Famous Pharmacist Inspire You

1) Alexander Flemming Contribution : The discovery of penicillin

Prior to his discovery of penicillin, Alexander Flemming already had a reputation for excellence in medical and chemical research. He actively researched potential drugs with antiseptic properties after watching many soldiers die of sepsis due to infected wounds during World War 1. However, his discovery of penicillin was completely accidental. When discussing his find, Flemming stated, “When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn't plan to revolutionise all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic, or bacteria killer, but I suppose that was exactly what I did.” Penicillin is currently used to treat a wide number of ailments and is one of the most popular drugs prescribed on the NHS. (Source: whatuni.com)

2) Jesse Boot Contribution : The Founder of Boots Pharmacy

Although Boots Pharmacy was initially started by Jesse’s father John Boot, it was Jesse that turned the company into the global phenomenon that it is today. The initial Boot’s philosophy in 1877 was to provide “health for a shilling”. making it affordable for those on a lower income. The Nottingham store (the first Boots Pharmacy) was incredibly popular among local residents. Goods were bought in bulk, at a much cheaper price than the brand’s competitors and so could be sold at a considerably lower price. To date Boots Pharmacy is still a thriving business and is still synonymous with quality products at competitive prices. (Source: whatuni.com)

3) John Pemberton Contribution: Created Coca-Cola

One of the most popular drinks to date, Coca-Cola was invented by trained pharmacist John Pemberton in order to counteract his own addiction to morphine. Initially the drink contained alcohol, kola nut and damiana and was marketed as a ‘Pemberton’s French Wine Cola’. However, by 1886 there were increasing concerns about the alcohol content (but oddly, not the cocaine) within popular drinks such as Coca-Cola. Pemberton then decided to experiment with other ingredients such as base syrup and carbonated water. (Source: whatuni.com)

4) Hubert Humphrey Contribution: USA Vice President (1965 – 1968)

Of course, with a degree in Pharmacy the sky is your limit and one man who proved this was American Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Although he never quite made it to president, Humphrey not only held a licence to practice pharmacy, but was also a political force to be reckoned with. Serving under Lyndon B Johnson Hubert Humphrey was known for his scepticism over the Vietnam conflict in the late 1960s and his desire for social reform. In 1968 he ran for Presidency and lost – by less than 1% of the popular vote– to Robert Nixon. (Source: whatuni.com)

5) Friedrich Serturner Contribution: Discovered Morphine

As a pharmacist’s assistant, Friedrich Serturner was the first chemist to separate morphium (morphine) from opium. In the 18th century opium was a widely available and addictive drug (and as you may have hears it wasn’t only popular for its medical properties). Although his discovery was made in 1805, it wasn’t until after 1815 that morphine became widely available for use. It is due to Serturner’s discovery and continuous research into the effects of morphine that we are able to harness its pain relief qualities today. (Source: whatuni.com)

6) Benjamin Green

Green served as an airman in World War II and used red veterinary petrolatum on his skin to serve as a physical barrier from the sun, which inspired Coppertone. According to Coppertone’s website, the Florida pharmacist wanted to find a way to protect himself and his fellow soldiers from sunburn. When Green came back from the war, he added cocoa butter and coconut oil to the formula to make a more pleasing product that would later become Coppertone suntan lotion. (Source: Pharmacy Times)

7) Chris Hemsworth

This Australian actor known for his role as Thor in Avengers: Age of Ultron did not always have a glamorous lifestyle. To pay his bills before he got famous, Hemsworth got a job working at a pharmacy. He told The Express Tribune that one of his tasks was to sterilize breast pumps after women returned them to the pharmacy. (Source: Pharmacy Times)

8) Prafulla Chandra Roy

Famous academician and chemist, known for being the founder of Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, India’s first pharmaceutical company.

9) Mahadeva Lal Schroff: father of Indian pharmacy education

who was not trained as a pharmacist, gave the right direction not only to pharmaceutical education but also to the industry as well in India with his inclination, understanding, capacity and broad vision. In 1932, at BHU, Prof. Schroff, with his chemical technology background urged Pt. M.M. Malaviyaji to start a separate branch (section) of Pharmaceutical Sciences at BHU. Pt. Malaviyaji realized its importance and Schroff was given the green signal to organise this new discipline in India, for the first time. Prof. Schroff introduced Pharmaceutical Chemistry as the principal Subject in the B.Sc. course in 1932 in BHU. From 1934 an integrated 2-year BSc. Course with the subjects -- pharma chemistry, pharmacy and pharmacognosy, was introduced, which later from 1937 was turned into a full-fledged three-year B Pharm course at BHU for the first time in India. This was the first and the foremost creation of Prof M L Schroff, which earned him the title of the pioneer and father of Indian pharmaceutical education.

Soon, Prof Schroff -- in December 1935 -- started United Provinces Pharma Association, which soon crossed the borders of UP in 1939 and took the shape of Indian Pharmaceutical Association in 1939 with branches all over the country. He himself edited the Indian Journal of Pharmacy, founded in January1939.

Prof. Schroff very carefully earned the confidence, love and affection of the top intellectuals, scientists and industrialists, doyens of chemistry, technology, pharmacology and medical practitioners, and successfully created the awareness of this science for the development of pharmaceutical education of science and technology in India.

Prof Schroff started the M Pharm Education in 1940 at BHU with his efforts. Slowly the pharmacy education sprung up in different places in India. He left BHU in 1943 and joined Birla Brothers as their Chief Chemist and Research Officer and served as Secretary to the Birla Laboratories till 1949 at Calcutta. But the teacher within him made him restless and he was given the position and responsibility as principal at Birla College, Pilani, where for the next five years he organized Pharmacy education at intermediate and degree level successfully. His skill in journalism flourished when he started his own periodical "Indian Pharmacist" from 1945 for a further period of ten years. (Source: PharmD Info)