Students receive their white coats as a rite of passage

On Sept. 24, over 100 P1 (3rd year, 1st professional year) Pharmacy students at the University City Campus received their white coats at the annual White Coat Ceremony at the Athletic Recreation Center. The White Coat Ceremony occurs during a student’s first professional year (3rd year) of their 6-year PharmD (Doctorate of Pharmacy) program. 

The ceremony symbolizes not only pharmacy students entering their professional years, but their dedication to the practice of pharmacy. P1 pharmacy student Makayla King stated, “The white coat ceremony symbolizes all of my accomplishments over my school years.” During the ceremony, students recite the Oath of a Pharmacist in which they pledge their commitment to care, service and professionalism.

Oath of the Pharmacist: “I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow: I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns. I will promote inclusion, embrace diversity, and advocate for justice to advance health equity. I will apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for all patients. I will respect and protect all personal and health information entrusted to me. I will accept the responsibility to improve my professional knowledge, expertise, and self-awareness. I will hold myself and my colleagues to the highest principles of our profession’s moral, ethical, and legal conduct. I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care. I will utilize my knowledge, skills, experiences, and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists. I take these vows voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.”