Annual ceremony marks an early milestone for first-year student pharmacists and emphasizes professionalism, purpose, and the privilege of caring for patients.
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) welcomed its newest class of student pharmacists to the profession during its annual White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 28, celebrating the Class of 2030 and the beginning of their journey toward careers in pharmacy.
This year’s ceremony took place earlier than it has in the past, reflecting a significant change in the school’s Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. With the launch of the new M-Pact curriculum, students begin experiential rotations much earlier in their pharmacy education. For the Class of 2030, the first day of rotations was Sept. 2, just days after the students received their white coats.
The earlier start gives students an opportunity to experience different areas of pharmacy practice sooner in their education, helping them explore the wide range of career possibilities available to pharmacists and begin thinking about the paths they may want to pursue.
The ceremony brought together first-year student pharmacists, their families and friends, faculty, staff, alumni, and preceptors to mark the students’ transition into the pharmacy profession. The ceremony included remarks from Dean Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD; a keynote address from UMSOP alumna Jennifer Majchrzak, PharmD ’08, MBA; the presentation of white coats; and the Class of 2030’s Pledge of Professionalism.
For the students, the white coat represents more than the beginning of their professional education. It symbolizes their commitment to the profession and to the patients they will one day serve.
“When you put on your white coat, you are a pharmacist in training,” Michel told the students. “This is a big step in your journey, and it is important that you think about how you will treat your patients, their families, and your colleagues when you are in your white coat.”