Marcus Watt and Wilda Stratton Endowed Chair in Pharmacy Practice

In 2023, Marc Watt, ’77, and Wilda Stratton planned an estate gift establishing an endowed chair in pharmacy practice.

They note that the role of the pharmacist has expanded over time – from simply filling prescriptions 50 years ago to administering vaccines, consulting patients and prescribing medications today. They recognize the importance of faculty who train the next generation of pharmacists to keep up with a constantly evolving pharmacy landscape and serve as active community healthcare providers. They hope their support will lead to better access to healthcare – especially in rural Oregon.

“I believe that giving to the OSU College of Pharmacy will help advance the pharmacy profession by increasing and expanding the clinical skills of its graduates,” Marc says.

After graduating from the College of Pharmacy, Marc began as a pharmacist for Fred Meyer and was later promoted into management positions for Fred Meyer, Safeway and Walgreens. He joined the Oregon Board of Pharmacy in 2000 and became its executive director in 2014. As he engaged with stakeholders and led policy efforts across the state, he saw the increasingly vital role the College of Pharmacy plays in facilitating collaboration and advancing the pharmacy profession. Marc joined the college’s Campaign Advisory Board in 2022. He and Wilda decided on shared estate gifts – his to the College of Pharmacy, and hers to Wilda’s alma mater, Eastern Oregon University. After graduating from EOU with a degree in biology, Wilda spent her 42-year career as a medical technologist with specialty in blood banking, ultimately overseeing Legacy Health Transfusion Services across five locations.