author
Jr. (Heber Wilkinson) Heber W. Youngken
1913–2001
A pioneering pharmacognosist and teacher, he helped shape modern pharmacy education while keeping the study of medicinal plants at its center. His work at the University of Rhode Island left a lasting mark on the field and on generations of students.
1 Audiobook
Common poisonous plants of New England
by Jr. (Heber Wilkinson) Heber W. Youngken, Joseph S. Karas
About the author
Born in 1913, Heber W. Youngken Jr. became one of the best-known American figures in pharmacognosy, the study of natural drug substances. He served as professor of pharmacognosy and later dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island, where he led the college from 1957 to 1981 and also served as provost for health sciences affairs.
Youngken was closely associated with the study of medicinal plants and natural products, and his name remained strongly linked to that tradition at URI long after his retirement. The university's Heber W. Youngken Jr. Medicinal Garden reflects the importance of his work and his reputation as a pioneer in the field.
He died in October 2001 at age 88. Remembered as both a scholar and an academic leader, he helped build pharmacy education around a strong grounding in plant-based medicines and the scientific study of natural remedies.