White Coat Ceremony Welcomes New Pharmacy Students

Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy will hold its annual White Coat Ceremony for first-year professional pharmacy students on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. in the Dixon Ministry Center Jeremiah Chapel.

Cedarville will welcome 42 first-year professional pharmacy students into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at this year’s ceremony.

According to Dr. Thad Franz, vice chair of experiential programs and associate professor of pharmacy practice, the ceremony, which began at Columbia University in 1993, marks the start of a pharmacist’s professional journey.

“The white coat ceremony signifies a professional's privilege and responsibility to patients and the public,” Franz said. “It’s kind of like getting the keys to the profession.”

Speakers at the ceremony will discuss what it means to be a student pharmacist who cares well for patients and the significance of receiving the white coat. This year’s keynote speaker will be Sue Paul, the founder and CEO of SyneRxgy Consulting. At the end of the ceremony, students will dawn their white coats.

Cedarville will livestream the ceremony at cedarville.edu/whitecoat.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community; rigorous academic programs, including the Doctor of Pharmacy program; strong graduation and retention rates; accredited professional and health science offerings; and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.