{"id":26574,"date":"2021-02-22T11:12:08","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T19:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sop.washington.edu\/?p=26574"},"modified":"2022-12-06T10:25:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T18:25:00","slug":"the-school-of-pharmacy-mourns-the-passing-of-dr-joy-plein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staff.washington.edu\/twentzel\/wordpress\/the-school-of-pharmacy-mourns-the-passing-of-dr-joy-plein\/","title":{"rendered":"The School of Pharmacy Mourns the Passing of Dr. Joy Plein"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"JoyJoy (Bickmore) Plein, \u201951, \u201957, a beloved UW School of Pharmacy colleague, mentor and true pioneer in the field of geriatrics, passed away peacefully at Virginia Mason Medical Center on February 19, 2021. She was 97.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor 48 years, Joy was the heart of the UW School of Pharmacy,\u201d said SOP Professor and Dean Sean Sullivan. \u201cEveryone who knew her felt her deep commitment to excellence in education, practice and research. She forever changed the field of pharmacy practice, and her passion has inspired generations of pharmacists and researchers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joy earned both a master\u2019s and doctoral degree at the University of Washington. In 1952, she married Dr. Elmer Plein, a professor in the School of Pharmacy, beginning a partnership that would create an entirely new field of pharmacy research and practice. One of the School\u2019s first female faculty members, Joy was appointed to a full-time position as associate professor in 1972 and was promoted to full professor in 1974. She continued to teach nursing students fundamentals of pharmacotherapeutics until 1985.<\/p>\n

Joy is widely credited for creating the momentum for senior-care pharmacy in Washington State at a time when there were few pharmacists who were geriatricians, and few resources to advocate for older patients. Along with Elmer, Joy developed the first course to be offered in nursing home pharmacy in 1973, which led to the establishment of the Certificate Program In Geriatric Pharmacy Practice in 1986.<\/p>\n

The Pleins established three endowed funds to carry on their pioneering legacy in education, research and practice. In 2015, Joy was given the Pharmacy Alumni Association\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award for her exemplary service in the field of pharmacy, and in 2017 she was selected as the recipient of the UW-UWRA Distinguished Retiree Excellence award.<\/p>\n

Joy\u2019s dedication to geriatric pharmacy and practice, and her expertise in the field, culminated with the creation of the Plein Center for Geriatrics in 2016. Today, the Plein Center is a global leader in transformative pharmacy research, education and outreach, and has expanded the School\u2019s role as a leader in promoting healthy aging.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer life-long commitment to supporting training and research in optimizing care for older adults has advanced the field of geriatrics pharmacotherapy,\u201d said Plein Center Director Shelly Gray. \u201cShe has inspired generations of dedicated pharmacists.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoy was an educator, an innovator and a pioneer, but most importantly, she was a dear friend and champion of the School and of Pharmacy,\u201d Sullivan added. \u201cBoth professionally and personally, she embodied the best of us. We will strive to honor her kindness, passion and humanity, both in our profession, and in our daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

In memory of Joy, we have provided a link<\/a> for those interested in supporting her passions and impact at the School of Pharmacy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We\u2019ve selected a few of the many memories of Joy that have been shared with us since her passing by the countless colleagues, mentees, and friends she impacted in her 97 years of life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n