Conrad Retires From James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy

After more than 20 year as a director of pharmacy, residency program director and pharmacy residency preceptor at three academic science centers, Wayne Conrad, PharmD has retired, becoming a professor emeritus effective Sept. 1, 2011.

Conrad has directed the training of more than 75 residents. He has leadership positions in local, state and national pharmacy organizations and has been a consultant for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Accreditation Services Division since 1988 (in this capacity he conducted more than 400 residency accreditation site surveys).  He is the author of numerous articles and presentations about pharmacy practice issues, quality improvement and residency training.

Where did you earn your degree(s) and what year did you come to UC?

I earned my bachelor of sciences degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo and my PharmD at the University of Kentucky.  I am also a fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  I joined the faculty at UC in 1985.

What is the most significant change you’ve seen in pharmacy education?

The most significant change that I have seen in pharmacy education is the adoption of a PharmD as an entry level requirement for practice.  This has changed clinical pharmacy from an advanced practice performed by a limited number of pharmacists to a routine component of pharmacy practice today.  Clinical pharmacy has become a core component of pharmacy practice in hospitals and is advancing rapidly to become such in community pharmacies as well.

Are there any marked differences in pharmacy students today?

Pharmacy students have a stronger educational background when they enter pharmacy.  About 40 percent already have a baccalaureate degree and several of these have graduate degrees.  More than 70percent have at least three years of college education when they enter pharmacy.  In addition students are more likely to enter post-graduate residency training after graduation.

What would you consider your greatest contribution (or contributions) to pharmacy and/or pharmacy education?

My most significant contribution to pharmacy has been my being the principal investigator of a project to develop a systematic approach to post-graduate residency training which I named the Residency Learning System (RLS). The success of the demonstration project led to the incorporation of the RLS into pharmacy residency accreditation standards.  The RLS is utilized by essentially all post graduate pharmacy residency programs today.

What do you plan to do in your retirement…will you keep any connections to the industry? 

I will continue to work as a consultant for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  In my capacity of lead surveyor, I will conduct approximately 15-20 post-graduate residency accreditation site surveys per year.   My wife (Lynne) and I intend to travel and spend more time with our four lovely grandchildren.