Dear VSHP members,
It is with a heavy heart I share with you that R. D. “Andy” Anderson passed away on May 12, 2023. He was 97 years old.
Mr. Anderson was born in Dante, Virginia on November 22, 1925. As a teen he worked in the town’s drugstore, then enrolling in Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy. His studies were interrupted by World War II in 1944 and he joined the 95th Infantry Division, Company L, 377th Infantry Regiment. Upon completion of his service, he returned to his studies and graduated in 1947. Mr. Anderson was named staff pharmacist and assistant clinical professor of pharmacy at MCV Hospital. He subsequently served as Chief Pharmacist at King's Daughters' Hospital, Assistant Director of Pharmacy Services at Ohio State University Hospital, Director of Pharmacy Services and acting administrator at Waynesboro Community Hospital. In 1955 he co-founded the Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacists and became our first Society President.
Mr. Anderson went on to be President of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists in 1971 and was named the Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture Award winner in 1976. He was also an ASHP Fellow, VSHP Pharmacist of the Year, recipient of the Warren E. Weaver Service Award, and the Outstanding Pharmacy Alumnus Award from the Medical College of Virginia Alumni Association. VSHP created an award in his honor to recognize excellence in health system pharmacy practice leadership in 2005, for which he was the first recipient. Due to the high level of excellence required, there have only been 8 recipients since its creation.
Mr. Anderson is survived by his brother, John; his son, Donald; stepdaughter, Deborah; daughter-in-law, Nancy; two grandsons, Ryan, Matthew and his wife, Nicole, and their daughter, Riley. His legacy will live on through the work of his friends at VSHP, who continue to Anderson’s work of inspiring innovative pharmacy practice by promoting education, advocacy and collaboration to help people achieve optimal health outcomes.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on May 27, 2023 at the Waynesboro Mennonite Church.
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesdispatch/name/r-anderson-obituary?id=51921504
Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture: https://www.harveywhitney.org/lectures/r-david-anderson
ASHP Article from 2020: https://www.ashp.org/news/2020/10/26/ashp-past-president-r-david-anderson-reflects-on-his-first-95-years
With love and compassion as we experience this significant loss,
Kathy Koehl
VSHP President
