Stories of Change

For Philip Shockman, a Loveland, Colorado, native and longtime supporter of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, his time spent working as a “soda jerk” in a local pharmacy during his formative years was so impactful that it shaped the entirety of his future career – and life.  

“I worked at the W&T Pharmacy until I graduated (high school) in 1955,” Shockman said. “Pete Peterson, the pharmacist, had two sons who both received pharmacy degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder. My love for the work environment and the positive influence of the Peterson family inspired me to also attend CU and major in pharmacy – I knew CU was the place to go.” 

Upon his college graduation in 1960, and after six months of military service in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Phil returned to Loveland to begin work as a pharmacist. Soon after, at the recommendation of a fellow pharmacist, he joined the Eli Lilly and Company, with whom he spent over a decade in a variety of roles, including as a detail salesman to Denver physicians and a market research analyst in Indianapolis. During his time with the company, Phil also attended night school, obtaining his Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver in 1966. 

Eventually, after 15 years in his chosen field, Phil felt inspired to make a change. He and his wife Joan, a biology graduate from Drake University, had been living in Boston, where Phil had accepted the position of vice president of international sales for a medical firm specializing in hypoallergenic products for the medical and fashion industries. 

“My exposure to problems caused by the nickel allergy prompted me to open my own business focused on producing jewelry for sensitive skin,” he said. “As our products were distributed by large retail chains in Europe and Asia, much of my time was spent outside of the United States.” 

These extensive opportunities to travel abroad developed in Phil an appreciation for different cultures and highlighted the importance of working together to create a better world. His attention was further peaked in conversation with a CU Anschutz development officer, where stories of the financial need of international students fueled a great desire as a “citizen of the world” to help others in a lasting way. 

Because of this, Phil and his wife established the Philip and Joan Shockman International Pharmacy Educator Scholarship within the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which seeks to increase patient-centered pharmacy practice in international settings, through education. 

“The program offers deserving foreign students the opportunity to learn about life in the United States while studying at one of the premier schools of pharmacy in the country.” 

When asked about the decision to partner with CU Anschutz, Phil explained that the campus is “light years ahead” and plays a vital role in education, which inspired him in his philanthropic journey. 

“I firmly believe in the importance of giving because of the crucial part it plays in education,” he said. “I attribute my knowledge, skills and lifetime success to my own education and experiences that CU afforded me, for which I remain incredibly appreciative and grateful.” 

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Phil and Joan Shockman, countless students around the world interested in pharmaceutical sciences now have access to leading-edge training right here at CU Anschutz.