Recently, I attended a “White Coat Ceremony” for a college of pharmacy class – in this case, the class of 2021. When I started pharmacy school in 2002 I also attended one. I am sure this is done for other professions and at other schools, but essentially it is a way to welcome students into the training of their chosen profession. In the ones I have attended, each student is coated with a white lab jacket as a way to symbolize their entry into their studies. It can be a very big moment for students. For me, it was a way to say that all of my hard work and dedication were paying off – assuming I continued to work hard and study, I would be a pharmacist. The competition, although still somewhat there, was lessened quite a bit as well. Once you were in pharmacy school there was a strong support system to make sure you made it through, and I was happy to be accepted.
I have been to a white coat ceremony for the last three years, and I am always amazed at how inspiring it is for me. I go because I mentor some of the pharmacy students, and it is wonderful to see how engaged and professional these students seem to be. Going to this event gives me hope for our future health care providers. Currently, I think a lot about our current health care system is broken, and my hope is that these students will pave the way for something better. And, while I don’t think a pill is the answer to everything, I do think pharmacists can have a major impact on education and coaching patients. The role of a pharmacist is expanding, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves in these future classes. Overall, the white coat ceremony is a wonderful way to celebrate an important milestone in the life of a student.