The faculty, staff, and administration of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy are pleased to welcome the Class of 2029 as well as their families and friends to this important occasion. The annual White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that marks the beginning of a student’s professional studies in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. While this is undoubtedly an exciting time for incoming students and their families, the White Coat Ceremony is a solemn occasion. As you celebrate with us today at the White Coat Ceremony, we ask that you honor the significance of this event as students formally and publicly accept the challenges that lie before them on their professional journey.

Today, students will wear their white coats for the first time and pledge their commitment to the lifestyle, attitudes, and behaviors befitting a healthcare professional. Such a commitment involves effort, sacrifice, and dedication; it should not be entered into lightly. Worn to classes, labs, and practical training experiences, the white coat serves as a constant reminder of the responsibilities our student pharmacists must embrace as critical members of healthcare teams whose primary concerns are the health, comfort, and welfare of humanity.

During the next four years, your encouragement and enthusiasm will be invaluable to our students—your loved ones—as the path they have chosen is certainly not an easy one. We congratulate you and the incoming students on their dedication to a most worthwhile and satisfying profession. We look forward to getting to know our new class of students and enjoying their successes along the way.