Connecticut Pharmacists Association Marks 150 Years of Advocacy, Innovation, and Service

On September 17, 2025, the Connecticut Pharmacists Association (CPA) will celebrate its 150th anniversary at St. Clements Castle in Portland, Connecticut—a milestone that reflects the association’s enduring leadership in pharmacy practice, advocacy, education, and community service.

Origins and Early History

CPA was conceived on a train to New Haven in September 1875 by pharmacists John K. Williams and Alfred Daggett after attending an American Pharmacists Association (APhA) meeting in Boston. In January 1876, the 2 leaders, along with 25 colleagues, officially formed the organization, making it only the second state pharmacy association established in the United States. Membership was modestly priced at $2 annually (about $65 today) with a $3 initiation fee.¹

An early success came with the passage of the Pharmacy Act of 1881, which created the state Commission of Pharmacy to oversee licensure and promote professional development. By 1920, CPA’s advocacy helped establish the Connecticut College of Pharmacy (today the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy), which enrolled its first class of 86 students in New Haven.¹

Legislative Leadership

From the start, CPA made advocacy a cornerstone of its mission. In 1937, the association championed the Fair Trade Act, appointing 70 pharmacists to monitor compliance with contract pricing policies. CPA also fostered stronger collaboration among pharmacists, physicians, and dentists to improve patient care.

In more recent decades, CPA has led efforts to expand pharmacists’ clinical authority in Connecticut. Its advocacy ensured that all medical marijuana dispensaries opened in the state included a licensed pharmacist to provide counseling and clinical oversight.² More recently, CPA successfully secured passage of legislation authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense a range of treatments, including vaccines, postexposure prophylaxis, pre-exposure prophylaxis therapies, and hormonal and emergency contraceptives.^3-5

Service to Community and Profession

CPA’s service record extends far beyond policy. During World War II, members raised nearly $1 million—equivalent to more than $17.5 million today—to purchase 6 ambulance planes through its Ambulance Plane Bond Drive. The first to be built was named “The Spirit of Connecticut Pharmacy.” After the war, the association was one of the first in the nation to contract with the Veterans Administration to provide free prescription services to veterans.¹

In 1955, after Hurricane Diane devastated Connecticut, destroying or damaging more than 50 pharmacies, CPA created a Disaster Committee and raised thousands of dollars in relief funds. Decades later, the COVID-19 pandemic reaffirmed pharmacists’ role as essential providers. As with pharmacy associations nationwide, CPA mobilized members to deliver testing, vaccination, and critical medication access, while addressing supply chain shortages of insulin and alcohol needed for sanitizer production.

Women in Pharmacy

Women have long been a part of CPA’s story. In 1879, Fanny Comstock became its first female member, though it took decades for women to gain broader representation. Alice-Esther Garvin—herself a pharmacist and educator—served as CPA’s secretary/treasurer from 1934 to 1952, safeguarding the organization’s records and finances while shaping its future, including helping establish the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.

But it was more than a century after CPA’s founding that Connie Florio became its first female president, followed by Patricia Toce in 1988. Since then, women have increasingly led the association, with 14 more serving as president—including 9 of the last 11.⁶

Looking Ahead: CPA’s 150th Anniversary Celebration

To honor its sesquicentennial, CPA will host a full-day event on September 17, 2025. The day program will feature up to 6 hours of continuing education, including pharmacy law, clinical updates, and future-focused topics such as the emergence of artificial intelligence in pharmacy. Connecticut State Representative and pharmacist Tracy Marra, PharmD, will deliver the keynote for the morning session.

The evening celebration dinner and awards program will include a cocktail reception overlooking the Connecticut River, dinner, a keynote by APhA President Randy McDonough, PharmD, and a celebration of pharmacy leaders past and present. The evening will also feature CPA’s board installation and a multimedia look back at the association’s history.

This milestone celebration not only honors CPA’s legacy but also underscores the profession’s future—one defined by collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to patient care.

For more information or to register, visit: https://cpa150.org

REFERENCES

1. CPA: A Short History. Connecticut Pharmacists Association. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://ctpharmacists.org/cpa-a-short-history/

2. Medical Marijuana. Connecticut Pharmacists Association. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://ctpharmacists.org/academy-of-medical-marijuana-dispensaries/

3. Governor Lamont Announces New Programs That Are Expanding Access to Contraception in Connecticut. News release. Governor Ned Lamont. January 31, 2025. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2025/01-2025/governor-lamont-announces-new-programs-that-are-expanding-access-to-contraception-in-connecticut?language=en_US

4. Vaccinations by Pharmacists. Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/drug-control-division/drug-control/vaccinations-by-pharmacists?language=en_US

5. PrEPARE to Prevent HIV. Connecticut Medical Assistance Program Department of Social Services. December 2024. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://www.ctdssmap.com/CTPortal/Portals/0/StaticContent/Publications/Dec_24_newsletter.pdf

6. Past Presidents. Connecticut Pharmacists Association. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://ctpharmacists.org/past-presidents/