George F. Archambault
Encyclopedia
George F. Archambault, Ph.G., Ph.C., J.D. (1909 – January 1, 2001) was the first pharmacy
liaison officer for the United States Public Health Service
and considered the “father of consultant pharmacy
”. On April 22, 1999, for his 90th birthday party, Deputy Surgeon General Kenneth P. Moritsugu
proclaimed Archambault a “living treasure of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.”
with a Ph.G. in 1931 and a Ph.C. in 1933. In 1941, he received a law degree
from Northeastern University, Boston
.
Archambault taught commercial pharmacy at MCP. He began working at the Marine Hospital
in the Boston town of Brighton
in 1943 as a civilian, and in 1945 he joined the United States Public Health Service
reserve. From 1947 to 1965, he was Chief of the Pharmacy Branch of the PHS Division of Hospitals. Archambault served as the pharmacy liaison officer to the Surgeon General of the United States
from 1957 to 1965. In 1965, he became the Medicare
pharmacy planning consultant to the Division of Medical Care Administration. In this role, he was responsible for writing the regulations governing pharmacy’s role in Medicare and Medicaid. Archambault retired at the rank of Captain in 1967 after 34 years of service to the PHS.
(APhA) from 1962-1963, earning the nickname “Number 109”. In 1969, he was rewarded the Remington Medal from the APhA. Archambault also received the Craigie Award from the American Society of Military Surgeons in 1962, which is presented for outstanding accomplishments in the advancement of professional pharmacy within the federal government. Archambault was a charter member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
, and its highest award is named in his honor.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
liaison officer for the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
and considered the “father of consultant pharmacy
Consultant pharmacist
A consultant pharmacist is a specialized pharmacist. The main principle of consultant pharmacy is Pharmaceutical care term developed by Hepler and Strand in 1990.- United States :...
”. On April 22, 1999, for his 90th birthday party, Deputy Surgeon General Kenneth P. Moritsugu
Kenneth P. Moritsugu
Kenneth P. Moritsugu is an American physician and public health administrator.Rear Admiral USPHS, retired in September 2007 as acting United States Surgeon General...
proclaimed Archambault a “living treasure of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.”
Career
Archambault graduated from the Massachusetts College of PharmacyMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is an accredited, private institution located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts...
with a Ph.G. in 1931 and a Ph.C. in 1933. In 1941, he received a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Northeastern University, Boston
Northeastern University, Boston
Northeastern University , is a private, secular, coeducational research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has eight colleges and offers undergraduate majors in 65 departments...
.
Archambault taught commercial pharmacy at MCP. He began working at the Marine Hospital
Marine Hospital Service
The Marine-Hospital Service was an organization of Marine Hospitals dedicated to the care of ill and disabled seamen in the U.S. Merchant Marine, U.S. Coast Guard and other federal beneficiaries....
in the Boston town of Brighton
Brighton, Boston, Massachusetts
Brighton is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located in the northwest corner of the city. It is named after the town of Brighton in the English city of Brighton and Hove...
in 1943 as a civilian, and in 1945 he joined the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
reserve. From 1947 to 1965, he was Chief of the Pharmacy Branch of the PHS Division of Hospitals. Archambault served as the pharmacy liaison officer to the Surgeon General of the United States
Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government...
from 1957 to 1965. In 1965, he became the Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
pharmacy planning consultant to the Division of Medical Care Administration. In this role, he was responsible for writing the regulations governing pharmacy’s role in Medicare and Medicaid. Archambault retired at the rank of Captain in 1967 after 34 years of service to the PHS.
Affiliations and awards
Archambault was a charter member of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) in 1942 and later served as president. In 1956, he was awarded ASHP’s Whitney Award. Additionally, he served as the 109th president of the American Pharmacists AssociationAmerican Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association , founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists within the United States....
(APhA) from 1962-1963, earning the nickname “Number 109”. In 1969, he was rewarded the Remington Medal from the APhA. Archambault also received the Craigie Award from the American Society of Military Surgeons in 1962, which is presented for outstanding accomplishments in the advancement of professional pharmacy within the federal government. Archambault was a charter member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists is an international professional association that provides education, advocacy, and resources to advance the practice of senior care pharmacy, and that represents the interests of consultant pharmacists who work with elderly patients.The organization...
, and its highest award is named in his honor.
Quotations
- “It is the pharmacist’s professional responsibility to protect the public against iatrogenesisIatrogenesisIatrogenesis, or an iatrogenic artifact is an inadvertent adverse effect or complication resulting from medical treatment or advice, including that of psychologists, therapists, pharmacists, nurses, physicians and dentists...
, physician-induced injury or disease in the area of drug prescribingMedical prescriptionA prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist....
especially as to overdosage, incompatibilities, contraindications, and synergistic drug actions.”
- "It takes courage to be among the first to depart from the conventional pathways to the unblazed trails where progress is made. In such departures the "adventurer," be he an association or an individual, is often referred to as someone on 'cloud nine,' an idealist, and often too, he meets with the outright hostility of his colleagues who do not want the status quo changed. These objectors, the truly unrealistic ones, are those who never learn history's one important lesson: namely, 'nothing is permanent but change."