Laura Ann Mandos

Laura A. Mandos, Pharm.D., BCPP, Remington Professor of Pharmacy, passed away unexpectedly from a natural event while at home on April 29, 2023. Laura was born March 17, 1962 in Canton, Ohio to George and Betty Jean "BJ" Mandos. Over the years, she remained friends with an extraordinary number of childhood classmates, teachers, and neighbors. Laura was known for her excellent memory of names, dates, and vocabulary. She remembered the first and last name of everyone she met. As a teenager she read a paperback book a day and timed herself completing the Canton Repository crossword puzzle. She was fun, charming, caring, a loyal friend, generous with her time and attention, appreciated witty (and wicked) humor, and really enjoyed playing tetherball.

Laura received her bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University and her Doctor of Pharmacy from Northeastern University, taking her medical courses at Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed a post-doctoral residency in psychopharmacology at The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) and was a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP). At age 26, Dr. Laura Mandos was offered an Ivy League appointment at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and for more than 20 years, was joint faculty at the UPENN School of Medicine and PCP. Dr. Mandos was a beloved and esteemed faculty member at PCP for over 35 years. For more than 10 years she served as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, where she supported and positively impacted countless students. Over the course of her illustrious career, she taught at Saint Joseph's University, University of the Sciences, the UPENN School of Medicine, and the UPENN School of Nursing. She was an investigator in over 100 Phase II, III, and IV clinical drug trials and published multiple original research articles, as well as numerous review articles and textbook chapters. Dr. Mandos served as a consultant to the Delaware County Office of Mental Health and was the sole pharmacist on the editorial board for Prevention Magazine.

Dr. Mandos had a passion for good champagne, fine dining, and antique Edwardian jewelry. She commemorated each of her many professional and personal accomplishments with a beautiful antique bracelet or brooch. She took pride in her collection of signed Andrew Wyath prints, especially "Burial At Archies" signed personally to Laura by the artist himself. Long Beach Island was her "happy place"; a beach town where she made decades of memories, where she found peace and calm, and where she is finally at rest.

Dr. Mandos was a beloved educator, mentor, colleague, friend, partner, daughter, sister, and aunt, whose legacy will live on in all who knew and loved her. A force to be reckoned with, she was a pioneer in the field of pharmacy, and her achievements speak to the passion and the talent she had for her profession, her patients, and her students. Her kind and giving soul set an example for us all, and we will be forever better because we were fortunate enough to have known her. She is survived and deeply mourned by her "little sister Penny" Penelope Van Neste, brother-in-law Karl, nephew Taylor, niece Kristen, older brother John Christian, eldest sister Dana Wegman, and brother-in-law Mark.

May she be at peace!

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Dr. Laura Mandos' name, so her legacy may live on, to:

PCP Culture of Caring Fund, by donating online at

https://giving.sju.edu/Mandos

OR mailing a check to:

Saint Joseph's University Office of Advancement

5600 City Avenue

Philadelphia PA 19131