Prof. Sung Wan Kim's Legacy (1940-2020)

Dear College of Pharmacy friends,

With great sadness, I’m writing to let you know our esteemed colleague, Distinguished Professor Sung Wan Kim, passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke. As most of you know, Dr. Kim has been a pillar of the College of Pharmacy for several decades and is one of our most renowned members, known throughout the world as a pioneer in the field of pharmaceutics. Dr. Kim arrived at the University of Utah as a graduate student in 1966 and went on to become one of the university’s most productive scholars.  In more than 50 years on the Utah faculty, he published more than 500 papers, received dozens of patents, trained 130 students and postdocs, and founded successful companies. He has been recognized as Distinguished Professor and Rosenblatt Prize winner at the University of Utah and has received numerous prestigious international awards including the Volwiler Award, the Dale Wurster Award, the Clemson Award, the Ho-Am Prize, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Twente. Other honors include election to the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Medicine), National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors. Attached is a brief summary of some of the highlights from Dr. Kim’s life and career.

It’s almost impossible to overstate the impact Dr. Kim has had on the University of Utah and the College of Pharmacy. With his departmental colleagues and trainees, he made Utah a hub of the pharmaceutics universe, attracting the top faculty and students from around the world, and sending trainees out to populate the top international universities. During a recent trip to Korea, I was amazed to discover how widely he was known, and how many academic and commercial entities are led by his trainees.  Here at home, he influenced countless others through his gifts as a teacher, a mentor, a collaborator, an advisor, and a friend. During my three years as dean, I have benefitted enormously from his advice and encouragement.  He leaves a remarkable legacy that will continue to inspire the department, college, and all who had the privilege to know him.