School of Pharmacy’s Inaugural Class of 2014 Recognized at White Coat Ceremony
The School of Pharmacy at Saint Joseph College recognized its inaugural class of 2014 at a White Coat Ceremony on Friday, August 12 in The Bruyette Athenaeum’s Hoffman Auditorium on the College’s West Hartford campus. The ceremony welcomes students as colleagues in the advanced study of pharmacy. A white coat, which symbolizes professionalism and commitment to patient care, was presented to each incoming School of Pharmacy student by a member of the faculty. After receiving their coats, the class of 2014 recited in unison the Pharmacy Student Oath which stresses the importance of professionalism, ethics, and values. A reception following the ceremony was generously sponsored by Walmart.
Speakers at the event included: Saint Joseph College President Pamela Trotman Reid, Ph.D.; Joseph R. Ofosu, Pharm.D., R.Ph., Dean of the School of Pharmacy; Bertram A. Nicholas, Jr., Ed.D., R.Ph., Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs; Richard Rothman, Pharm.D., R.Ph., Walmart; along with two School of Pharmacy faculty members: Annette Podgorski Hood, Pharm.D., R.Ph., Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration; and Sukhvir R. Kaur, Pharm.D., R.Ph., Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration.
In her welcoming remarks, President Reid congratulated the students for accepting the challenge and opportunity of a career in pharmacy. She noted that while the School of Pharmacy is new, it is part of an institution with an 80-year history and is built upon the values instilled by the Founding Sisters of Mercy which include integrity, service, and respect for diversity. The Pharmacy students are themselves diverse, coming from a range of backgrounds and representing 16 states and two foreign countries.
President Reid expressed gratitude to those members of the Saint Joseph College community whose tireless dedication made the School of Pharmacy a reality; she cited the outstanding leadership of the Board of Trustees; and she thanked major donors Kathleen and Gene Bruyette, whose generous gift made possible the classroom in the round. Of the event itself, President Reid said:
“This is an amazing day for us filled with considerable emotion. It is a thoughtful and serious occasion for our students as they assume the responsibilities of their chosen profession. And it is a celebration for Saint Joseph College … The Pharmacy program represents for us a wonderful merging of our mission to serve the community, our strength and reputation in healthcare and sciences, and the excellence of our educational offerings ...
While we all can celebrate this beginning, today’s ceremony is really for and about our new students. These students will contribute to the bright and promising future of Saint Joseph College, to the School of Pharmacy, and also to the communities in which they will one day serve.”
She concluded her remarks with this message for the students:
“I wish each and every one of you the very best in your studies, excellent outcomes for your medical and personal decisions, and the satisfaction that will result in learning to help others ... We all look forward to your future successes.”
View photos from this event. Credit: Spencer Sloan Photography:
