Jim Szatkowski, jszatkowski@neoucom.edu, (330) 325-6673
2007-08-24

WHAT: Students in the inaugural class of the College of Pharmacy at NEOUCOM will receive white coats in a ceremony symbolizing their entry into pharmacy school. In addition, first-year medical students will be presented their white coats at a separate ceremony. Students in the College of Medicine have participated in an annual white coat ceremony since 1995.

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29. The ceremony for pharmacy students begins at 10 a.m. and the ceremony for medical students begins at 2 p.m.

WHERE: The Great Hall of the Ralph Regula Conference and Event Center on the NEOUCOM campus.

WHO: There will be 75 pharmacy students in the inaugural class and 122 medical students. Both classes are expected to graduate in 2011. Noted faculty members, outstanding members of the professional pharmacy community and accomplished senior medical students will be among those placing coats on the first-year students.
         In addition, two outstanding members of the pharmacy and medicine communities will be at the events:
         Barry Klein, M.S., R.Ph., owner of the Klein's Pharmacy stores in Summit County, will receive the first Dean's Leadership Award, presented by David Allen, R.Ph., Ph.D., FASHP, dean of the College of Pharmacy. Dean Allen will also address the class.
         William G. Gardner, M.D., MACP, a research professor and former chair of internal medicine at NEOUCOM, and a consulting professor of community and family medicine at Duke University, will be the featured speaker at the medicine White Coat ceremony.
          The inaugural pharmacy White Coat ceremony is provided through the generous support of CVS/pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: White coats are symbolic of the professionalism that is expected of students during medical and pharmacy school, and as physicians and pharmacists. This ceremony reaffirms the community's support of the educational process, and students pledge their commitment to their professions and to the health of the patients they will serve. The white coat placed on each student is more than a familiar lab coat - it is a cloak of competence, communication, caring, character and community, guiding principals NEOUCOM holds dear. This day is celebrated by students, their families, alumni, faculty and staff.

PHOTO AND VIDEO: The ceremonies are visual events similar to commencements, with students receiving coats on stage and opportunities for candid shots with their families.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit http://www.neoucom.edu/audience/students/events/whitecoat

          The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy are community-based, public institutions focused on the interdisciplinary training of health professionals, offering both a doctor of medicine (M.D.) and a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The colleges' educational partners include teaching hospitals, community pharmacies, two boards of health and four northeast Ohio public universities. Through these and other collaborative arrangements, the colleges participate in the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health program and offer graduate-level coursework and research opportunities leading to master's and doctoral degrees in biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering.