A History of the School of Pharmacy at West Virginia University

At the dawn of the 20th century, the West Virginia Pharmaceutical Association advocated for the integration of pharmacy studies into the curriculum at West Virginia University, the state's premier institution. Initially, courses introduced at WVU in 1899 and 1904 saw low enrollment.

In July 1914, WVU undertook a significant step by recruiting Charles H. Rogers from the University of Minnesota to establish a one-person Department of Pharmacy. Despite a modest beginning with three students and a budget of only $75, Rogers' efforts soon gained momentum. Initially without a formal classroom, he was eventually allocated space in the medical building, a structure no longer standing, near what is now the PRT Beechurst station.

In 1916, Rogers expanded the pharmacy department by hiring Gordon Alger Bergy, a recent alumnus of the University of Michigan School of Pharmacy. Together, Rogers and Bergy crafted a robust curriculum and secured the University Board of Regents' endorsement for a two-year Pharmaceutical Graduate degree.

The first cohort of pharmacy students graduated in 1917. Also, that year, Rogers returned to Minnesota and ascended to the deanship of the College of Pharmacy there and Bergy took the helm of WVU's Department of Pharmacy.

The momentum was disrupted the following year by World War I. Bergy was called to active duty in the U.S. Army and the Department of Pharmacy was temporarily closed. Post-War, Bergy’s return and the addition of J. Lester Hayman as faculty in 1919 reinvigorated the program.

A significant administrative shift occurred in 1936 when the Department of Pharmacy emerged from under the medical school's purview, owing to an accreditation oversight, prompting the WVU Board of Governors to elevate it to the College of Pharmacy. Hayman was appointed the inaugural dean, and the Bachelor of Science degree became the new academic standard, yielding six graduates that year and totaling 125 since the department's inception in 1914.

The College of Pharmacy achieved a new milestone in 1950 when it established its home base in Woodburn Hall's basement, rooting its presence on campus. Concurrently, visions for expansion were already on the horizon, with the University's ambitious blueprints to build a Hospital and Health Sciences Center on the Evansdale - Medical Center Campus. To turn this vision into reality, The West Virginia legislature passed a tax on soft drinks, known as the “pop tax,” in 1951 to help pay for the construction of the new facilities.

The College's journey continued to flourish, and in 1958, it transitioned to the newly constructed, Health Sciences Center. This significant relocation was accompanied by a transformative rebranding, as the Board of Governors elevated the College of Pharmacy to the School of Pharmacy, a title reflective of its stature alongside its peers in Dentistry, Medicine, and Nursing. We invite you to explore our comprehensive timeline for a deeper dive into the legacy of the School post-1958.

Our faculty, students, and a network of over 3,400 alumni across 48 states have distinguished themselves with groundbreaking research and a treasure trove of accolades at local, regional, and national levels. Within the cutting-edge classrooms of the WVU Health Sciences Center, the next generation of pharmacists is empowered with knowledge and innovation, continuing a legacy that is as enduring as the institution itself.