Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center

Guiding future pharmacists toward new approaches and new ways of thinking.
Developing skills to confront and conquer the challenges of a dramatically changing healthcare landscape.
Inspiring innovation, creating new levels of success in science and in business.

Two University of South Carolina alumni with a desire to transform pharmacy education and practice are making a $30 million gift to the university's South Carolina College of Pharmacy, the second-largest in the university's history.

Announced Friday (Sept. 17) by University President Harris Pastides, the gift is from USC alumni William and Lou Kennedy of Orlando, Fla. and will establish the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center.

The center will serve as a home for collaborative research and education that will bring together the nation's top minds in entrepreneurship, health sciences, communications and other disciplines with leading pharmacy practice faculty.
Pastides said the Kennedy's gift will assure that their alma mater will set the new benchmarks for pharmacy science and practice in the 21st century.

"Philanthropy is essential to the success of our university, and we are deeply appreciative of every gift to Carolina," he said. "However, some gifts have the potential to fundamentally alter research and the way we prepare students. This is one of those gifts. The Kennedy's enormous generosity will establish the South Carolina College of Pharmacy as a leader in pharmacy science and practice."

Lou Kennedy, a Lexington native, earned her bachelor's degree from USC's College of Journalism in 1984. William "Bill" Kennedy earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the USC College of Pharmacy in 1966. He has achieved a reputation as an innovator in health care and pharmaceutical delivery.

As longtime supporters of USC and the College of Pharmacy, the Kennedys said the extraordinary donation - the largest ever to the SCCP and the second largest to a pharmacy school in the country -- was a natural decision for them.

"I've been in the industry long enough to see a great many significant advances," Bill Kennedy said. "I like to think I've even contributed to some of them. In any case, I've been fortunate enough to stay on top of both the science and the business and I'm determined to help the next generation of pharmacists develop the skills they'll need to excel in both areas, as well."

The Kennedy Center will combine principles of pharmacy, business and management to provide resources for students, faculty and researchers throughout the university. It will emphasize innovation in pharmacy practice and education, creating an interdisciplinary environment that prepares pharmacy students to become leaders in the profession.

"The goal is to guide future pharmacists toward new approaches and new ways of thinking," said Joseph DiPiro, executive dean of the South Carolina College of Pharmacy."We're preparing them to not only meet the challenges of a dramatically changing healthcare landscape, but to conquer those challenges through innovation and creating new levels of success in science and in business."

The Pharmacy Innovation Center will emphasize entrepreneurship through a direct link to the top-ranked Darla Moore School of Business that will enable pharmacy students to develop entrepreneurial and business skills essential for the changing healthcare environment.

"Today's pharmacist must be an astute business entrepreneur as well as a trusted health-care provider," DiPiro said. "Rapid and fundamental changes to the healthcare system will emphasize this need. Teaching innovation in pharmacy practice means preparing students to have the ability to adapt, anticipate and succeed in an ever-changing environment."

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