Benjamin Chavez

From humble beginnings to a powerhouse of innovation, the University of Colorado’s pharmacy program has been shaping the future of health care for more than a century. Established in 1911 as a small department within the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado in Boulder, the School of Pharmacy began with just two students and one faculty member—but a bold vision for the future. By 1913, the program had grown into an independent college and awarded its first degree, marking the start of a legacy in pharmacy education. In 1957, CU Pharmacy officially became a school, continuing to expand its impact on patient care, research, and education. The school’s journey continued in 1992 when it held its first classes at the former Health Sciences Center campus, strengthening its connection to interdisciplinary health education. A transformative new chapter began in 2008 with the move to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus—one of the nation’s premier academic health centers—where education, groundbreaking research, and patient care come together to advance the future of medicine. In 2011, the school received a landmark $10 million gift from The ALSAM Foundation, helping support the construction of a new $48 million pharmacy building and leading to the naming of the school in honor of the Skaggs family. Their extraordinary generosity—nearly $40 million in total support—has helped propel the school to new heights. Today, the University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences stands as a state-of-the-art hub of collaboration and discovery, where students, researchers, and clinicians work side by side to transform health care and improve lives around the world.