On August 23, 2024, Chapman University School of Pharmacy welcomed the incoming class of Doctor of Pharmacy students at the Musco Center for the Arts during the tenth annual White Coat Ceremony. This year, 73 students were warmly celebrated for their accomplishments by nearly 600 audience members as they received their white coats, symbolizing their entrance into the pharmacy profession.

The Class of 2027 joins CUSP with a strong mean GPA of 3.47, with 90.4% of the cohort residing in California. Shaykh Jibreel Speight, Chapman’s Director of Muslim Life, provided the invocation and then opened the podium for welcoming remarks by Dean Rennolds Ostrom and Dr. Tiffany Huynh. Dr. Huynh, Healthcare Supervisor at Walgreens and a member of CUSP’s Dean Professional Advisory Board, expressed Walgreens’ support for the students and emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, both in the field of pharmacy and as professionals committed to personal growth and community service.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Wafa Samara, Chief Pharmacy Officer and Vice President at City of Hope, who was also honored with the Gavin Herbert Award. Dr. Samara, a member of CUSP’s Dean Professional Advisory Board, spoke to the incoming class on the importance of dedication, compassion, and resilience in the pharmacy profession.

Our incoming P1s were coated by their faculty advisors, a symbol of their entry into the profession. They ended the ceremony by reciting the Oath of the Pharmacist for the first time. The tenth cohort of our Doctor of Pharmacy program, Dean Ostrom emphasized the standard of excellence CUSP maintains and expects in our accelerated program, but also the resources and support that the cohort will receive along the way.

The ceremony also featured speeches from Dr. Melissa Kimura, President of the California Pharmacists Association, and Dr. Steven Thompson, former President of the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Both speakers stressed just how critical pharmacists are as advocates for patient safety. They encouraged students to engage in local and state activities that will shape the future of healthcare in the patient populations they directly care for.

Adding a personal flair to the ceremony, Dr. Isaac Lee, PharmD ’22 and Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board, used humor to share his experiences. Reflecting on the challenges and rewards of being a pharmacy student, Dr. Lee, as the youngest speaker, came from a relatable perspective since having been in the students’ shoes just three years ago.

Since the White Coat Ceremony, the Class of 2027 has begun their coursework and are on their way to becoming licensed pharmacists.