UH-Hilo pharmacy class takes oath today
Article reprinted courtesy of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald - (hawaiitribune-herald.com)
Sunday, October 12, 2008 8:07 AM HST
The University of Hawaii at Hilo pharmacy class of 2012 will take an oath of the profession this afternoon, joined by Chancellor Rose Tseng and Dean John Pezzuto, faculty and students from the College of Pharmacy.
The community is invited to the ceremony at 2 p.m. at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. The event is free.
The "White Coat Ceremony" is a rite of passage for students entering their first year in the professional program to affirm their commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity and caring.
The students, who will be wearing white consultation coats, will be presented with Hawaiian lei and will recite the "Oath of a Pharmacist" in front of their peers, professors, community and families. The American Pharmacist's Association states that the presentation of the white coat to new students represents their passage into the pharmacy profession with all the opportunities and responsibilities associated with professionalism.
The event also serves as a formal introduction of the 90 students who make up the college's second class. COP seated its inaugural class in fall 2007 and is the only pharmacy school in the Pacific basin.
Current plans call for the addition of 90 students per year for a total of four classes.