A Life of Service: Nancy Finch Thompson, BS ’60

After graduating from the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy in 1960, Nancy’s community and public service journey began. She applied to the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (PHS), becoming the first female pharmacist in the Corps where she served from 1960-1968.

Her service to the Corps was comprised of various positions and offered her many opportunities: a two-year assignment to the PHS Hospital in Boston, followed by transfer to the New Orleans PHS Hospital. While there, she also worked for a period at the PHS-supported leprosarium in Carville, LA.  After a short assignment in England, she returned to Washington, D.C., where she served as Acting Chief Pharmacist at the PHS Outpatient Clinic near the Capitol. 

It was in Washington, D.C., that she met her husband, Gene Thompson, and where they were married in 1967. As there was no opportunity during this time for part-time work, she left the Corps after the birth of her first child and remained in the D.C. area until her passing on November 21, 2020.

“Things were so different in the 1960s,” her husband Gene reminisces. “During the birth of our first child at Walter Reed Medical Center, she was admitted to the ward for wives of enlisted service members as they did not have hospital rooms for female officers.  Nor as a dependent male spouse was I eligible for medical care."

“It was a different time, Nancy wished there was opportunity to work part time after becoming a mother.  But sadly, that was not an option; she cried when she resigned her PHS post.”

After leaving the USPHS, she no longer actively practiced pharmacy, but instead turned her attentions to other forms of service. She became an active member of the National Presbyterian Church, where she served as deacon and led various programs, including mission trips to Moldova.  She and her husband also owned and operated the Adams Inn for many years and were active members in their D.C. community.

Thompson’s legacy of pioneering female leadership in public health and pharmacy is one not to be forgotten.  She paved the way for female pharmacists to pursue a life of public health service, where they can now lead and direct medication therapy to underserved populations, monitor new drugs, conduct groundbreaking research, and lead pharmacy care efforts during public health emergencies.

"We are forever grateful and indebted to Nancy Finch-Thompson for her leadership and role in advancing the profession as well as breaking down barriers for women,” says RADM Pamela Schweitzer, PharmD, Former Assistant Surgeon General, 10^th Chief Pharmacist Officer, USPHS Commissioned Corp. “There are now 1,300 USPHS Commissioned Corps pharmacy officers - 50% of them are women. There was not a path for Nancy, but she left a trail for us to follow.”

Her pharmacy impact also includes a strong University at Buffalo legacy: grandfather Ralph Stowell, father George Finch ’28, uncle Richard Stowell, brother-in-law Peter Goliber’ 63 and a cousin, James Buckley, all of whom were graduates from the UB School of Pharmacy. Her place as female graduate is one not forgotten.

“The University at Buffalo pharmacy program has a strong legacy of women in leadership,” says James O’Donnell, PhD, Dean of the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “To have Mrs. Thompson carry on that legacy into the ranks of the Commissioned Corps of the United State Public Health Service is a great achievement and one of which we are immensely proud.” 

Rebecca Brierley
Assistant Dean and Director, Office of External Affairs
brierley@buffalo.edu
716-645-6965