UH Hilo pharmacy college: White Coat Ceremony welcomes Class of 2027
The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition in medical, pharmacy, and other health care schools to mark the transition of students embarking on their path toward doctoral degrees.
First-year pharmacy students at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo took their Oath of a Pharmacist at the annual White Coat Ceremony held Oct. 22, 2023. The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition in medical, pharmacy, and other health care schools to mark the transition of students embarking on their path toward doctoral degrees. The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy event was held at Hale Kiho‘iho‘i, where the college is housed.
The Class of 2027, their families and friends along with faculty from the college, were welcomed to the event by UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin and the college’s Interim Dean Miriam Mobley Smith, who both talked about the valuable roles that pharmacists play in delivering quality healthcare to their communities.
Bindu Sheth, healthcare supervisor of pharmacy and retail operations for Walgreens, addressed the group and shared three recommendations for being successful in studies and future careers in pharmacy: find a mentor, find your passion and get involved, and collaborate within the profession.
The keynote speaker was UH Hilo alumnus Prabu Segaran (PharmD, 2013), who now serves as ambulatory care clinical pharmacist for Kaiser Permanente on Maui. He challenged the student pharmacists to study more than just intellectually by taking advantage of fieldtrips and outings, recalling the value of an excursion to Molokai that he participated in during his time at the college.
Segaran also emphasized the value of play and exploration during the four years of study by making connections with fellow students and forming social bonds through participation in fraternities or simply seeing more of the island. He encouraged students to be of service to the college, the community, and the profession by taking leadership roles while in school and beyond.
Related stories
UH Hilo pharmacy building wins award for culturally inspired design
