Celebration of Life and Contributions
David S. Adler
1943 - 2023
It was a most beautiful and deeply meaningful Celebration of Life and Contributions of Dr. David Adler at the UCSD Faculty Club on January 13, 2024. The remarks and tributes of the invited speakers were very moving.
About 140 members were present, comprising David Adler's family, UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean, Faculty, Staff, Pharmacists and Friends. After the Welcome by Michelle Adler and Dean Brookie Best, a deftly designed Program ensued to denote the main periods in David's life.
1. Formative years, presented by Naomi Adler, sister;
2. Advancing Pharmacy and Medical Education, shown virtually by Robert Day from UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy;
Palmer Taylor, Founding and Emeritus Dean of UC San Diego SSPPS succeeded in getting the wonderful donation from Skaggs Family
Jason Lam, UC San Diego SSPPS Charter Class Alumnus, reflected on his first day at the Anti-coagulation Clinic, how David reminded him to look at the patient as a human being.
3. Impact on the Clinical Pharmacy Community and Profession:
Ellen Beck, UC San Diego Founder of Student-Run Free Clinic, spoke of the vast repercussions of David's leadership.
James Colbert, Professional Societies, gave an extensive commentary on the accomplishments of David at UCSF and UCSD.
Binh Tran, Vietnamese Pharmacists Association in the USA. David was a benefactor for the Vietnamese pharmacists who enrolled in 1984 in the San Diego County approved program to retrain Vietnamese refugees to take the Pharmacy Equivalency Exam for Foreign Graduates.
The legacy of Dr. Adler will stay with these VPhA-USA pharmacists for a longtime, as through his intervention, the world of pharmacy is opened again to them, and to children of the second and third generations.
4. Family Inspiration
Sharing from family friends, nieces and nephews, Mrs. Penny, son Darrell, and daughter Laura Adler.
David's life mottos can be said in four words: Mentorship, Connections, Collaboration and Role Model.
5. Open Invitation to share a reflection
Robert Gish, renown hepatologist, chairman and medical director at American Pacific Health Foundation, San Diego, has always appreciated Dr. Adler's ready help whenever asked for.
Rabia Atayee, Professor at SSPPS, related Dr. Adler's joviality and warmheartedness when participating in dances at her Afghan wedding.
6. Legacy Initiatives
Andrew Willeford spoke on his incredible learning journey as a recipient of the David and Penny Adler Endowed Scholarship.
Dean Best mentioned that the school is working on the establishment of a Memorial on Anti-coagulation to commemorate Dr. Adler's Legacy in educating countless numbers of students in rotations and pharmacy residents in Anti-coagulation Clinics.
CLOSING: The family thanked all members who came and/or showed support through donations to the David and Penny Adler Endowed Scholarship Fund at UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Gifts may be made through the QR Code
or by check payable to the San Diego Foundation (with "David and Penny Adler Endowed Scholarship Fund - Fund K2403" on the memo line) to UC San Diego Gift Services, 9500 Gilman Dr. Mail code 0940, La Jolla, CA 92093-0940.
Dr. Adler's life tribute is given here for all to appreciate his whole life dedicated to pharmacy in all of its aspects.
The oldest child of Eastern European Jewish immigrants who met fleeing the Holocaust, David Salomon Adler dedicated his life to his family, community, and profession. An avid student, clarinet player, water polo ahtlete, and community activist in his youth, his diverse interests and curiosity led him to approach situations with open-mindedness, adventure, and a deep sense of justice which he fostered amongst those he touched.
David was a pioneer in clinical pharmacy, and a passionate and devoted educator. He completed his BA in Biochemistry at UC Berkeley in 1966 and his Doctor of Pharmacy at UC San Francisco (UCSF) in 1970. He joined UCSF as an Assistant Clinical Pharmacy Professor in 1971. In 1975 he relocated toe San Diego to launch the UCSF 4th year pharmacy student clinical rotation program at UC San Diego. David also established a pharmacist-led clinical anticoagulation practice, a visionary model that was replicated nationally for diseases requiring tight medication adjustment and monitoring. The succesful San Diego UCSF Pharmacy Program was the basis for the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS); David was Founding Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. From 2002 through 2016, David left an indelible mark, guiding and mentoring over 500 future doctors of pharmacy at SSPPS.
David zeal for education and the community extended beyond pharmacy students and residents. He was instrumental in establishing a training program for over 100 Vietnamese refugee pharmacists to attain licensure and enter pharmacy careers. He helped to create the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic while a UCSF pharmacy student and was the Founding Pharmacy Director of the UC San Diego Student-Run Free Clinic Project. David devoted countless hours to professional organization service, recognized through numerous awards culminating in his induction into the California Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Hall of Fame. His passion for social justice, dedication to public service, and commitment to high quality, interdisciplinary, empowering care, have cemented his legacy as a role model within the field of pharmacy.
Beyond professional contributions, David was a constant presence at the soccer games, piano recitals, scouting activities, synagogue events, and science competitions of his children. He looked forward to annual family vacations to the mountains and followed his children on adventures to Russia, Latin America, and Africa. Always cognizant of the hardships his parents faced, he embraced individuals from all backgrounds who were striving to overcome obstacles, from sponsoring a Russian-Jewish family for asylum to motivating first generation high school students to pursue their education. In his retirement, he loved cooking and following the San Diego sports teams.
A cherished pillar at UC San Diego SSPPS, his legacy lives on through the school, those he touched, and through his beautiful family. David is survived by his wife, Penny Adler, daughters Michelle and Laura, son Darrell, daughter-in-law Ana Celia, granddaughter Elena, sister Naomi, and nieces and nephews Amira Staller, Ilan Grinberg, and Eddy and Debby Barbe.
Please see some pictures taken of the day, at https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CUQEcPKvWsXKYnA9
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