Steve Hoffman

Steve Hoffman, August 8th, 1953 to September 23rd, 2018 was more than just a face of sepsis. Steve graduated Butler University Pharmacy School and became a healthcare hero – and still is! While studying at Butler in Indiana, he not only excelled in the pharmacy program, he was president of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity while performing in his rock band AcroBatt. While balancing all of that, he still found time to work with other pharmacy students that were struggling. Many to this day owe him a debt of gratitude for that assistance.

Steve was instrumental in the development of HMO pharmacies in the late 1970s. He was also one of the early inventors of patient assistance programs in the 80s- 90s. Steve took those programs and developed them into what they are today. Those pharmacy assist cards we all use, yes, my dad helped develop those! He also developed the pharmaceutical distribution system for, at the time, the “miracle multiple sclerosis drug” Betaseron. He found ways to get this low production but high demand drug distributed to patients in need in a fair way. Steve then moved on to become the President of McKesson Specialty Pharmacy, where he developed the patent for McKesson Loyalty Scripts, a current drug discount program. The top pharmacy professionals in the country considered Steve to be an erudite in his field. (We have a letter to prove it!)

My dad was taken to the emergency room on the evening of Saturday September 15th, 2018. The doctor came in and spoke to him and my mom about his lactic level being a little high. In unison, my mom and dad both looked at the physician and said “septic?” and the physician agreed. Abdominal sepsis protocol was started immediately, and within a few days he was looking better during his admission. Even with movement and doing everything right, on the morning of September 20th, his bowel perforated. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) He was transferred to ICU where he tragically aspirated awaiting emergency surgery. After surgery he went onto life support for a couple of days due to septic shock, requiring vasopressors. His blood pressure was maintaining 80s over 40s, if we were lucky. He was extubated successfully but then his kidneys started failing. Sunday afternoon at 12:31 pm, Steve passed away peacefully in ICU surrounded by his family.

“Blondy” is forever in our hearts and the photo I chose for this memorial is him in his domain, behind the keyboard. My dad was an incredible human with a brilliant and creative mind who achieved and created more than I am able to list here.

It has been an honor to memorialize my dad with you, please enjoy this video of him singing and playing the keys in his band, AcroBatt on YouTube with his ICONIC keyboard tie.

“You belong among the wildflowers, you belong somewhere close to me, far away from your trouble and worry, you belong somewhere you feel free.” – Tom Petty

Source: Shelby Hoffman, his daughter