UW School of Pharmacy’s PharmD class of 2017 announced their class gift this week. They will work together over the coming year to make a P4 Class Giving Fund donation to the Doug Black Endowed PharmD Award, a scholarship that is given each year to a UW School of Pharmacy student who exemplifies an outstanding commitment to learning and the profession of pharmacy.
“Scholarships are a huge benefit to current students as they allow us to participate in conferences and other events like Medical Brigades that we would have difficulty affording otherwise,” they shared in their announcement. “These experiences are invaluable to us and often help shape our future practice.”
The Class wanted to honor Dr. Doug Black who has been an important influence on them, both as a professor and a mentor, and has pushed them to become better students and pharmacists. “Doug has consistently gone above and beyond what is expected of a professor. He has always been happy to take time out of his day to meet with students and help in any way that he can. Last year, as the course master for our infectious disease therapeutics course, Doug would send out emails daily encouraging us in our studies and reminding us that no matter how hard things seemed, we could handle it. Doug’s emails were often what we would wake up to in the morning, as he gets up most mornings at 4 am, much earlier than any of his students.”
Below are a few excerpts from some of those emails that represent what a truly caring and encouraging professor he is:
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Dr. Doug Black talks with students in the Bracken Lab. “On my walk to my car on Boyer Ave (I hate paying for parking), I was thinking about you and I have to say, I’m proud of you–and I’m very happy with how things are going.”
- “First and foremost, good luck on your exam today. Luck really shouldn’t be a part of it, but we all know how that goes. Anyway, I wish you logical thought and an unusually responsive memory.”
- “Sometimes all you can do in times of adversity is soldier on. I know that is what you are doing this week. I wish you all the best in finishing up this hellish week. You’ve earned some downtime. I hope you can get some.”
- “I don’t want our class to end, by the way.”
- “Thanks for an unforgettable Spring.”
UWSOP alumni and friends are invited to join the Class of 2017 in honoring Doug’s commitment to students and scholarship by making a gift to the Doug Black Endowed Pharm.D. Award. To contribute toward the class’ gift total, please make your gift to Doug’s fund through the P4 Class Giving Fund today.
“Just as Doug has encouraged us, we look forward to encouraging future Pharm.D. students through our class gift.”
If you have questions about making a gift, please email rxalumni@uw.edu.
Give to the Doug Black Endowed PharmD Award through the P4 Class Giving Fund today.