In June of 1957 a group of pharmacists interested in forming a hospital pharmacist association in Arkansas met for lunch at the Sam Peck Hotel. This group of people founded the Arkansas Association of Hospital Pharmacists, a chapter of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP). Following this meeting the constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers elected in September 1957.

Original officers:

William D Hagans, President
George P Provost, Vice-President
Louise Pope, Secretary-Treasurer

Charter Members

Lattye M Goodrum
Dayton Brewer
Carl L Brooks, Jr
William M Heller
Jack Leonard
James H Ackerman
Harold J Hamilton
Flint Ward
Hulen Smith
Louis D Hauser

In early years four meetings were held each year devoted to topics which would assist each participant in upgrading the practice of hospital pharmacy.

James Henderson chaired the first seminar in 1967, which was expanded to two days in 1982. In 1982 the group began bringing in national and regional speakers.

The first membership picnic was June 15, 1972, at Burns Park. It was a fish fry.

President Louis D. Hauser spearheaded the Hospital Pharmacy Act in 1975. The purpose of this legislation was to enhance the practice of institutional pharmacy and to stimulate interest in unit-dose distribution and IV additive programs.

Discussion regarding the association becoming an academy of the Arkansas Pharmacist Association began in 1970 and a basic agreement was reached in 1981 while William S. Freeman was serving as President.

The first installation banquet was held in 1983 at the Excelsior Hotel.

The first newsletter was published in 1987.

In 1991 AAHP initiated a statewide survey that produced data to support a change in hospital regulations regarding the use of technicians.

The organization increased from 14 members in 1957 to 140 members in 1982. The membership for 2000 was 403 members.