was a longtime leader in the Academy of Pharmacy Practice (APP), now called the Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management. While on the APP executive committee, Gans advocated reimbursing pharmacies for "cognitive" services, such as counseling patients about the medications and drug interations.

He is a member of the clinical sciences section of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science and has been active in the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association. He served the Pennsylvania Society of Hospital Pharmacists as a state association executive from 1977-1980 and was president of that group in 1980-1981. In 1986-1987, he served as president of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists.

Gans is hospitality committee co-chair for Pharmacy World Congress '91, which is scheduled to be held in Washington in September 1991.

He received his doctor of pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.