Greg Higby Interview

William Zellmer interviews Greg Higby (Short Version – 12:13)

William A. Zellmer, President of the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, interviews AIHP Executive Director Gregory J. Higby in October 2018. Higby reflects on his more than thirty years of service to AIHP.

Time Stamps for Questions:
0:00 – Can you comment on the fact that you are a third-generation pharmacist and tell us about the careers of your grandfather and father?
1:57 – Can you tell us how you migrated from a pharmacy background to the field of the history of pharmacy?
4:20 – How would your characterize the main thrust of your historical research?
6:28 – Could you comment on the new phase that AIHP will be entering after your retirement?
9:00 – Can you give us a sense of your personal and professional plans after your retirement as Executive Director?
9:57 – Can you comment on your interests in areas outside of pharmacy?

William Zellmer interviews Greg Higby (Long Version – 34:08)

William A. Zellmer, President of the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, interviews AIHP Executive Director Gregory J. Higby in October 2018. Higby reflects on his more than thirty years of service to AIHP.

Time Stamps for Questions:

0:00 – Introduction by William Zellmer
0:52 – Can you tell us about the long legacy of pharmacy in your family
2:53 – How did you migrate to the history of pharmacy?
5:11 – How has the field of history of pharmacy changed since you arrived in Madison in 1978?
6:48 – Have there been other historians who have influenced your development as a pharmacist historian?
8:42 – Your PhD thesis explores the professional life of William Procter, Jr., who is widely considered the father of American pharmacy. Can you comment on what made him such a seminal figure in the development of pharmacy in the United States?
11:13 – How would your characterize the main thrust of your historical research, writing, and speaking throughout your career?
13:22 – You have lived through a remarkable transformation of US pharmacy with respect to the focus of pharmacy education and the aspirations of our professional leaders. I am interested in your perspective as a historian on this phase of pharmacy’s evolution. For example, was the impetus for the changes in pharmacy in the last fifty years in any way comparable to that of previous reform movements in pharmacy?
16:20 – In your view does pharmacy history offer lessons for contemporary pharmacists with respect to achieving more completely the aspirations of the profession for clinical or patient-care pharmacy?
19:20 – I know you have studied the founding of the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy seventy-seven years ago, which related partly to the desire to provide a home for the renowned pharmacy-historian George Urdang, who fled Nazi Germany and partly to the ideals and aspirations of this remarkable man. What can you say about the original impetus for the Institute and how that relates to AIHP’s role today?
22:27 – As the Institute has matured over the years it has gone through a number of phases and changes in structure and leadership. Can you comment on this briefly and give us your perspective on the phase AIHP will be entering after your retirement?
25:10 – In your view, why is it important to ensure that AIHP stays alive and well?
29:16 – Give us a sense of your professional and personal plans after retirement as Executive Director.
31:01 – Can you comment on your interests outside of pharmacy?
33:18 – Conclusion by William Zellmer

AIHP thanks Greg Higby for his dedication to the Institute and wishes him a happy and relaxing retirement!