Born a Boilermaker: Alumnus John Voliva’s story of family, pharmacy, and philanthropy

Growing up in a family with a legacy in pharmacy and at Purdue, it was only natural for John Voliva to pursue the same path. Voliva’s great grandfather, John A. Hook, was the founder of Hook’s Drug Stores, an Indiana-based chain founded in 1900 that eventually spread throughout the Midwest. In addition to the family’s rich pharmacy history, Voliva’s grandfather, August F. “Bud” Hook, attended Purdue in the College of Pharmacy and was a student athlete, participating football, polo and swimming. When it was time for Voliva to decide where to pursue his degree in pharmacy, Purdue was a no-brainer. While at Purdue, he discovered his passion was compounding pharmacy. He worked in a variety of roles in the compounding space and even advocated for patient health at the federal level. As time went on, his Indiana roots called him back home. He and his sister own Hook’s Apothecary, a compounding pharmacy located in Evansville, Indiana. One part about Voliva that will never change is his passion for giving back, especially when it comes to Purdue. Each Purdue Day of Giving, he and his family are excited to help prepare students for the future, support initiatives within the College of Pharmacy and simply see the university rally around a central purpose. Join Voliva and countless others in the College of Pharmacy’s persistent pursuit of its next giant leap during Purdue Day of Giving on April 24,2024.