Dr. Rosalyn C. King, PharmD

Dr. Rosalyn C. King, BSPharm ’62, MPH ’72, PharmD '76, is a distinguished pharmacist, author, professor, consultant, and global health advisor, with a trailblazing career spanning over five decades. Her journey commenced as a pharmacist in New York and expanded at the Watts Health Center in Los Angeles, where she invaluable experiences ignited her dedication to providing healthcare to underserved communities.

Throughout her career, Dr. King held pivotal roles, including her historic position in 1969 as the first African American pharmacist to be employed by the American Pharmacists Association, where she served as an Assistant Director of the Delivery of Pharmaceutical Services in Poverty Areas Project. She also served as a Public Health Advisor on Pharmaceuticals for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Dr. King was the first African American woman to be elected and re-elected to the United States Pharmacopeia’s Committee of Revision where she chaired its International Health Advisory Panel.

Dr. King’s commitment to advancing pharmacy practice transcended borders, as she led policy and program development projects in USAID-funded healthcare services in multiple countries across continents, notably for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and countries like Romania and Nigeria. Additionally, she served as the founding director of the Pharmacists and Continuing Education Center (PACE) at Howard University’s Continuing Education Program. Upon retiring from PACE, it was noted that over 2300 middle to senior-level officials, mainly pharmacists, from 27 countries and the U.S. had been trained and developed new skills.

Dr. King's indelible mark on the field of pharmacy extends to her partnership role in enhancing the training of community pharmacists in women's health in Romania and her collaboration on crucial projects funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Nigeria. This work in PEPFAR’s flagship project focused on strengthening pharmacists’ contributions as well as pharmacy systems and services for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis and resulted in a notable PEPFAR SOLUTION.

Among her numerous accolades, Dr. King received Seton Hill University's Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to healthcare, the American Public Health Association’s Black Caucus of Health Worker’s Hildrus A. Poindexter Award for Outstanding Service in the Field of Health, the Chauncey I. Cooper of the National Pharmaceutical Association for sustained and distinguished service to the profession of pharmacy, and the Montgomery County, Maryland African American Living Legend Award. Her inspiring journey is a testament to the diverse ways in which pharmacists can contribute to healthcare, both locally and globally.

Dr. King's literary contributions are equally noteworthy, with publications covering a wide spectrum of topics, from pharmaceutical care to global health policy. Her insights continue to shape discussions and policies in healthcare, serving as a wellspring of inspiration for future generations of healthcare professionals.

In her retirement, Dr. King remains dedicated to working closely with organizations focused on reducing health disparities, improving public health, and caring for underserved populations. Her remarkable story, From Watts to the World: A Chronicle of Service, is a source of motivation and insight, not only for healthcare professionals but also for anyone seeking to understand how determination and passion can lead to a remarkable journey of service and impact.