Pharmacy students don white coats

On Thursday, January 8, a new class of Doctor of Pharmacy students received their white lab coats to celebrate the beginning of their professional journey.

In the Humanities Theatre, proud family and friends gathered to watch 120 students cross the stage to be “robed” in personalized coats, signifying their entry to the School of Pharmacy, and the professional community. The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program starts in January, rather than September, and the White Coat Ceremony is a highlight of orientation week. 

It’s an honour to wear the coat,” says class of 2018 student Paulina Bajorek. “I’m excited to enter the profession and start my four years here."

During the ceremony, students pledged their commitment to ethics and integrity as well. “The white coat represents the trust that the patient has in the pharmacist, and their responsibility,” says Dr. David Edwards, Hallman Director for the School of Pharmacy and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Science.

Dr. Edwards and other guest speakers emphasized the expanding role of pharmacists, as key members of collaborative healthcare teams, as patient advocates and medication experts.With Pharmacy technicians taking on drug dispensing responsibilities, pharmacists can now focus more on medication therapy management for patients.

The class of 2018, dubbed Rx2018, is the second cohort to begin the new PharmD program. 

Congratulations and welcome Rx2018!