Family surprises Reid ’80 with named room in new pharmacy facility

It’s the gift that keeps giving… and giving… and giving.

George Reid ’80, a longtime supporter of the MUSC College of Pharmacy, started the holiday season with an unusual gift from his family – a room named in his honor.

See George Reid response below

The Dr. George P. Reid III ’80 Work Room recognizes a man who has made an enormous difference to the pharmacy profession, the MUSC pharmacy program and generations of pharmacy students.

“He has always been a very hard worker, very selfless, and lives and breathes pharmacy, especially MUSC and the MUSC College of Pharmacy,” said son Paul Reid ’11, himself a graduate of the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. “I’d like to think myself and my two siblings are his pride and joy, but if there is a 1c behind God and family, I think it might be pharmacy and the College of Pharmacy.”

Made possible by Paul Reid and his wife, Whitney Reid, the Dr. George P. Reid III ’80 Work Room represents an appreciation from the whole Reid family, including siblings Scott Reid and Anna Nichols, along with their families.

George Reid has been a key fixture in South Carolina and MUSC pharmacy for 40 years, winning multiple honors and most recently being recognized with the 2018 George D. Schwerin Mentor Award from the South Carolina Society of Health-system Pharmacists. He has served as director of pharmacy services at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and is currently serving as director of pharmacy at AnMed Health, a comprehensive health system in Anderson, South Carolina that is Anderson County’s largest employer.

At MUSC, he has served on several leadership boards, including the MUSC College of Pharmacy Alumni Board of Advisors and the South Carolina College of Pharmacy Leadership Advisory Council, and he is a current member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. He has helped shape the college with input on strategy, curriculum, experiential education, and has enabled many MUSC pharmacy students to get important health-system rotations.

Paul Reid attended MUSC while the College of Dental Medicine was building a new building and saw first-hand the impact of named areas, which are highly visible and become part of the daily internal vocabulary of an institution.

“He would never want the recognition for himself, but we were excited when we heard about the building program and the opportunity to have his contributions recognized,” he said. “A work room seemed very appropriate since it embodies the token of hard work that has been a hallmark of his career.”

The new College of Pharmacy facility – with its newly-christened Dr. George P. Reid III ’80 Work Room – will open in the fall of 2022.

 

UPDATED WITH RESPONSE FROM GEORGE REID

At the time of publication, the family gift to George Reid was still a surprise. The following comments were his reflections upon receiving the news of the Dr. George P. Reid III ''80 Work Room:

"I would like to thank Paul and Whitney for this recognition.  MUSC, and the College of Pharmacy, holds a special place in my heart.  

"It is hard to believe that I graduated over 40 years ago.  I have enjoyed working with the College leaders through the years to give advice on the current state of Health-System pharmacy and how to incorporate that into the curriculum. For many years, I served as a preceptor for the students.

"This new pharmacy building is much needed and will provide the faculty and students with a state of the art facility.

"As I said, MUSC is a special place… not only for the top-notch academics but that is where I met my future wife, Leah Small Reid.  This honor wouldn’t be possible without her sacrificial time and efforts in staying at home and raising our kids… Anna, Paul, and Scott. By the way, she is also a graduate of the College of Pharmacy.

"As was stated in the recognition, God and family do come before other things in my life… although I haven’t always been the best role model in this.  However, I give God the credit for all of the abilities that He has given me.  

"And, I am so grateful and proud of my family… wife of 40 plus years, our 3 kids and their spouses, and our 8 precious grandchildren.

"As I get much closer to my retirement, I look forward to spending more time with my wife and family, as well as, service to others and traveling."