By Carol R. Cool
It was like a game of whisper down the lane. Faiz A. Oley, Sr., P’66 heard about what was then Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (PCPS) from his cousin Patrick M. Gibrall P’62. Faiz’s younger brothers Anthony J. Oley P’80 and Mark A. Oley P’83 were drawn to the college after working in Faiz’s pharmacy as teenagers. Faiz’s two sons, Faiz, Jr., P’92 and Joseph P’96, PharmD’97, also followed in their father’s and uncles’ footsteps. Add in two more cousins (Philip Gibrall, Jr., P’72 and Karen Madison P’84) and Joseph’s wife, Gina Morrissey Oley P’96, and you have quite a USP legacy. Now Mark’s son is considering the University.
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| Left to right: Anthony Oley P'80, the late Rose Oley, Faiz Oley P'66, and Mark Oley P'83 |
The three elder Oley brothers all own pharmacies in the Richmond, Virginia, area, each with its own specialty, said Mark. His brother Faiz and his children are focused on retail community pharmacy. Anthony has carved out a niche in the long-term care pharmacy market. And Mark’s pharmacy concentrates on servicing self-funded plans, like states and municipalities, through its mail order business.
"When I worked for Faiz as a teenager," said Mark. "I saw pharmacy as a career on the front lines of healthcare. I was intrigued by the idea of a career that helped people by giving them sound medical advice." Now he’s expanded that advice to large organizations, helping them identify patients, by looking at drug histories, who may be at risk for other diseases and screening them at health fairs. Then his pharmacy supplies the proper medications at an efficient cost to the self-funded institution. "This is an important management tool to help them reign in costs at a time of budget cuts," said Mark.
"I’m able to do this work because PCPS gave me such a good clinical and practical overview of pharmacy. We came out of the school clinically sound, with a good appreciation for the patient." Mark also credits another family member—his mother—as a vital part of his success. She instilled in the boys the conviction that an education was all important.
Mark urges current PharmD students to enjoy what they do and to persevere through the difficult times. "I’m successful because I have a passion for and love of pharmacy. I enjoy what I do and I enjoy helping others, so it all comes full circle."
While family led Mark to PCPS, it was the family feel that kept him there. "The school was small enough that they cared. The professors wanted you to do well. It was a nurturing environment where they looked out for you. It was a family."
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