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February 3, 2000

First endowed chair established in pharmacy

Because Joseph Koslow never forgot the assistance he received while attending Pitt's School of Pharmacy, throughout his career he helped other aspiring pharmacists get their start.

Now, even after his death, Koslow's support will continue. Gifts from his estate have created the Joseph Koslow Endowed Chair, the School of Pharmacy's first endowed chair, as well as a scholarship fund bearing his name.

Leaf Huang, director of the Center for Pharmacogenetics at Pitt, was named the first recipient of the Joseph Koslow Endowed Chair. Huang will oversee the investigation of interfaces between drug discovery, response and genetics to improve development of new drugs and to optimize their delivery to patients.

When Koslow began his career in 1935 with the Thrift Drug Company, Thrift co-founder Reuben Helfant, another Pitt pharmacy alumnus, helped Koslow as he earned his bachelor's degree. After serving as a chemical warfare officer in World War II, Koslow rejoined Thrift Drug and worked as a store manager through the late 1940s.

Koslow later joined Chicago-based Burroughs-Wellcome, Co., and worked as a medical representative and trainer until his retirement in 1978.

A 1938 alumnus and a recipient of the school's Distinguished Alumni Award, Koslow was a resident of River Forest, IL, and was active in the Pitt Club of Chicago.


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