On Friday, November 7, PCOM Georgia hosted two White Coat Ceremonies to celebrate the achievements of the Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2029 and Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2027 as they advance to the next chapter of their healthcare education journey.
The day began with a ceremony honoring first-year Doctor of Pharmacy students as they received their white coats and furthered their commitment to patient care and their profession.
Pharmacy Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Sara Reece, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES, FCCP, spoke about the significance of the white coat during her opening remarks:
“It is more than just a uniform. It represents a commitment to patient care, ethics
and lifelong learning. It's a symbol of trust,” she said. As the pharmacy industry
continues to evolve with new therapies, technologies and practices, Reece encouraged
her students to stay curious and humble.
Other speakers included Jennifer Sain, healthcare supervisor of Walgreens Pharmacy, along with Dr. Brandon Jerome, director of Medical Value & Outcomes at Sanofi, and second-year pharmacy student Chassity Carrion (PharmD '28).
After donning his white coat, David Uzonwanne (PharmD '29), reflected on the occasion: “For me, this is the first step in achieving my childhood dream of becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy. It represents all the sacrifices and hard work needed to make it to where I am now at PCOM.”
That afternoon, second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students received their white coats, with all twenty-five students having completed their first full year of rotations.
Interim Chair of the Physical Therapy program, Shelley DiCecco, PT, PHD, CLT-LANA, CI-CS, presided over the ceremony, along with speakers Brian Mann, EdD, MS, PA-C, dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences, Class Presidents, Keilan Hulan (DPT '27) and Grace Wolf (DPT '27), and Marine infantry veteran and graduate from the Class of 2023, Austin Pack, PT, DPT, CSCS.
“Service is woven into the very identity of physical therapy,” said Dr. DiCecco, and acknowledged that serving others, volunteering one's skills and educating the next generation are fundamental responsibilities for those pursuing a career in healthcare.
With the white coats serving as a reminder of their commitments, the students are well suited to serve with skill and integrity in their healthcare journeys.
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Joy Williford
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: joyde@pcom.edu
Office: 470-572-7558
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