A legacy that will benefit generations of future pharmacists

After nearly seven years as dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta, James Kehrer is stepping down.

Since 2009, Kehrer has led the faculty through tremendous change and navigated the ship through tough economic times, leaving behind a legacy that will benefit generations of future pharmacists.

His path to becoming dean of the U of A faculty included stops along the way at the University of Texas at Austin and Washington State University.

How does an American from Wisconsin end up in Edmonton? What appealed to Kehrer was the "continually advancing scope of practice for pharmacists in Alberta."

"There were so many opportunities for pharmacists to advance health care in Alberta," says Kehrer. "It was those opportunities, coupled with the quality of pharmacy education at the U of A and in Canada, that prompted me to take the job."

As the head of the only pharmacy school in the province, Kehrer quickly became known for his leadership both on and off campus.

"He had big shoes to fill and he filled those big shoes very well," says former U of A provost Carl Amrhein. "He leaves behind even larger shoes for his successor.

"Jim has been a leader on Deans' Council. He brings a long and broad experience from his work in Washington and Texas," says Amrhein. "He presented a strong argument for professional faculties that are successful in the education of health-care professions, as well as the development of a professoriate that excels in teaching, research and service to the profession. Jim worked very well with all of the health professions through the Health Sciences Council."

In his first year as dean, Kehrer also created a Dean's Advisory Council to "help raise the visibility and reputation of the faculty, not only in Alberta but also across Canada." The council's members come from Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia and include representatives from industry; pharmacy practice in chain, independent and grocery stores; and various other stakeholders.

David Windross, vice-president of external affairs with TEVA Canada and a member of the Dean's Advisory Council, was honoured to be appointed to the council as a representative of the generic-pharmaceutical industry.

"Although this was a new initiative, the members of the council always voiced their opinions, comments and concerns without any hesitation," says Windross. "Likewise, Dr. Kehrer felt it was important to update the council members on various activities at the faculty and the university."

Windross notes that, although the council's purpose in the beginning was to advise the dean in the areas of the Canadian health-care system and government, "the council also provided a very useful forum to discuss issues not only in pharmacy education or as alumni of the University of Alberta, but to discuss issues in general in pharmacy."

Along with his impact among his peers and stakeholders, perhaps Kehrer's greatest legacy is his work in administration in the faculty.

Highlights of his achievements include overseeing the creation and implementation of the PharmD program for practicing pharmacists as well as the part-time program, injection training for pharmacy students, an improved structure for experiential education, accreditation renewal, a new emphasis on assessment and the upcoming proposed curriculum change from the BSc Pharm to the PharmD program.

Kehrer says the proposed curriculum change is the result of a lot of good work by good people-one that will align the faculty's education standards with other pharmacy schools in Canada.

"Implementing the new PharmD program will position the faculty to meet all the new standards of education and assessment," says Kehrer. "Our curriculum development team has worked very hard to ensure we are continuing to prepare our graduates to provide quality and safe patient-centred care in Alberta's dynamic health-care environment, and in diverse settings across Canada's health-care system."

Kehrer's work with students is also something he is passionate about, as evident from the positive and productive working relationships he forged with student leaders during his tenure.

"Dean Kehrer was always very approachable and collaborative when working with the student body," says Tyler Watson (BSc '08, BSc Pharm '12), current MSc student and former Alberta Pharmacy Students' Association (APSA) president. "He encouraged and promoted student presence on faculty committees and encouraged APSA activities, particularly those aimed at community engagement and support."

Watson also credits Kehrer with "effectively motivating and encouraging the student body to become more active and advocate for ourselves in the public arena."

Kehrer also saw an increase in alumni engagement during his tenure. He's proud that Alumni Weekend activities now see more than 100 people in attendance, and notes that the support through class gifts and donors has been "amazing."

"The Pharmacy Alumni Association has been such a great addition to the faculty, and they do such important work," says Kehrer.

He's proud that the faculty now has a biannual magazine, UAlberta Pharmacy, in which to "tell the stories of our amazing alumni, faculty members and students."

Kehrer also found time to serve as a regular guest lecturer and continue his research in toxicology. In fact, a review article he wrote on free radicals and how they relate to health and disease, published in 1990, proved so popular he revised it last year. At last count it had been cited more than 1,484 times.

As Kehrer looks forward, he's excited for the future of the faculty-and for his next adventure.

"Our faculty members continue to win national and international awards and conduct innovative, world-class research," says Kehrer. "I'm also very happy with some of the new faculty members we've recruited and their energy and enthusiasm for both teaching and research."

Kehrer plans to take his wife, Deb, on a "long-overdue cruise to the Mediterranean," spend more time golfing and, most important, visit the newest member of the Kehrer family, his grandson who was born this past November.

He leaves with many tributes including high praise from Amrhein, now deputy minister of health in Alberta, who congratulates Kehrer on his "success in building a strong international faculty and in helping shape the profession of pharmacy-a profession that figures prominently in the plans of the Government of Alberta."

Education

- Purdue University, 1974 BS (Pharmacy)
- Univ. of Iowa College of Medicine, 1978 PhD (Pharmacology)
- Post-doctoral, 1978-1980 Biology Division, Oak Ridge National (Toxicology) Laboratory

Awards and Honours

- Merck Award in Pharmacology (1974, Purdue)
- Rho Chi National Pharmacy Honorary
- Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society
- University of Iowa Graduate College Fellowship in Pharmacology (1974-1975)
- Post-doctoral Investigatorship, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biology Division (1978-1980)
- University of Texas Summer Research Award - Research Career Development Award - National Institutes of Health (NHLBI) (1984-1989)
- Gustavus Pfeiffer Centennial Endowed Fellowship in Pharmacology (1985-1991)
- Achievement Award, Society of Toxicology (1989)
- Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Professorship in Toxicology (1991-2005)
- Zeneca Traveling Lectureship Award, Society of Toxicology (1996)
- Univ. of Texas College of Pharmacy Alumni Association "Best Friend" Award (2001)
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, Purdue Univ. School of Pharmacy (2004)
- Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2008)
- Nominated, Outstanding Mentor by the Washington State Univ. Women & Leadership Forum (2009)