Calvin Knowlton is an American pharmacist, entrepreneur, and innovator who has founded several successful companies in the fields of pharmacy, healthcare, and technology. He is best known as the founder and CEO of Tabula Rasa HealthCare, a company that provides personalized medication management solutions using pharmacogenomics and advanced analytics. In this article, we will explore the life, career, and achievements of Calvin Knowlton, the pharmacist who revolutionized medication management.
Early Life and Education
Calvin Knowlton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a family of pharmacists. His father, grandfather, and uncle were all pharmacists, and he developed an interest in pharmacy at an early age. He attended Temple University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1977. He then pursued his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1980. He later obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacoeconomics from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1995.
Career and Entrepreneurship
Calvin Knowlton started his career as a community pharmacist, working in various settings such as independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies, and hospital pharmacies. He also served as a faculty member at several universities, teaching courses on pharmacy practice, pharmacoeconomics, and pharmacogenomics. He was also involved in several professional organizations, such as the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy.
In 1996, Calvin Knowlton founded his first company, Care Capital, a pharmacy benefit management company that focused on improving medication outcomes and reducing costs for managed care organizations. He sold Care Capital to Express Scripts in 2000, and then founded his second company, Excellerx, a specialty pharmacy that provided medication therapy management and clinical support for patients with chronic conditions. He sold Excellerx to Omnicare in 2006, and then founded his third company, Tabula Rasa HealthCare, in 2009.
Tabula Rasa HealthCare is Calvin Knowlton’s most successful and innovative venture to date. It is a public company that provides personalized medication management solutions using pharmacogenomics and advanced analytics. Tabula Rasa HealthCare’s flagship product is MedWise, a software platform that analyzes multiple drug interactions simultaneously and takes into account a patient’s genetic makeup to optimize medication regimens and reduce medication-related risk. Tabula Rasa HealthCare also offers other products and services, such as medication adherence solutions, pharmacogenomics testing, medication risk mitigation, and clinical decision support.
Awards and Recognition
Calvin Knowlton has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to pharmacy, healthcare, and technology. Some of his notable accolades include:
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Healthcare Technology in 2003 and 2017
- American Pharmacists Association Remington Honor Medal in 2004
- American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Richard S. Berman Service Award in 2005
- Temple University Gallery of Success Award in 2006
- University of Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2007
- Philadelphia Business Journal Healthcare Innovator of the Year Award in 2016
- Forbes Top Publicly-Traded Digital Health Company in 2018
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Calvin Knowlton is married to Orsula Knowlton, who is also a pharmacist and a co-founder of Tabula Rasa HealthCare. They have four children and live in Amelia Island, Florida. Calvin Knowlton is also a philanthropist who supports various causes and organizations, such as the Calvin H. Knowlton Center for Pharmacogenomics at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the Calvin and Orsula Knowlton Foundation, and the Calvin and Orsula Knowlton Scholarship Fund at Temple University School of Pharmacy.