WELCOME – TO THE –
Front row l-r - Myros and Natalie Samycia
PHARMILY
Back row l-r - (children) Dwayne Samycia, Linda Raisbeck, Caroline Shewchuk and Gary Samycia.
has seen many family connections and family philanthropy during his tenure. “Pharmacy is an amazing profession that has long engendered family legacies. Much as growing up on a farm led to some of the children taking up farming, so have some children of pharmacists followed their parents into a profession that prides itself on taking care of patients even when it requires extra effort and personal expense,” says Kehrer. “It is this selfless attitude that has translated into some exceptional philanthropic contributions. The University of Alberta is truly fortunate to have so many such family legacies including the Samycia family that have shaped both the profession in Alberta, and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.” As the Samycia family continues to grow, it is quite possible that the number of pharmacists in the family may also increase. One thing is for certain though, this family has made an incredible impact on the profession and the University of Alberta.
The Myros Samycia Family Award is to be awarded annually to a student with satisfactory academic standing entering the second, third or fourth year of studies in Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The recipient will be selected based on demonstrated exemplary professionalism in the courses related to professional practice, and contributions to student life in the faculty. Preference will be given to the student with demonstrated financial need. This award was endowed by Myros Samycia and family.
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UAlberta Pharmacy: Spring 2016
Whether it’s couples or generations of a family, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has so many connections. We asked our alumni to share their stories. Due to the amazing responses that we received, we had to edit them down a bit so we could include as many as possible. LOVE IS IN THE AIR… The late Fred Teare (BSc Pharm ’49, MSc ’51) met his wife Lorna Teare (BSc Pharm ’50) at the U of A and the two were married in 1950. While Fred did research for his master’s degree, Lorna worked at the University Hospital Pharmacy and monitored Pharmacy Labs at U of A. The pair moved to Chapel Hill, NC, for Fred’s PhD program at University of North Carolina (UNC). Lorna was a lecturer in the Pharmacy Department of UNC, while Fred became a research worker at Pfizer in Brooklyn, New York. They returned to Canada when Fred was offered a post as a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. His research focused on radioactive isotopes. Dorothy Anne (Ballentine) Jeffery (BSc Pharm ’67, MSc Pharm ’70, PhD Pharm ’74) met her husband Wayne Jeffery (BSc Pharm ’68 and MSc Pharm ’71) in her first year. Sherry Djuve Lissack (BSc Pharm ’58) and Stan Lissack (BSc Pharm ’58) met in the Faculty after growing up in different rural Alberta communities. Both had successful careers in various parts of the profession and have been retired for 20 years. Carol (Graves) McDermid (BSc Pharm ’89) met her husband, Timothy McDermid (BSc Pharm ’89), in pharmacy school. She notes
there were at least two other pharmacy couples from their class in 1989. She and Tim live in Kelowna, B.C., where Tim is an associate/owner with Shoppers Drug Mart. Carol currently works for Interior Health as a Clinical Pharmacist in long-term care. Jody Shkrobot (BSc Pharm ’96), a clinical assistant professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Studies met his wife, Lisa DeVos (BSc Pharm ’96), in first year of the pharmacy program. The pair were married in 1997. Lisa currently practices at Salvus Rxellence Professional Dispensary in St. Albert.
FAMILY TIES The late Jim Dunnigan (Class of ’35) worked at Merrick Drugs and was one of the original owners there. Later he worked and managed a number of Tamblyn Drug Stores. He and his wife had 7 children, Sandi, Hugh, Mary, Isabel, David (deceased), Neil and Michael. Sandi Dunnigan (BSc Pharm ’61) married Gerry Galenza (BSc Pharm ’60) in 1961. Sandi and Gerry have 4 children, Barry, Patrick, Janet and Cheryl, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They moved to Camrose in 1962 and owned and operated Gerry Galenza Dispensary and Groves Value Drug Mart until 1993.