Vishnu D. Gupta

UHCOP Community Mourns Passing of Retired Pharmaceutics Professor, Researcher and Benefactor 

The following message is from UH College of Pharmacy Dean F. Lamar Pritchard, Ph.D., R.Ph., on the passing of retired Professor of Pharmaceutics Vishnu D. Gupta.

Dear UHCOP Family,

It is with deep sadness that I share the news that one of the college’s longest-serving faculty members, recently retired Professor of Pharmaceutics Vishnu D. Gupta, Ph.D., passed earlier this week.

A cherished member of our faculty for nearly 50 years, Dr. Gupta will be remembered as a dedicated pharmaceutical researcher, educator and philanthropist. A UHCOP faculty member from 1967 to his retirement in 2015 almost one year to the day of passing, Gupta taught Pharmaceutics and Physical Chemistry to thousands of professional pharmacy and graduate students over the course of his career at the college.

Dr. Gupta earned his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Analysis and Physical Pharmacy from the University of Georgia and his M.S. in Manufacturing Pharmacy from The University of Texas.

A Fellow of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, Dr. Gupta authored or co-authored hundreds of articles and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and books. His expertise in the areas of pharmaceutical analyses and stability studies made him a highly sought-after consultant and researcher to the pharmaceutical industry on a national and international level.

Along with his wife, Mrs. Kanta K. Gupta, Dr. Gupta was a longtime member of the college’s Mading Society and the university’s In Tempore Society. The Guptas generously supported the college and university, including creating four endowments for Pharm.D. and graduate students: for Pharm.D. and graduate students: Anant Ram Gupta Presidential Endowed Scholarship, Dean Joseph P. Buckley Pharmacy Leadership Award, Yoginder Nath Goel & Swaran Lata Goel Academic Achievement Award and Vishnu D. & Kanta K. Gupta Scholarship.

An avid international traveler, Dr. Gupta also was an ardent supporter of providing students the opportunity to expand their horizons by participating in professional and scientific meetings. In addition to providing assistance for student pharmacist mission trips, a planned gift by Dr. Gupta and his wife will support a future endowed travel fund.

Dr. Gupta will be remembered as a kind, generous and modest man who sought to follow the teachings and examples set by the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and his father, Anant Ram Gupta.

"I'm thankful to God for my success and good fortune, which has allowed me to put both of my children through higher education, create four endowments and support many worthwhile projects," Gupta said in an interview about one of his major gifts to the college. "I certainly don't compare myself to Gandhi, but I've always followed his advice of reducing my wants, instead of increasing my wants."

As per Dr. Gupta’s wishes, no public service will be held. Dr. Gupta’s family expressed their appreciation for the thoughts and prayers. Those who wish to make a gift in his memory to the Vishnu D. & Kanta K. Gupta Scholarship or another fund may use the online giving form at https://www.uh.edu/pharmacy/give-to-uhcop/ (please indicate gift allocation preference) or contact UHCOP Development Director Matt Perkins at mrperkins@uh.edu or 713-743-6545.

Sincerely,

F. Lamar Pritchard, Ph.D., R.Ph.
Dean and Professor, University of Houston College of Pharmacy