Former ASHP Treasurer Joe E. Smith dies at 84

Abstract

Joe Ephriam Smith, Pharm.D., who in 1967 decentralized the clinical and distributive pharmacy services of a large Pennsylvania hospital and later developed the first pharmacy technician training program to receive accreditation from ASHP, died of heart failure on August 22 at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. He was 84 years old. Smith led pharmacy operations at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia for 31 years, arriving when the facility, which now has 899 beds, was known as Jefferson Medical College Hospital. He received the highest honor in hospital pharmacy, the Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture Award, in 1988. That same year Smith was named the fourth John W. Webb Visiting Professor in Hospital Pharmacy in recognition of his commitment to hospital pharmacy management and experience as an educator and practitioner. From 1989 to 1995, Smith served as the treasurer of ASHP. “Joe was an incredible individual, leader, and mentor to so many future pharmacy leaders,” said ASHP Chief Executive Officer Paul W. Abramowitz. “I had the honor of serving on the ASHP Board of Directors with Joe during his term as ASHP treasurer, and it was a great experience to have had the opportunity to interact with a true pharmacy legend who contributed so much to our great profession.”