University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia will celebrate the 189th anniversary of its founding on Feb. 18, 2010, at 2 p.m. with a number of events, including an honorary degree to be bestowed upon Joseph M. Mahady, MBA, president (retired), Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Founders' Day recalls the University's establishment on Feb. 23, 1821, by 68 prominent Philadelphia apothecaries.

Mahady was selected as the honorary degree recipient in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit and leadership in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry as well as his continued dedication to innovation and excellence.
 
Mahady was senior vice president of Wyeth and president of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and retired upon the closing of Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth. In that role, Mahady led the company’s global pharmaceutical business. Mahady, who also served on the University of the Sciences board of trustees from May 2004 to Sept. 2009, had been with the divisions of Wyeth for 30 years. He was a member of the Wyeth’s management committee, operations committee, law/regulatory review, and human resources and benefits committees. Under his leadership Wyeth evolved as one of world’s leading global biopharmaceutical companies. At the time of his retirement, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals generated nearly $20 billion in annual revenues from a portfolio that included the No. 1 biotech and No. 1 vaccine products in the world. Mahady and his wife, Barbara, have six children and reside in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

Founders’ Day recalls the University’s establishment on February 23, 1821, by 68 prominent Philadelphia apothecaries. The day commemorates the growth of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) from a small college into a vibrant university that has a rich tradition of producing leaders who shape new dimensions of professionalism, pharmacy, and healthcare.

To further mark the occasion, University President Dr. Philip P. Gerbino will announce two awards recognizing a current student and faculty member . This year marks the fourth time an Award of Merit will be presented to a current student and a faculty member who represent the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the University’s founders and have engaged in research or some form of scholarly pursuit that results in new developments or innovations.

At University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, students embark on a challenging learning experience in a proving ground for successful professionals in the healthcare-related fields. A private, coeducational institution dedicated to education, research, and service, and distinguished as the nation’s first college of pharmacy, the University has produced leaders in the healthcare marketplace since its founding in 1821, including founders of six of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world. With undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in such disciplines as pharmacy, bioinformatics, physical therapy, healthcare business, and health policy, the 3,000 students in the University of the Sciences’ five colleges learn to excel in scientific analysis and to apply their skills to improving healthcare in their communities and in the lives of people worldwide. For more information about University of the Sciences, visit www.usp.edu.