When the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy opened its doors in 1955, founding dean Ivan W. Rowland, PhD envisioned more than a school. He imagined a place where innovation, patient care and student learning came together. 

The Campus Pharmacy, tucked inside what is now known as Edward and Alice Long Memorial Hall, embodied that vision. Established to serve the Pacific community, it became a hub for health care, education and community on campus. More than just a place to fill prescriptions for students, faculty and staff, the Campus Pharmacy was a learning laboratory, a place of mentorship and a model for pharmacy practice.

Fresh out of pharmacy school, Dianne La Rue ’76, PharmD joined the Campus Pharmacy as an assistant pharmacist under Joyce Matzen ’74, ’84, PharmD, MS who served as a manager and clinical pharmacy instructor. 

“It was an ideal community pharmacy to be in as a pharmacist and a patient,” Dr. La Rue recalled. “We had the time to talk to patients, to encourage our interns and to build camaraderie with the faculty and staff who visited often.”

The pharmacy was open only on weekdays and was closed on university holidays. It operated as a benefit to Pacific employees and a support for students who received care through the Cowell Wellness Center.

What set the Campus Pharmacy apart was its forward-thinking approach. It was among the first pharmacies to adopt computerized prescription processing, auto-pricing and patient consultation by both pharmacists and interns. 

“Those modern features, along with our consultation model, made us feel like we were providing the highest and most current level of pharmacy practice,” Dr. La Rue said.

Education was central to its mission. Each semester, the pharmacy welcomed new student interns, some from Pacific, others from around the country — and around the world. Interns were expected to consult with patients in the same way as licensed pharmacists. A dedicated consultation room provided privacy for blood pressure checks and patient counseling.

“Teaching was a big part of our time,” Dr. La Rue said. “Not only for our interns, but also for our patients.”

Joel Wagner, PharmD, professor emeritus, joined Pacific in 1989 and served as the pharmacist in the pharmacy until its door closed in the early 1990s. Dr. Wagner’s path to Pacific was unique. Before joining the school, he spent nearly two decades at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, working on medical teams in the emergency department and intensive care unit. His background in fast-paced clinical practice contrasted with the quiet nature of the Campus Pharmacy. 

“My favorite part of working in the Campus Pharmacy was helping our students learn how to become pharmacists,” said Dr. Wagner. He taught them the essentials of filling prescriptions, managing inventory and delivering drug consultations with clarity and confidence.

Beyond the teaching, the pharmacy carries a special significance in the history of the profession. In an era when pharmacy was male-dominated, Pacific entrusted women like Dr. Matzen, Dr. La Rue and later Patricia Stegen ’68, RPh with leadership roles, making the Campus Pharmacy an example of progress as well as practice.

By the time it closed, the Campus Pharmacy had served thousands of patients and trained countless interns. Its legacy is reflected in the memories of alumni who recall its personal touch and in the careers of those who first experienced clinical pharmacy behind its counters.

“It was a nice example of what a community pharmacy should be,” La Rue reflected.