Pharmacy Students Begin Professional Phase of Program with White Coat Ceremony

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Dean Barbara Wells helps James Jelks of Centreville with his white coat. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

OXFORD, Miss. – The School of Pharmacy welcomed its Doctor
of Pharmacy class of 2011 recently with its annual white
coat ceremony at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

The white coat is the universal symbol of professionalism
in the health care professions, and the ceremony is a way
of formally recognizing and fostering students’ commitment
to professionalism, said Barbara G. Wells, dean of the
pharmacy school.

“The white coat ceremony is a celebration that is filled
with symbolism, which serves to remind students of their
responsibilities to patients and to their profession,”
Wells said. “It presents the quest for professionalism as a
lifelong journey that begins now but is never completed.
The ceremony illuminates their responsibility to work to
enhance the length and quality of life of patients, and it
also underscores our commitment to prepare students to
become competent practitioners, leaders and change agents.”

 




Alice Clark, vice chancellor for research and sponsored
programs, welcomed the students. Also participating in the
ceremony were H. Joseph Byrd, associate dean for clinical
affairs; Marvin C. Wilson, associate dean for academic and
student affairs; Jon Jackson, president of the Pharmacy
Student Body; and Michael L. Warren, clinical assistant
professor.

 

The students recited a pledge of professionalism, led by
John P. Juergens, coordinator of student professional
development; Jillian J. Foster, president of the
Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists; and Pearl
Wales, treasurer of the Magnolia State Pharmaceutical
Society. Students then signed a copy of the pledge and
received their coats from Wells.

First professional year student Donan Boggess of Hernando
said she is excited about the upcoming year.

“I am excited to be starting on the path of becoming a
pharmacist,” she said. “This career will give me the
opportunity to help others, and that is very important to
me. Pharmacy will also allow me to incorporate my love for
volunteerism.”

Mississippi students participating in the ceremony include
Leigh Ann Clifton of Ashland; Nga Ngyuen of Biloxi; Bonnie
Blankenship of Booneville; Megan McKenzie of Brandon; Jill
Styron of Braxton; Lindsay Rogers and Laura Smith, both of
Brookhaven; Corey Wilder of Carthage; Jamie and Ash Jelks,
both of Centreville; Stephen Porter of Clinton; Vera Hreish
of Columbus; Curt Butler of Corinth; Jeff Perry, Samantha
Rester and James Roberts, all of Florence; Lindsey Collins
of Fulton; Emily Melton of Greenville; Hillary Freeman and
Carrie Reed, both of Greenwood; Rosemary Call, Connie Lam,
Brandi Oakes and Carrie Waits, all of Gulfport; Jeffry
Miller of Holly Springs; Chelsea Bates of Horn Lake; Aftan
Henley and Kristen Parker, both of Jackson; Hanna Kovalenko
of Lake Cormorant; David Tiner of Laurel; Emily Shoff of
Madison; Sabrina McGee of McCool; Madalyn Ivy of Meridian;
Sam Myers of Mississippi State; Chris Wilkerson of Moss
Point; Whitney Carr and Katy Anna Richardson, both of New
Albany;

Lucy Cadwallader of Ocean Springs; Kristen Carter of Olive
Branch; Eli Hilton, Kirby McClain, Keri Mills, Alice
Morgan, Molly Rector and Debbie Yang, all of Oxford; Jeramy
Downs of Pascagoula; Tori Terrell of Pass Christian; Dee
Norwood of Pelahatchie; Matt Hill of Petal; Lindsey Tillman
and Miriam Webb, both of Philadelphia; Shaquilla Gates of
Prairie; Teresa McClain, Sarah Needham and Kristin Peeler,
all of Ripley; LeAnn Malone, Clay Powell and Nathan Rucker,
all of Southaven; Mary Brandon Norman of Sumrall; Danielle
Barrows and Liz Krason, both of Tupelo; AJ Chesney, Marley
Smith and Robyn Watts, all of Union; Thirston Divinity of
Utica; Ron Welch of Vaiden; Laura Cialone and Casey Trest,
both of Vicksburg; Brent Crenshaw of Walls; and Matt Dabbs
of Waynesboro.

Out-of-state students include Lee Davis of Enterprise,
Ala., Molly Grimsley of Fayette, Ala., Jonathan Peeden of
Oxford, Ala., Megan Stoiber of Little Rock, Ark., Kim Keeth
of Pensacola, Fla., Lana Malkovich of Benton, Ill., Lissa
Shudak of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Addy Stone of Goreville,
Ill., Brian LeBaron of Harahan, La., Lesley Lukinovich of
Marrero, La., Will Graugnard of Thibodaux, La., Brian
McCrate of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Ross Merideth of Sikeston,
Mo., George Cibulas of Germantown, Tenn., Allison
Weddington of Gleason, Tenn., Catherine Black and Liz
Langenfelder, both of Memphis, Tenn., and Cliff Hendley of
Houston, Texas.

For more information on the School of Pharmacy, go to


http://www.pharmacy.olemiss.edu