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The Origins of the Reed Conference for Pharmacy

The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is known for providing high-quality continuing education activities to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with the goal of enhancing knowledge, improving competence, and promoting lifelong learning to positively impact patient outcomes. The 2024 Reed Conference for Pharmacy is just around the corner, but what is the history behind this event?  Let's dive in.

In the October 1939 issue of The Bulletin, Dean Howard C. Newton announced new objectives for the College.  One of these objectives was "the development of adequate means for continuation study by graduates and practicing pharmacists who desire to avail themselves of so-called refresher courses." 

As such, the idea of the refresher course program emerged. The program was organized as a non-profit venture and its objectives were information and inspiration. The first annual refresher course was held in May 1940, and 171 pharmacists attended. The Faculty Committee on Continuation Study at the time of the first program was Leslie M. Ohmart (Chairman), George L. Burroughs, Ray S. Kelley, Joseph H. Goodness, Robert A. Walsh, Howard L. Reed, and Howard C. Newton (ex-officio).  The program was held over three days with the presentations starting at 8:00 PM for the convenience of those attending.  Following the presentation of each topic, there was a short discussion period.

Pictured: Brochure from the first annual refresher course in May 1940.

The schedule of the first refresher course program was the following:

On Tuesday, May 21, 1940 at 8:00 PM:

• The Chemistry of the Sulfanilamide Group by Eldin V. Lynn
  • A brief survey of some of the newer chemotheraputic agents.  This includes the chemistry of sulfanilamide itself in very simple terms, together with methods of manufacture and types of derivatives, especially the sulfapyrides and sulfathiazoles.
• The Pharmacology of the Sulfanilamide Group by Howard L. Reed
  • The pharmacology of this group of drugs is discussed from the standpoint of (1) absorption, distribution, conjugation and excretion; (2) mode of action; (3) clinical uses and dosages employed; and (4) clinical toxic manifestations--how they may be recognized, prevented and treated.
• Pharmaceutical Application of Hydrogen Ion Concentration and pH by Ray S. Kelley
  • A brief answer to the often asked question "What is pH and how is it determined?" The discussion also includes the control of pH in the manufacture and storage of medicinal preparations and in the compounding of prescriptions.
• New Developments in Dispensing Pharmacy, I by Leslie M. Ohmart and Mitchell Stoklosa
  • A discussion of some of the newer chemical substances and mechanical appliances which can be used to advantage in compounding prescriptions.  The compounding of typical prescriptions in which these substances and appliances may be used is demonstrated.
• The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law and the Pharmacist by Joseph H. Goodness
  • A presentation of the major points of the new federal law and their legal and practical application to the retail pharmacy; a discussion of the rights and liabilities of druggists in such practices as marketing own-label products, selling drugs with old labels, selling from bulk, selling proprietaries and drugs that may be misbranded or adulterated when received, selling drugs the sale of which has been severely restricted; and finally, a listing of these legal and practical steps that every druggist should take to protect his profession and profits.

On Thursday, May 23, 1940 at 8:00 PM:

• Insecticides and Rodenticides by Maynard W. Quimby
  • Although there is a large and active demand for insecticides and rodenticides, the retail pharmacist supplies but a fraction of the market.  This discussion is designed to show the pharmacist how he may obtain a larger share of this very profitable business.
• Recent Developments in the Biochemistry of Vitamins by Charles W. Bauer
  • A survey of the rapid advances which have been made in the biochemistry of the vitamins during the last few years.  Since little of this information is available in textbooks, the discussion is designed to assist the practicing pharmacist by presenting in brief, concise form material gathered from many sources.
• The Patman Chain Store Tax Bill by George F. Archambault
  • This discussion of the federal chain store tax bill, H.F. No. 1, deals with the following points: (1) An outline of the mechanics of the bill with the latest amendments; (2) The objects of the bill and the possible effects upon the independent and chain; (3) Why this bill is a most unusual form of legislation; (4) A listing of the various organizations for and against the bill, with their reasons; (5) A brief history of the bill; (6) a review of the economic efforts which have been produced in some of the twenty states where laws similar to this bill have already been passed and are in effect.
• New Developments in Dispensing Pharmacy, II by Leslie M. Ohmart and Mitchell Stoklosa
  • A continuation of the discussion and demonstration begun on May 21.

On Tuesday, May 28, 1940 at 8:00 PM:

• Prescription Clinic by Howard C. Newton, Leon A. Thompson, Leslie M. Ohmart, and Mitchell Stoklosa
  • In selecting material for use in its new dispensing laboratory, the Department of Pharmacy has studied more than one hundred thousand prescriptions from the files of New England drug stores.  A number of these prescriptions which offer problems to the dispensing pharmacist are presented for discussion.  Those in attendance are invited to participate in the discussion and to offer problem prescriptions from their own experience.
• Recent Developments in the Biochemistry of the Endocrines by Charles W. Bauer
  • The science of endocrinology is comparatively new and is expanding so rapidly that its current developments are difficult to follow.  The purpose of this discussion is to present in orderly fashion the more recent advances in the field. 
• Forum on Drugstore Business Problems by Joseph H. Goodness and George F. Archambault
  • This consists of two parts: first, a short period devoted to pertinent observations on recent business practices and their effects upon retail pharmacists and the second, an open discussion on current business problems of individual druggists of the profession with suggestions for possible attack or solution.  Questions in the fields of management, salesmanship, and display will be welcome.
• Pharmacology and the Practicing Pharmacist by Heber W. Youngken and Howard L. Reed
  • A discussion of the increasing importance of applied physiology and pharmacology in relation to the actions and uses of newer drugs.  Following the general consideration, specific attention is focused upon the vagus nerve, especially with regard to its functions, its chemical mediation, and the newer synthetic drugs which act on the vagus mechanism.  Demonstrations will be given illustrating normal vagus action on the heart, intestines, and blood pressure of animals as well as the action of some of the choline derivatives, progestimine, and atropine.

We have the notes and brochures from this first refresher course (as well as other years) in our archives.  The College was very pleased by the success of the first program, and continued with it the following year.  In November 1941, there was a section in The Bulletin on the refresher course program which stated:

In any profession it is important that its practitioners keep well informed on the newest developments within its field of activity. Particularly is this true in the profession of pharmacy. Yet it is not easy for the practicing pharmacist to acquire this up-to-the-minute information. It is more difficult, perhaps, than it is in some other professional fields at the present time because of the nature of the available current literature of pharmacy as well as the varied educational background of the practitioners.

The profession of pharmacy has been making rapid progress. This is reflected in the new revisions of the United States Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary, in both the undergraduate and graduate curricula of the colleges of pharmacy, and in the increasing respect with which the profession is viewed by members of the other health professions and by laymen. Accepting its obligations as an important agency in the preservation of the public health, pharmacy is being practiced more scientifically, more intelligently, more efficiently than ever before. Much of this progress is based on developments in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology, subjects which the colleges are emphasizing in their curricula so that their graduates may make intelligent application of them.

So rapid has been the progress in the development of vitamins, hormones, and synthetic organic products for therapeutic use, for example, that only by very diligent reviewing of the current literature in these fields does the pharmacist keep abreast of it. He encounters added difficulty if for his information he attempts to rely on such journals as ordinarily may reach his desk. To select a reliable source of the desired information and then to find the time to cull it regularly constitute a task which may well be troublesome. The College has recognized this problem of the profession and has given considerable study to its solution. A year ago last spring it began an experiment, offering a series of "refresher courses" open to all who might be interested. The response was encouraging and justified the continuance of the project last May when 171 practicing pharmacists attended, indicating a real desire for this type of service.

Information and inspiration have been and will continue to be the keynotes in arranging the programs for these courses, which are directed by a faculty committee now at work preparing the program for next spring's series. Through these courses the College is pleased to be able to extend its services to the profession.

Pictured: Refresher Course, 1941

It officially became known as the Annual Refresher Course Program, and in the spring of 1982, it was renamed after Howard L. Reed as the Howard L. Reed Annual Refresher Course.  It is now known as the Reed Conference for Pharmacy. 

Pictured: Evolution of Continuing Education at MCP/AHS is the transcript Howard L. Reed's remarks from the 1982 annual refresher course which was published in the Spring 1982 edition of The Bulletin.

Howard L. Reed gave an excellent speech on the history of continuing education at the institution the year the conference was named after him--there's a transcript of his remarks in the Spring 1982 edition of The Bulletin.  Specifically regarding the Annual Refresher Courses, he says the following:

The first annual refresher course program was held in May 1940. One hundred seventy-one pharmacists attended, indicating a real desire for this service. In later years the attendance exceeded 300. The refresher course program was organized as a non-profit venture and its objectives were information and inspiration. It was my privilege to serve either as a member of the committee, as a speaker on the refresher course program, or as chairman of the Committee on Continuation Study from 1940 to 1971.

Professor Ohmart was chairman in 1940; Dr. Thompson was chairman in 1941 and 1942; I served from 1943 to 1959; Dr. Lange, 1960 to 1968; Dr. Walsh 1969 to 1975; and in 1976 Dr. Bernardi became the first full-time director of continuing education at the College.

For many years these programs were presented over a period of three to four evenings, with a buffet supper on the final evening. From 1964 on we began a one-day program with lunch at MCP and dinner at Valle's or Fantasia's. This was made possible by financial support from pharmaceutical manufacturers and others.

The 1930s, 1940s and 1950s were truly wonderful years, a period during which so many new drugs became available, e.g., vitamins, sympathomimetic amines, sulfonamides, anti-hypertensives, tranquilizers, new analgesics, oral hypoglycemics, corticosteroids and new types of diuretics.

Undoubtedly, scholarship and showmanship were important ingredients of the refresher course programs. We were concerned with a judicious blending of what the practitioners desired, and what the educators recognized to be essential to meet the future needs of professional practice.

We had tremendous talent on our faculty, including Professors Bauer, Lynn, Youngken, Ohmart, Stoklosa, Walsh, Robinson, VanDerWyk, Quimby, Goodness, Hassan, Gosselin, Parsons, Foye and Narinian. The prescription clinic, involving Professors Ohmart and Stoklosa primarily, was an outstanding feature of the program.

The array of guest speakers from other institutions was equally outstanding and included such distinguished individuals from the medical profession as Drs. William Murphy (Nobel Prize recipient), Fredrick Yonkman, Maurice Tainter, Elliot Joslin, Howard Root, Leo Krall, Dale Friend, John Downing, Bernard Appel, Sidney Farber, Francis Rackemann and Fredrick Stare.

As it has been since 1964, the Reed Conference for Pharmacy is still a one-day event, but nowadays it has become so large it is now held in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. 

Pictured: The Reed Conference for Pharmacy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Thursday, March 9, 2023

This year's conference, held on March 7, 2024, will offer 5 hours of live, ACPE-accredited CE over five sessions. Additionally, all registrants will have access to a complimentary home study for an additional 1 hour of law CE via a library of on-demand modules.  We hope to see you there!