Professor Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD and his wife Priscilla have
established an endowment for the University of Pittsburgh’s School of
Pharmacy. This grant, intended for a Pitt graduate student involved in
natural products research, will be awarded in Fall 2008 after the
review of eligible candidates by a committee in the School of Pharmacy.
“I have the greatest respect for the institution, especially the
School of Pharmacy,” said Dr. Farnsworth (email, August 21, 2007). “I
give a great deal of credit to Pitt, where I learned to initiate
research, hone my skills as a teacher and develop administrative
skills.”
Dr. Farnsworth said his first preference is to make the award
available to a graduate student working in the area of the chemistry
and/or pharmacognosy of natural products. If no such student is
available it will go to a professional Pharmacy student that
demonstrates excellence, as determined by the Dean. Furthermore, after
the first reception of the award in 2008 it will be awarded once a year
thereafter, according to Lawton Snyder, Director of Development at the
School of Pharmacy at the University.
“Dr. Farnsworth is one of the leaders in Pharmacognosy today and he
has a legacy here,” said Snyder, (oral communication, August 20, 2007).
“He got his start here and has a true interest in the present situation
of the University and its future.”
Dr. Farnsworth received his PhD in 1959 from the University of
Pittsburgh. He helped implement the first PhD program in Pharmacognosy
during his tenure there and was the first to chair this program during
his subsequent professorship at the University. He stayed with the
University until 1970 when he moved to the College of Pharmacy at the
University of Illinois at Chicago where he has developed one of the
world’s leading and most respected natural products and medicinal plant
research centers. Among his many achievements and activities, Dr.
Farnsworth is a founding member of the American Botanical Council Board
of Trustees. Dr. Farnsworth’s illustrious and prolific pharmacognosy
career was profiled in an article in HerbalGram 72. 1
“He is a remarkable individual,” said Snyder (oral communication,
August 20, 2007). “He was the favorite professor of many of the
students he taught during his time here.”
Dr. Farnsworth and his wife originally invested $10,000 to begin the
endowment, but it has grown to $20,000 through public donations. Dr.
Farnsworth said it is important to him to award a graduate student
because he started his career with a $5,000 grant.
“It is also obvious that every institution of higher learning needs
support for students,” said Dr. Farnsworth. “My wife and I are in the
position to assist in this endeavor.”
Contributions to this award can be made by visiting the University of Pittsburg Web site at http://www.pitt.edu/.2
After the selection of “Giving to Pitt,” and “Make a Gift/Donate Now,”
one should direct his/her donation to “The School of Pharmacy” and type
in “The Norman R. and Priscilla A. Farnsworth Student Award.”
Contributions can also be sent by mail to the attention of Lawton
Snyder at the University of Pittsburg School of Pharmacy: 1104 Salk
Hall, 3501 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
—Kelly E. Saxton
References
1 Cavaliere C. Journal of Natural Products dedicates special issue to Farnsworth. HerbalGram. 2006; 72:14 2 The University of Pittsburgh Web site. Available at http://www.pitt.edu/. Accessed August 20, 2007. |