John A. Gans PharmD’69, executive vice president and chief executive officer for the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has been selected as a recipient of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Commissioner’s Special Citation Award. The award was bestowed upon Dr. Gans on June 4, 2009, during a ceremony at Martin’s Crosswinds, Greenbelt, Md.
The award was presented to Dr. Gans in recognition of 20 years of outstanding leadership in ensuring issues of importance to pharmacists and the APhA are considered in FDA regulatory decision-making.
In congratulating Dr. Gans, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Principal Deputy Commissioner said, “You have been chosen for this award because you have provided invaluable assistance to the FDA. To be selected for special recognition should be most satisfying since accomplishments such as yours impact the well being of the public.”
Dr. Gans has been APhA’s executive vice president and chief executive officer since 1989, focusing on positioning pharmacists as valued members of the healthcare team who can improve medication use and advance patient care. Prior to joining APhA, Dr. Gans served on the faculty and was dean of the School of Pharmacy at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, where he earned his pharmacy degree in l966 and his doctorate in pharmacy in 1969.
Dr. Gans began his career in 1966 as a community pharmacist in Broomall, Pa. During 1967-68, Dr. Gans held a residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Following his residency, he became assistant director of pharmacy at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and held that position from 1968-70. He was a pioneer in the area of parenteral nutrition and clinical pharmacy. From 1974 to 1985, he served as the managing director of Pharmaservices, a consultant firm to nursing homes.
Dr. Gans has served as the founding chairman of the Delaware Valley Regional Poison Control Program, which established a 24-hour regional poison control center in 1985. In 1980-81, he served as president of the Pennsylvania Society of Hospital Pharmacists and, in 1986-87, as president of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
Dr. Gans will step down in July as EVP and CEO of APhA after nearly 20 years of service to the organization.