EDUCATING LEADERS IN PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SINCE 1886
In remembrance of Dr. Gerhard Levy
Published August 9, 2017 This content is archived.
It is with great sadness we share the news of Dr. Gerhard Levy’s passing on August 3, 2017.
The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Levy last week in Sarasota, Florida.
Dr. Levy attended the University of California at San Francisco, earning his BS in Pharmacy in 1955 and PharmD in 1958. Nearly his entire career was spent at the University at Buffalo (UB), having joined as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy in 1958 and retiring as University Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics in 2000.
He was an inspirational role model, colleague, friend and mentor, and is widely considered a pioneer in the fields of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD). He was the first pharmacist named to the prestigious Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, in 1980. The principles developed by Levy and his students and colleagues in PK/PD formed the underpinnings of drug development and rational drug dosing.
Dr. Levy received many national and international awards including: the Høst Madsen Medal from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 1978; Oscar Hunter Award in Experimental Therapeutics in 1982 from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; Volwiler Award in 1982 from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; and the Takeru Higuchi Research Prize in 1983 from the American Pharmaceutical Association. He was also the recipient of 20 honorary lectureships at various universities and venues and six Doctor Honoris Causae Awards.
While Dr. Levy will always be remembered for his significant scientific contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences, his legacy includes the many students, postdocs and colleagues he mentored and inspired.
Gary’s beloved wife of 59 years, Roz, passed away in June of this year. He will also be remembered with love and gratitude by his children Rabbi David (Julie) Levy, Marc Levy and Dr. Sharon (Neil) Cohen. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Joshua, Sarah and Liza as his most precious, beloved legacy.