Gigi Strunk Davidson ’83
Gigi Davidson began practicing in the specialized field of veterinary pharmacy at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) upon earning her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at Carolina. An advocate for veterinary pharmacy practice, she spent several decades building and expanding the body of knowledge and clinical training in this discipline. For much of that time, she served as director of clinical pharmacy services, managing clinical services and research; teaching countless veterinary, pharmacy and pharmacy technician students; and establishing one of the first veterinary pharmacy residency training programs in the country. Now retired, she serves as an advocate for animals as patients and veterinary pharmacy education to ensure that pharmacy graduates are practice-ready to provide care for all species.
Davidson has served in leadership roles in professional organizations, including the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists, the Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists, and the American Pharmacists Association. Most notably, she was as a key leader with US Pharmacopeia (USP), chairing the Compounding Expert Committee from 2010 to 2020 at a time when the field of compounding experienced a public health crisis involving improperly compounded drugs. Davidson’s leadership with the USP expert committee helped to reassert the organization’s established minimum standards and restore public faith in the pharmaceutical compounding industry. Her work was recognized with the Beal Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, USP’s highest honor. Davidson was the first woman and the first veterinary pharmacist to receive the award.
Davidson is also founder of Vet Pharm Consulting, which assists veterinary teaching hospitals in analyzing pharmacy practices, maintaining regulatory compliance, and reviewing compounding practices and workflow.
In 2025, Davidson received the Pharmacy Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
