November 2, 2007

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences honors distinguished alumni

The awards, which were presented during a campus ceremony, recognize Purdue alumni and friends for their outstanding achievements in professional and scientific endeavors.

Honorees included:

* Henry U. Bryant, Indianapolis. Bryant is the chief scientific officer of musculoskeletal research for Lilly Research Labs and co-chair of a therapeutic steering panel responsible for musculoskeletal drug discovery and development at Eli Lilly and Co. He holds more than 80 U.S. patents and has served as a member of the Drugs of Abuse/AIDS study section of the National Institutes of Health. Bryant earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, master's degree in pharmacology and toxicology, and doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology from Purdue in 1981, 1984 and 1986, respectively.

* Christopher T. Dimos, Downers Grove, Ill.. As president of pharmacy operations for SUPERVALU Inc., Dimos is responsible for more than 900 pharmacies and a corporate staff of more than 200. He recently received the Novartis Pharmaceutical Alliance Award for leadership, commitment and service to the chain pharmacy industry. Dimos is a member of the dean's advisory council and served as chair of National Association of Chain Drug Stores Policy Council Workgroup on Supply Chain. He also served as chairman of the Illinois Pharmacists Association and Illinois Council of Health Systems Pharmacists Joint Committee on Technician Certification. Dimos earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Purdue in 1988.

* Alton D. Johnson, New York City. Johnson is vice president of marketed the product support group in global manufacturing services for Pfizer Inc. He serves as chair of PhRMA Drug Product Technical Group and is a member of the technical leadership committee. He also serves as the chair of the steering committee for the Engineering Research Center for Structured Organic Particulate Systems funded by the National Science Foundation, academia and industry. Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina in 1982 and a doctorate in industrial and physical pharmacy from Purdue in 1987.

* Habil Khorakiwala, Mumbai, India. Khorakiwala is chairman and managing director of Wockhardt Limited, one of India's leading research-based global health-care enterprises. He is president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2004 and the Giants International Award in 2003. He is a member of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research and the National Manufacturing Competitive Council.  Khorakiwala earned a master's degree in industrial and physical pharmacy from Purdue in 1966 and an MPA from Harvard University in 1983.

* Michael B. McMains, Indianapolis. McMains is an attorney focused on healthcare, pharmaceutical and life science technology.  In addition, he is a successful entrepreneur, having founded or been a part of the formation of numerous start-up companies.  These companies include pharmaceutical, medical device, telecommunications and commercial real estate businesses.  McMains serves as an unpaid adjunct professor of law at Butler University and has taught at Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis for 11 years, where he received the outstanding law professor award in 1998 and 1999. McMains also is an unpaid assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Purdue. He is a life member of the Purdue Alumni Association, a member of the president's council, serves on the dean's professional council for the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and serves on the pharmacy campaign cabinet. He and his wife endowed an annual scholarship for a Purdue nursing or pharmacy student. McMains earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Purdue in 1981 and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University in 1993.

* Bobbie L. Riley, Chicago. Riley, the vice president of pharmacy operations for East SUPERVALU Inc., was awarded the Friend of Pharmacy Award. While serving as director of recruiting and college relations, she worked with Purdue and other schools of pharmacy across the country to develop a multicultural scholarship program to develop future pharmacists to match the country's diverse patient base. Riley earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Drake University in 1988.

More information is available at: https://www.pharmacy.purdue.edu/advancement/
honors/distinguished/

Writer: Elizabeth Gardner, (765) 494-2081, ekgardner@purdue.edu

Source: Dana Neary, manager of alumni relations and special events for the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, (765) 494-2632, nearyd@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page