Pharmacy Alumnus Found Success and Purpose at St. John’s

“Both my parents and aunt and uncle went there,” he recalled. “My dad studied pharmacy, and I knew the program’s reputation for excellence through him.”

He added that his parents “always sang the school’s praises. It was a no-brainer.”

Mr. Calcagni is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Entrada Ventures Group, established in 2016. The group comprises three Patient Experience Organizations (PXOs)—ENTRADA, HXT, and SOGLIA—dedicated to supporting health-care organizations in advocating for their patients along their lived health journey. Prior to founding Entrada Ventures Group, Mr. Calcagni successfully launched several other companies in the life sciences sector.

“We are in complete support of the patient. All the companies I have built are what we call patient experience organizations. Our sole purpose and mission is to impact the lives of 100 million patients by 2035. What gets me up every day is focusing on identifying ways to meet individuals during their health journey and give them support in those most vulnerable moments.”

Mr. Calcagni attended St. John’s when it was a commuter school. “My best friend also went to St. John’s, and we made many friends in the program. We mostly hung out at St. Albert Hall and a good group formed around us. We grew together in those five years. Our education was top-notch, but we always collaborated in our study groups.”

Noting that he struggled early in his tenure at St. John’s with subjects like organic chemistry, Mr. Calcagni stressed, “My curiosity pulled me through. I became deeply interested in how drugs act and work in the body. That was fascinating to me. So, pharmacology was my way in.”

Mr. Calcagni credited Andrew J. Bartilucci, Ph.D. ’44P, ’98HON, Dean Emeritus for the College of Pharmacy and Executive Vice President Emeritus of the University, the late Angele D’Angelo, Professor of Pharmacy, and other faculty members, for helping launch his career. “Dr. Bartilucci put me in touch with several people in the industry,” he explained.

He added, “Everyone was trying to help students find their calling.”

In honor of his late father, Mr. Calcagni’s family created the Carl Calcagni Endowed Scholarship at St. John’s, awarded annually to an academically qualified pharmacy student in their fifth or sixth year interested in pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry. "We are steadfastly dedicated to empowering students to broaden their perspectives on the full spectrum of professional possibilities."

Each year, Mr. Calcagni and his mother have the opportunity to meet the recipients, one of which he ended up mentoring. “Today, he’s a family friend. [The scholarship] helped us stay connected to the College.” Through the scholarship, “I received the calling to stay more connected with the school and give back.”

Mr. Calcagni has fostered a relationship with Anne Y. F. Lin ’84P, ’86Pharm.D., FNAP, Dean of the College. “We’re having open conversations about opportunities, which have been great. We want to continue the good work being done at the College for young pharmacists and health-care practitioners.”