For Dr. Cliff Fuhrman, dean of Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy (PCSP), his relationship with his mentor during college became the catalyst to a career in pharmacy and education. At PC, mentor/mentee relationships play a major part in the learning process of our students and stories like Dr. Fuhrman’s are not uncommon.

Mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person(the mentor) assists another (the mentee) in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the mentee’s professional and personal growth.

Dr. Fuhrman was fortunate enough to have Dr. Farid Sadik as his mentor while attending the University of South Carolina. Sadik, who was the associate dean of academic affairs at the time, was instrumental in Fuhrman’s decision to attend graduate school and study pharmaceutics, the discipline of pharmacy that deals with the process of turning a new chemical entity into a safe, effective medication. “As a mentor, Dr. Sadik had the ability to identify key strengths and talents in a person and then help them to advance or strengthen that gift without even knowing it,” said Fuhrman. This unique relationship helps students identify their strengths through a knowledgeable, more experienced professional. “He saw something in me that I didn’t, and he encouraged me to rise up and meet the challenge.”

While serving as the dean of USC from 1999-2005, Sadik selected Fuhrman in 1998 to be a member of his administrative team. A USC faculty member at the time, Fuhrman worked alongside his mentor for seven years in various capacities including faculty member, director of curriculum and assessment and then assistant dean for student affairs. “Fuhrman was a great asset to us during the assessment process,” said Sadik. “He worked hard to provide the best for the students and the school.”

Upon his retirement in December 2005, Sadik was named Dean Emeritus at USC College of Pharmacy and moved to Beirut, Lebanon where he served as the dean of the Lebanese American University until November 2011. This distance might have been the natural end for their long-time mentor/mentee professional relationship, but that was not the case for Fuhrman and Sadik.

Fuhrman joined the administration of PCSP as associate dean of academic affairs in 2008, and was named interim dean in January 2013. After a national search, Fuhrman was named Dean of PCSP in May 2013. As dean of the pharmacy school, Fuhrman needed to recruit someone to teach pharmaceutics lectures in the area of tablets, sterile products and controlled drug delivery – Sadik was just the person for the job. Sadik holds a doctorate degree in pharmaceutics, received the USC College of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year award and was the recipient of the Amoco Teaching Award – the most highly coveted award for teaching at the University of South Carolina.

“[Sadik’s] gift of engagement with students is something to see and admire,” says Fuhrman.  “He has brought great energy and knowledge to the classes he has taught at PCSP.” Their relationship, founded on a shared love of pharmacy, will continue to benefit PC students through Dr. Sadik’s expertise.

As an adjunct professor, Sadik started teaching in the spring of 2013 in drug delivery and continued on to teach a cosmetics course in spring of 2014. This elective course is designed to teach students about the composition and application of products, and the advantages or disadvantages of one product over another. Students completing this course are better equipped to assist consumers in the selection process of various cosmetic products.

“All these years later, I’m so grateful for the continued professional relationship we have,” said Fuhrman. “We have always worked well together, and we are thrilled to have him as part of our program at PCSP.”

Dr. Sadik’s daughter, Mimi Sadik

Sadik’s love of pharmacy is one that extends deep into his family. Three of his four children followed in his footsteps to become pharmacists. Sadik and his family have endowed a scholarship, The Mimi Sadik Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy, in memory of his daughter (also a pharmacist) who passed away in 2010. “The scholarship is designed to help students in need of financial assistance and to promote pharmacy education,” said Sadik. “We are pleased to have the scholarship at PCSP.”

“Dr. Sadik has been a great influence in my professional career,” said Fuhrman. “I look forward to watching him engage with and mentor the students at PCSP.”  Dr. Sadik exemplifies the high level of professional engagement that our PC professors have with their students, both in and out of the classroom.