STATEMENT
Through a generous donation to the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) by Theodore G. Tong, PharmD, FAPhA a new endowed scholarship has been established.
The Dr. Theodore G. Tong Scholarship Endowment will fund one scholarship in the amount of $1,000 which will be awarded annually to a meritorious student pharmacist. The endowment also will provide $400 each year to the APhA Foundation to help defray incurred administrative expenses.
“The APhA Foundation is deeply grateful to Dr. Ted Tong for his generosity and leadership in establishing the new scholarship,” said APhA Foundation Executive Director, Elizabeth K. Keyes, RPh. “Guiding and mentoring students has been his professional and personal priority. The scholarship will provide an opportunity for student pharmacists to meet their academic and career goals.”
Tong is the Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacology and Toxicology and the inaugural holder of the R. Ken Coit Endowed Chair in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona. He received his B.S. from the University of Southern California, a B.S. from Oregon State University; and his PharmD from the University of California, San Francisco. Over the course of his career, he has served as Director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center (1982–2005) and Associate Dean for Student Affairs (1987–2018).
Responding to the need for a resource in California’s Bay Area and North Coast counties that would provide poison information, education, data collection, and research, Tong co-founded the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Poison Control Center, which has become an integral part of the region’s emergency medical services. Tong is a Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACP). He has been bestowed numerous honors, including induction to the Arizona Pharmacist Association Hall of Fame (2014), and receiving the Bowl of Hygeia Community Service Award (2006) and the Arizona Pharmacist of the Year Award (1999). He received the UCSF Pharmacy Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award (2005).
In addition to these honors and accomplishments, Tong cites his proudest “APhA moments” as serving as Honorary APhA President and receiving the Outstanding APhA-ASP Chapter Advisor Award.
Tong decided to fund an endowed scholarship in recognition of the vital role APhA has had in his own professional development and achievements in pharmacy. “My decision to fund an endowed scholarship is my way of giving back and have lasting impact. I have a deep appreciation for all the value I have experienced as an APhA member. I am delighted that for years to come, this new scholarship will provide financial support to individuals who are starting their pharmacy academic studies.”
The Dr. Theodore G. Tong Scholarship recipient must be enrolled in an accredited school or college of pharmacy and demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic excellence, pharmacy association involvement and community service.
The Theodore G. Tong Scholarship is presented annually to one (1) recipient with a scholarship of $1,000.
Learn more about other APhA Foundation scholarships for students.