2012 Recipient

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation today announced that Joseph D. Williams, former Chief Executive Officer of Warner-Lambert, is the recipient of the 2012 APhA Foundation Jacob W. Miller Award. He was selected in recognition of his leadership and tremendous service to the APhA Foundation Capital Campaign and Advisory Committee.

The Jacob W. Miller award was established in 2000 to honor the extraordinary service of Jacob W. Miller. Miller served as the APhA Foundation’s president from 1991 to 2000. This award recognizes an individual who has advanced the mission of the APhA Foundation by demonstrating active involvement in the Foundation’s programs, exemplary support in establishing and/or maintaining APhA Foundation initiatives or outstanding leadership in carrying out the mission of the APhA Foundation. Williams will be honored for his achievements during the APhA Annual Meeting and Convention March 9-12, 2012, in New Orleans. The official award presentation will take place on March 11 at the APhA Foundation’s Contributor’s Breakfast.

Williams devoted a 46-year career to Warner-Lambert, manufacturer and marketer of pharmaceutical, consumer health care and confectionary products, prior to retiring in 1991. As president and CEO from 1979 to 1991, Williams eliminated non-core business and product lines, increased annual revenues from 2 to 5 billion dollars and brought scientific discovery from the laboratory to the marketplace, resulting in new products of much benefit to the world. Williams was named the Remington Honor Medalist in 1980 and the APhA Honorary President from 2004-2005.

In 2009, as part of the APhA Foundation Capital Campaign, Williams pledged $1,000,000 towards the renovation and enhancement of the APhA library, now named in his honor. These improvements within the library have enabled the APhA Library to become the key resource for the profession in promoting pharmacy and innovative practices such as Medication Therapy Management Services. Williams was also instrumental in the Foundation being given the Robert Thom Great Moments in Pharmacy collection, now housed at the APhA Headquarters Building in Washington, DC. Williams has continued to maintain his generous support of the Foundation and his leadership was imperative in helping the Foundation enhance its mission of optimizing the role of the pharmacist in improving people’s health.