Members from the Joint Commission on Pharmacy Practice, including the dean of each college of pharmacy, representatives from each practice environment and even leaders within the Department of Community Health, identified the need for pharmacy to develop more leaders and business experts within the profession. While colleges of pharmacy create clinicians and the Michigan Board of Pharmacy ensures their competency, no entity in the state of Michigan currently dedicates itself to developing and advancing the business aspect of the profession or the personal leadership skills of each practitioner.

For those pharmacists who are wondering how to make their dreams a reality, but don't know where to begin their journey, the Capital Campaign will be the focal point of creating a destination of choice, where they will be guided to transform into true pharmacy leaders.

The year 2010 was full of firsts for both Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) and Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), but what might be more important than the past year are the dreams and hard work that happened long before any ribbon-cutting ceremony or unveiling.

Founded in 1992, MPF was established as an initiative of MPA to advance pharmacy, pharmacy education and research, and to promote pharmacy practice to the highest level of patient care. With a growing need to develop more leaders and business experts within the pharmacy profession, the dream of creating a space for this development to take place started to grow.

The initial planning phase of MPF’s first ever Capital Campaign was started in the summer of 2008, and funding priorities were established in the summer of 2009. With a goal of raising $1.5 million over five years, the Foundation decided that there was no better funding priority than developing a Center for Personal, Professional and Leadership Development, making the dream of developing leaders in pharmacy a long-awaited reality.

Capitalizing on long-standing relationships with pharmacy stakeholders within the state and on a national level allowed the Foundation to solicit input and direction for developing the Center. MPF sought the counsel of experiential coordinators, committee leaders, independent pharmacy owners, chain management, innovative practitioners and newly-licensed pharmacists, and these individuals showed overwhelming support for creating the Center.

In the fall of 2009, MPA purchased its new headquarters at 408 Kalamazoo Plaza, and early in 2010, renovations began. Aside from having amenities and features that employees had only dreamed of in the Washington Avenue property, the new building offered ample space for the Center, which also received a new name.

It was with a heavy heart that MPF received the opportunity for renaming the Center for Personal, Professional and Leadership Development. Dewaine Robinson was a dedicated pharmacy leader who supported the very goals pursued by MPF. He was an active and treasured member of MPA for more than 50 years, serving as past president of the Association and chairman of the Pharmacy Services Inc. (PSI) Board of Directors. Robinson was a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees, the MPF Founders Club and the MPF Mortar and Pestle Club. He was also a member of the Genesee County Pharmacists Association and Pharmacy PAC Century Club. Robinson passed away in 2009, and to honor his dedication to pharmacy, his wife pledged a donation of $100,000 over five years to the Foundation.

In the spring of 2010, the MPA Executive Board, PSI Board of Directors and MPF Board of Trustees decided that, to continue Robinson’s legacy, the Center for Personal, Professional and Leadership Development would become the Robinson Leadership Center.

Six months after the transformation of the new MPA headquarters began, on July 3, 2010, MPA staff eagerly packed and unpacked moving trucks, and began settling into the new, 16,849 square foot building, where the Robinson Leadership Center would finally have a home. The Center was designed for both small, intimate networking, and larger classroom seminars. With room for 75 or more people, it was equipped with state-of-the-art technology to provide both on-site and distance learning. The technology includes support for video conferencing, overhead projection, free wireless Internet access and other technology perks designed to enhance the meeting experience.

The Center will become the core for advancement by facilitating an array of leadership and management training programs, providing scholarships and educational opportunities to promising professionals and supporting practice-based pilots to stimulate innovations in pharmacy practice.

MPF held its Grand Evening Gala on Sept. 11, 2010, at the MPA Family of Companies Headquarters, where a ribbon cutting ceremony dedicated the Center in addition to the new building. Shortly after the Gala, on Oct. 13, 2010, the Center hosted its first leadership program entitled “Leadership Strategies for Effective Communications.” Since its first program, the Center has been utilized for MPA Committee Day, the MSPT Annual Meeting and other committee and training functions.

With support from the Foundation’s Capital Campaign, the Robinson Leadership Center will fulfill a dream that began more than a decade ago: developing leaders and business experts within the pharmacy profession through on-site and distance training programs. The ribbon cutting ceremony that dedicated the Center also served as a reminder of the commitment MPF has made to the pharmacy profession, as well as its future.

MPF would like to thank those who provided input, counsel and support for the Center. The year 2010 was a milestone for the Foundation, and the development of the Robinson Leadership Center has paved the way for many more landmarks to come in the future.

Planning Phase

Summer 2008
Planning phase of Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF)’s first capital campaign begins. A goal of $1.5 million is set, to be raised through private gifts from alumni, corporations, foundations and other friends of MPF.

Summer 2009
Funding priorities are established

Fall 2009
Michigan Pharmacists Association purchase new building

Fall 2009-winter 2010
Leadership gifts/silent phase

Public Campaign Launch

Winter 2010
“Michigan Pharmacy Foundation's Campaign 2010” kickoff event held

Spring 2010
Official campaign launch for staff employee drive begins. Milestone events planned throughout the year are scheduled. Center renamed Robinson Leadership Center,honoring Dewaine Robinson

Fall 2010
Grand Evening Gala held

Operating Phase

October 2010
First leadership training session held, titled "Leadership Strategies for Effective Communication"

Throughout 2011, 2012 and 2013
Leadership begin, milestone events will be held and the Campaign will conclude in the fall of 2013