Volume One Revisited

Most everyone in pharmacy education will agree that the profession has undergone a vast change since the first issue of the Journal was published almost five decades ago in 1937. In thinking about what could be written for the beginning of an historical look of pharmacy education for this section of the Journal it seemed of interest to review some of the papers that appeared in the first volume to see what was on the minds of pharmacy educators at that time. Fifty years seems long enough of a period to show a difference between pharmacy education then and now. This is intended then to be a nostalgic repass; a chance to review and compare the issues that were news then with those of today. STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT The first issue of the Journal contains a series of committee reports of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, a summary of the proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of AACP held in Dallas, Texas which included more committee reports, a number of editorials, addresses and two solicited papers. One of the First manuscripts to be published was the Annual Meeting address of President Robert C. Wilson, then dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia, who spoke on the impact of external forces on the schools and the problems that it created for pharmacy at that time. As you read below you may recognize some very familiar strains still heard about the status of present day pharmacy. "... taking advantage of this opportunity to discuss with you some of the problems confronting American pharmacy, for the existence of which and for the solution of which the schools must assume a large share of responsibility. "In a material age such as that through which we are now passing, professional education, along with all education, has felt the urge to adjust itself to materialistic demands, entirely forgetful of the high principles by which it alone should have been guided. The result is that we find ourselves today in the midst of doubt and uncertainty--doubt as to the wisdom of our past activities or lack of them, and uncertainty as to how to plan for the future. That there has been a breakdown in the former high ideals and ethical standards of the professions and the high regard in which they were held, I think no one can deny. "... professional conditions have been allowed to develop whereby the erstwhile ideals and standards have been obscured by the hands of those who, for expediency or for ulterior motives, have appropriated the professions (Ed. Note: medicine, teaching, pharmacy) to their personal advantage. They have ignored or forgotten the principle that the franchise, under which a profession operates and is thereby distinguished from secular activities, is granted only under the assumption or theory that the profession will operate or function in the interest of society, and not in the interest of an individual or group of individuals ... "Thinking along this line, and recognizing that a true diagnosis of the problems and the practices in pharmacy, if not made at our hands, will be made by other agencies not of our choosing; and that such a diagnosis will reveal some things the knowledge of which may be painful and which if not removed or modified will result in a delayed and doubtful prognosis, I have set up the following standards of measurement for professional schools by which I will check my own school and ask you to check yours. A Standard of Measurement for Professional Schools 1. A professional school does not justify its existence and maintenance if it concerns itself only with curricula and other mechanical details, and at the same time fails to assume leadership in its respective field. 2. It fails in its responsibility if it does not acquaint itself with conditions and practices and trends as they actually exist in that respective field, and properly diagnosing them, exercise a proper influence in correcting and directing them. …