March 15, 2021
Harold and Carol Kohn have a dedicated interest in contributing to a better society, health care, patients’ lives and students’ education in health care.
Their work continues with a generous gift to establish the Harold and Carol Kohn Distinguished Alumni Lectureship at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The purpose of the annual lecture is to honor the contributions of alumni of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and to recognize faculty and staff who have empowered alumni achievements. The lecture will also serve to inspire current and future pharmacy students.
“We look forward to seeing the students we have now develop into the leaders of tomorrow,” said Harold “Hal” Kohn, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the School. “Carol and I want to use this lectureship to allow others to realize what is possible.”
Carol Kohn added, “I think it’s important for students to see success. To see someone who has graduated from this program, someone who has gone on to be president of a corporation, to be an award-winning scientist, or to discover a drug that helps millions. It is important for the students to see themselves as that person, to imagine becoming that person, and know that their training here at the School of Pharmacy can make that happen.”
Hal Kohn received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1966 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University in 1971. He conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University from 1971 to 1973. In 1999, Kohn was recruited to UNC to lead the transformation of its medicinal chemistry division into a contemporary program that encompasses medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.
While at the School, he also served as first director of the Campbell Mentoring Program, a program designed to mentor research-intensive junior faculty. Before his retirement from the School in 2015, Kohn served as chair of the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry and was a Kenan Distinguished Professor. Kohn’s research laboratory is credited with the discovery of the epilepsy drug lacosamide (Vimpat), now marketed worldwide by UCB Pharma for the treatment of partial (focal) and generalized seizures.
Kohn was the 2018 recipient of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Distinguished Service Award, presented annually for accomplishments and contributions that enhance both the School and the profession of pharmacy, and for exceptional support of the School’s service and outreach initiatives.
The first Harold and Carol Kohn Distinguished Alumni Lecture will be held virtually from 3:30-5:00 p.m. on April 23. The inaugural speaker will be UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy alumni George Abercrombie, MBA (’78 BSPharm).
Register for the inaugural lecture.