Meet the president: Robert E Smith

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education,  Fall 1999  by Cocolas, George H

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Robert (Bob) E. Smith was born in San Diego and moved to Oakdale, California when he was two. In 1950 his family moved to Safford, Arizona where his grandfather and father purchased a grocery store. From age 12 and all through high school, Bob worked for his father learning all aspects of the grocery business. It was probably this background that focused his thoughts on a possible career in community pharmacy, which of course never happened. When it came time to consider higher education, Bob enrolled at Arizona State University as a chemistry major, joined Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. Two months after graduating from ASU, he and Mary Lou were married and they moved to Alhambra, California where Mary Lou took a position as a 5th grade teacher. The following January, Bob enrolled in pharmacy school at the University of Southern California and received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1969. While in pharmacy school he served as Junior Class President and Student APhA President. Between his junior and senior year of pharmacy school he was accepted as a COSTEP officer in the United State Public Health Service and was sent to the Phoenix Arizona Indian Hospital for the summer. Following graduation in 1969, Bob entered the Public Health Service as a pharmacist and was assigned to the Indian Health Service Hospital and Clinic at Crow Agency, Montana, where he served until 1971, finishing his tour of duty as chief pharmacist.

Bob left the Public Health Service at the request of Allan Brands who suggested that he consider two years of career development at Wayne State University, afterwhich he could return to the PHS if he desired. He applied for the faculty position at Wayne State University, was offered the position and never returned to active duty. Bob was hired as an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and was the first PharmD hired at Wayne State University. At Wayne State, Bob was responsible for teaching the majority of the therapeutics courses and for providing clerkship instruction at Detroit General Hospital. Bob stayed at that institution for seven years, during which time in 1976, he took on the responsibility of Director of Clinical Programs. In this capacity, he coordinated the teaching and practice activities of the clinical faculty and was responsible for the continuation and development of contractual arrangements between Detroit area hospitals and Wayne State University. It was at Wayne State University that he develop an interest in dermatology and has taught this subject as an elective course at all four universities where he has served. Colleagues commented that Bob displayed a gentle manner and a thoughtful approach to problems and solutions. They were impressed with his common sense. fie sought simple, practical answers to complex problems. He always looked for the best in people as well as in situations, an uncommon trait, but one that was much appreciated by those around him.

In 1978 Bob joined the faculty at the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions at Creighton University, as Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice. He served as chair until 1983 when he accepted a one-year sabbatical with the Vice President of Health Sciences at Creighton University. In 1986, he was again offered the position of Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice and 14 months later was offered the position of Assistant Dean, a position he held until 1999. It seems that everywhere Bob went he left an imprint of his leadership style. He consistently demonstrated integrity, competency, an ability to inspire faculty and a sense of direction and concern for the future of pharmacy.

As mentioned earlier, while at Creighton University, Bob Smith took a sabbatical as an Administrative Fellow to the Vice President for Health Sciences at Creighton. His activities included dealing with a five-year financial planning and budget control analysis for the four health science schools; research and program analysis; personnel matters including retirement planning, promotion, tenure, and alternate solutions to the problems caused by tenure; health science marketing and student recruitment; and was the principle author for a large primary healthcare grant for the homeless. During this sabbatical he began to developed his interest in organizational behavior and leadership.

This experience set the foundation for Bob Smith to be selected as dean of the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy. The Board of Trustees of the College, in looking for a new dean, were seeking an individual who could be an agent for change, one who could approach the challenges of program development with enthusiasm and not be bound by practices in the past. They found that person in Bob Smith. His visions of the pharmacy profession and pharmacy education transforl-ned tile St. Louis College of Pharmacy into one of regional and national prominence. After joining the College in 1989, Bob successfully reorganized the academic divisions and fostered the development and implementation of a contemporary and meaningful college mission. During his tenure, leadership/faculty development programs were established and became a high priority for faculty, students and St. Louis pharmacy practitioners; curricular and pedagogical changes in pre-professional and professional programs were instituted; "across the curriculum" programs in writing, communications and ethics were established and the number of full-time faculty grew from approximately 38 to over 60. In addition, he helped to establish a college choir, an intercollegiate athletic program and design and build a 30,000 sq. ft classroom building and theater. Recognition of the quality of these efforts is evidenced by the large number of presentations and workshops made by Bob and other members of the College faculty at AACP meetings and other professional organizations. As one faculty mernber commented. "Bob provided an environment in which excitement and accomplishment were everyday events."