Our Heart Is In Public Health

Sylester Flowers, R. Ph. Ramsell Founder and Chairman

Sylester Flowers lives by the belief that if you treat people fairly and with respect, they will reciprocate. Since 1964, Syl has run his business in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and helped people thrive. He has made a career of serving the underserved. More than just a brand promise, Syl is committed to ensuring that people have access to the medications and services they need.

A 1958 Howard University graduate, Syl moved to California after serving in the military. Working as a pharmacist at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco from 1961-1963, Syl spent months planning, securing licenses, and establishing credit to make his dream of starting his own business a reality. In 1964, he opened the first of what became a chain of pharmacies in working-class neighborhoods. Within a few years, his endeavor was profitable. On the advice of an accountant friend, he founded Ramsell Corporation as a holding company for his successful pharmacies in 1967.

In the early 1970's, Syl began working on an independent contract with the Department of Mental Health to provide methadone treatment services with the Westside Community Health Center, based in San Francisco's impoverished Western Addition neighborhood.

For the next 14 years, he and his company provided pharmaceutical services and managed the program's paperwork requirements for the county, state and federal government. During this time, Syl also taught courses at the School of Pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco. In 1982, Syl secured an additional contract to manage outpatient prescription services for the City of San Francisco.

With his reputation as a leader in the field already established, San Francisco County turned to Syl and Ramsell to manage its AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) in 1992. Syl built on this success to secure a contract with the State of California to consolidate all county programs throughout the state. In 2001, Ramsell took on similar responsibilities for the state of Washington. Now, Ramsell manages more than 33% of the nation's ADAP claims.

in 2004, Syl was chosen to be one of the Bay Area Heroes For 2004 Black History Month. In 2009, Syl was honored by Howard University for Achievements in Business and Public Health and recognized by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation for commitment to enhancing health care quality.