–Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity

–Attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca

Both Dr Lawrence Cohen and Dr J. Robert Powell, the ACCP Foundation’s newest Legacy Society members, recently attributed much of their career success to luck. However, as they shared their career paths, it quickly became evident that their “luck” was actually the intersection of curiosity, preparation, hard work, and opportunity. ACCP and the ACCP Foundation, Ltd. are honored to be the beneficiaries of Cohen’s and Powell’s time, talents, and financial gifts throughout their careers.

Individuals become members of the ACCP Foundation’s Legacy Society through cumulative contributions totaling at least $50,000. This amount may be achieved through annual, one-time, and/or planned giving contributions (eg, through wills, trusts, insurance policies, or other mechanisms).

Lawrence Cohen is a consultant, adviser, academic educator, mentor, and researcher with over 45 years of experience. Cohen retired from his last full-time academic career as distinguished professor of pharmacotherapy, coordinator of interprofessional education, and coordinator of continuing professional education at the University of North Texas, where he previously served as founding associate dean for clinical affairs after retiring as emeritus professor of pharmacotherapy from the Washington State University College of Pharmacy. Cohen established himself as an essential member of the health care team throughout his career as a nursing assistant, ECG technician, and later psychiatric pharmacy specialist. His scholarly interests include the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic medications, geriatric psychopharmacology, pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes, pharmacoepidemiology, and emergency preparedness (specifically, access to health care during times of crisis). Cohen has been a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist since the credential was established in 1996 and has served as a member of several Board of Pharmacy Specialties Specialty Councils. Cohen is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and served as ACCP president in 2011-2012. He speaks fondly of his time spent on the Board of Regents and as ACCP president, participating in the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners, ACCP strategic planning, and the removal of commercial support from ACCP meetings and education.

ACCP has been my professional home for a very long time. Two ACCP attributes have been particularly meaningful to me: ACCP has participated in, and members have assisted in, development of many new board-certified specialties, and through joining multiple ACCP Practice and Research Networks, I have learned so much about my colleagues’ practice areas, well beyond my own specialty. I found value in the organization and therefore started giving back in the early 90s. The fact is, you can put your money to work through the Foundation with investigator development programs.

Dr J. Robert Powell is a clinical pharmacologist with extensive experience in drug development. His career focused on creating early development strategies linked to project progression decisions and drug dosing from early clinical development to market for companies like Glaxo, Parke-Davis, and Roche. He helped establish the application of pharmacometrics for new drug approvals at the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. He has an extensive publication record, primarily focused on drug dosing. Now he is working on enhancing marketed drug dosing to better meet the needs of real-world patients who are far more diverse than the patients represented in phase 3 trials. Powell served as ACCP’s ninth president in 1988-1989. Powell continues to contribute his expertise to ACCP. He and Dr William P. Petros, dean at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, recently published an article in JACCP titled “From Pharmacist to Pharma: Advice on Career Pathways in Drug Development.” In the article, they address the need for advanced clinical, research, and soft-skill development to obtain a highly successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. “In industry,” notes Powell, “I was always looking for individual leaders that could go out and perform at a higher level than I could perform.” As such, he continues to support the Foundation’s efforts to develop these clinical pharmacist leaders.