The USC School of Pharmacy announced the grand opening of its new Walgreens Conference Room with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 26.

Nearly 18 months in the making, the state-of-the-art conference and learning center, located on the second floor of the John Stauffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center on the Health Sciences Campus, features an interactive smart board, multiple large video screens, wireless-enabled workshop stations with modular seating and audio/videoconferencing capability, among many other features.

The state-of-the-art conference and learning center features an interactive smart board, multiple large video screens, wireless-enabled workshop stations with modular seating, and audio/videoconferencing capability among many other features.

The state-of-the-art conference and learning center features an interactive smart board, multiple large video screens, wireless-enabled workshop stations with modular seating, and audio/videoconferencing capability among many other features.

It was made possible by a $250,000 gift from Walgreens as well as more than $500,000 in funding from the university.

In addition to serving as a conference and learning center, the Walgreens Conference Room will be the location for the school’s new Margaret and John Biles Leadership Center, which will bring influential voices from the public and private sectors to address pressing health-related concerns and provide students with an opportunity to develop essential leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

“Walgreens commends (USC School of Pharmacy) on the initiative and the education you provide to students,” said Paul Huynh, Walgreens area healthcare supervisor. “We will join you and walk with you on this journey of partnership and friendship.”

Interim Dean Glen Stimmel acknowledged Walgreens for its long history of supporting the school’s scholarships, student organizations and programmatic advances, and said the newly renovated, highly customizable room will be the school’s premier conference space.

“The USC School of Pharmacy has always been a welcoming place where talented individuals solve complex problems by working collaboratively,” Stimmel said. “We’re proud to open a state-of-the-art facility that encourages innovation and collaboration, and I look forward to the transformative ideas and outcomes that will be generated there.”

— Michele Keller