Mary Munson Runge facts for kids

Mary Munson Runge (1928 – January 8, 2014) was a very important person in the world of pharmacy. She made history by being the first woman, the first African American, and the first community pharmacist who worked for someone else (not owning her own store) to become president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). This was a huge step forward for the profession!

Early Life and Family

Mary Munson Runge was born in 1928 in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Her father, John Harvey Lowery, was a special person. He owned a pharmacy and was also a physician. He even opened the very first pharmacy in Donaldsonville! People thought he was one of the most successful business owners in the area, and he was very kind, often using his money to help others.

Career

Becoming a Pharmacist

Mary Runge finished her studies at the Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy in 1948. At that time, not many women were pharmacists. After college, Runge moved to California. She worked as a hospital pharmacist for 21 years.

In 1971, she started working as a community pharmacist at Sylvester Flower's Apothecary in Oakland, California. This pharmacy helped people in neighborhoods that needed it most. Mary Runge once said, "The greatest experience was helping poor African American people who couldn’t even pay for their medicine. Pharmacy gave me an opportunity to help people who needed help."

Leading the Way in Pharmacy

Mary Runge held many important leadership jobs in pharmacy groups. She was president of the Northern California Society of Hospital Pharmacists in 1963. Then, she led the California Society of Hospital Pharmacists in 1967. She also served on the California State Board of Pharmacy. In 1974, she became president of the California Pharmacists Association.

From 1972 to 1982, Runge was the first woman to represent the APhA on the American College of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). In 1979, Mary Runge became the president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). This was a huge moment! For 126 years, only white men had been president of APhA. She was also the first president who was an employee pharmacist, not an owner.

During her time as APhA president, she created the APhA Task Force on Women in Pharmacy. She also started APhA's Office of Women's Affairs. Her two terms as president ended in 1981.

Runge also worked on important government committees. These included groups that studied healthcare costs and advised on health policy. She retired in 1994.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Runge received special honorary doctorates (like special degrees) from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Ohio Northern University. These awards recognized her amazing work in pharmacy.

In 1978, the California Pharmacists Association named her Pharmacist of the Year. She was honored again in 1997 when she was added to the California Pharmacists Association Hall of Fame. In 1996, she received the Hugo H. Schaefer Award from APhA.

Death

Mary Munson Runge passed away on January 8, 2014. Her memorial service was held in Modesto, California. The APhA created a scholarship in her name to honor her memory and help future pharmacists.