Pharmacy Students Celebrate Milestone at White Coat Ceremony

Family connections inspired many members of the Jefferson College of Pharmacy Class of 2028 to pursue the field and earn their PharmD.

For instance, student Karam Alsabbagh’s pharmacist uncle would assist his Syrian family in navigating the complex healthcare world.

“Coming from an immigrant family, it was often difficult to contact a doctor,” Alsabbagh says. “He would always help us with medication or any information we needed. The pharmacist is the middleman between the physician and patient.”

Classmate Kayla Cavanaugh saw her grandfather sometimes struggle with managing his heart medication. Pharmacists guided him through the process. “Pharmacy has been his first line in interacting with the healthcare team,” she says. “They’re that bridge for the community.”

And student Leslie Portillo provided an extra set of eyes for her grandparents as they managed their diabetes when they lived with her. She watched them take their glucose levels and double-checked that they had the proper amount of insulin in the pen.

Alsabbagh, Cavanaugh and Portillo were among those honored at the College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony on Oct. 18. The event, which capped off a day of pharmacy-related activities around campus, featured comments from University leadership and experts, students reciting “The Oath of a Pharmacist” and a symbolic coating ceremony.

In her welcome at the Hamilton Building, Dr. Mary Hess stressed the day’s importance during American Pharmacists Month and how it represented the formal introduction of student pharmacists to the public.

“The white coat is a visible sign and symbolizes the highest ideals of the practice of pharmacy,” says Dr. Hess, College of Pharmacy interim dean. “You should wear your white coat with pride for the hard work you’re putting forth. You’re perceived as a professional with knowledge, expertise and ethics and as an individual your patients and community will trust.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Erin Fox stressed advocacy as a professional obligation to the new class sitting in the front rows of Connolly Auditorium.

“I want you to pay attention to one of the lines in ‘The Oath of a Pharmacist,’ which is, ‘I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care,’” says Dr. Fox, associate chief pharmacy officer of shared services at University of Utah Health. “Advocate is in ‘The Oath of the Pharmacist.’ Where would we be if we didn’t have others advocating along the way?”

For example, pharmacists didn’t give immunizations when Dr. Fox graduated from school. “Today, it’s commonplace,” she says. “That’s advocacy.”

Following Dr. Fox’s address, Jefferson’s Dr. Brian Swift discussed the pharmacist’s role in the opioid crisis caused by the rapid proliferation of illicitly made fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids.

He reminded students—who received Narcan medication to have on hand should they encounter someone experiencing an opioid overdose—that their job isn’t to condone or support drug abuse but to provide a safety mechanism.

“As a trusted and valued member of the healthcare team, you will have numerous opportunities to impart your wisdom and become involved with helping those who need us most,” says the associate dean for professional affairs and clinical professor.

Pharmacy student Kathy Nguyen accepts the challenge ahead and plans to enter the community setting. She says she gained a love for the field as a CVS pharmacy technician, which allowed her to expand her skillset and “grow as a person” to help others.

Fellow student Jawaid Popal also shares this excitement for the next four years. He wants to advocate for patients to be able to receive medication. Currently, insurance impacts their access if something isn’t covered. Popal says he could help by advocating for a change in that process.

Earlier in the day, drug shortages took center stage at a symposium attended by pharmacy faculty and students from all years. Pharmacy practitioners with expertise in managing drug shortages within healthcare systems covered the reasons for the shortages, how they can disrupt the medication use process and strategies to mitigate the effects of shortages on patient care.

The timely 90-minute talk and Q&A—presented by Drs. Fox; Ravy Douglass, medication safety officer for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health; and Tyler Nichols, clinical pharmacy specialist in medication use policy at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania—showed how a natural disaster like Hurricane Helene could cause a national IV fluid shortage.