Rx2024 and Rx2025 receive warm welcome at in-person White Coat Ceremony

This week, the School of Pharmacy hosted the first in-person White Coat Ceremony since 2020, formally welcoming the classes of 2024 and 2025 to the profession of pharmacy.

The white coat is a symbol of the trust patients place in medical professionals and the responsibility that those professionals carry. The tradition of white coat ceremonies evolved from medical schools and has expanded to many medical profession programs. New students are inducted into their profession by members of their chosen field. Our students receive a white coat from pharmacists, swear a pledge of professionalism, and hear inspirational speeches from leaders in the pharmacy community.

Students swearing the pledge of professionalism

On Monday, Hallman Director Andrea Edginton (below) emceed the event, celebrating the successes of students so far and inviting speakers from the University of Waterloo and various pharmacy organizations to the stage. This year’s event was livestreamed to family and friends of students who could tune in from home.

The event’s speakers included:

• Mónica Barra , Associate Dean of Science, Undergraduate Studies
• Jane McKaig, Manager, Community Practice, Ontario College of Pharmacists
• Tim Brady, Chair, Ontario Pharmacists Association
• Rita Dhami, President, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists- Ontario Branch
• Danielle Paes, Chief Pharmacist Officer, Canadian Pharmacists Association
• Angad Bains, President, Society of Pharmacy Students

To be inducted, students are invited across the stage and helped into their white coat by members of the Waterloo Pharmacy community. The following alumni, faculty and staff volunteered to be this year’s robers:

• Joe Neureuther–  Rx2018
• Khrystine Waked– Rx2018
• Kris Mendoza– Rx2019
• Kristina Kozlovsky– Rx2018
• Michael Collins– Rx2011
• Danielle Paes– Rx2014
• Kaitlin Bynkoski– Rx2014
• Prof. Rita Dhami

Many thanks to the speakers, alumni, faculty and staff who supported the event and to the parents, friends and family members who tuned in to support their students from home.

This event was made possible with the support of the Ontario Pharmacists Association and Scotiabank.