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• Monica May- [email protected]

Topics covered:

• White Coat Ceremony
• Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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The excitement was palpable as more than 70 pharmacy students gathered at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences annual White Coat ceremony, eager to officially join the profession. As family, friends and loved ones looked on proudly, the future pharmacists donned their white coat and recited the Oath of a Pharmacist-pledging their dedication to health of humanity, support of diversity and training the next generation of pharmacists.

"This is one of the most impressive classes we have ever had the honor to welcome to our school, with nearly a third recognized as first-generation college students and more than half speaking two or more languages," says Brookie Best, Pharm.D., M.A.S., dean of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. "Pharmacists who can speak the same language as their patients, and reflect the identities of the community they serve, is fundamental to effective healthcare, I can't wait to see what this talented group will accomplish."

During the ceremony the students also heard inspiring remarks from honored guest speaker Rebecca Kandilian, Pharm.D., class of 2014, who was named the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the pharmacy school. Among many accomplishments, she led the creation of several innovative ambulatory care specialty clinics at Kaiser Permanente that are now best practice sites and serve as models for the hospital's other Southern California clinics.

"Embrace your curiosity with passion, ask bold questions, and seize every opportunity, for the field of pharmacy is constantly evolving," said Kandilian in her address to the class. "Most importantly, see the person behind the prescription. Approach each patient with genuine empathy and understanding to deliver care that truly makes a difference."

Read on to meet three of our incoming students, who shared more about why they were drawn to pharmacy as a career and why they chose the Skaggs School of Pharmacy for their training.

Perez proudly poses at the class of 2028 White Coat ceremony.

"Serving as vice president of the pre-pharmacy society at UC San Diego really shaped my undergraduate career," says Perez. "I hope that I can continue to work in a role where I'm helping connect students to resources that help them succeed."

Perez is also eager to dispel common concerns about the seven-year program.

"The curriculum can look intimidating but when you really digest the class load it is accomplishable," says Perez. "Especially if you come in with AP classes already, which many students do.

Navy nuclear technician embarks on new chapter

Ever since he was a young child, Tyler Hurlimann was fascinated by medical science.

"I remember being in 5^th grade and learning about blood first time, including the complexity and level of integration that can occur at that level," shares Hurlimann. "A liquid that was previously scary and associated with pain became something fascinating. It blew my mind."

Hurlimann and his wife at the class of 2028 White Coat ceremony.

"UC San Diego was clearly one of the top pharmacy schools in U.S. and quickly became my number one choice," says Hurlimann. "I also really liked the idea of pass-fail classes. In the Navy, I knew what made you a good sailor wasn't just knowing technical information. It was how you integrated that knowledge into daily practice."

Hurlimann is looking forward to his first year at pharmacy school, especially being able to focus on learning full time and experiencing the curriculum firsthand. He's also delighted he will stay in San Diego for school.

"I've been stationed in many places, but San Diego has my heart," he said. "It's a metropolis and a beach town. It's where I proposed to my wife. I'm delighted I get to pursue my dream career in my dream city."

Pharmacy technician finds home at UC San Diego pharmacy school

As a child, Annabelle Norman recalls always having an innate curiosity about the world around her.

"I was always asking questions about how things work and how we can make things work better," says Norman. "I wanted to make sure I did something with my career that improved the lives of others, and I thought pharmacy would be the right path to achieve that goal."

Norman was especially drawn to the Skaggs School of Pharmacy because of its extremely high pass rate for the California Pharmacist Jurisprudence Exam (CPJE), a licensing exam required by the state of California. UC San Diego is currently the #1 pharmacy school in California based on CPJE scores, with students scoring nearly 20% higher than the state average on the most recent test.

"The CPJE results were very important to me because it is a law-based exam," says Norman. "I wanted to make sure I got the best education possible regarding law-related matters in pharmacy school."

During the interview process, she was also impressed by the school's faculty, the mission to train future leaders in the field, research opportunities, success of previous graduates and the opportunity to explore different career paths.

"Since I have worked in community pharmacy, I am really looking forward to learning about additional fields of pharmacy, especially clinical pharmacy and the drug discovery process," says Norman. "I also can't wait to get started on my research project."

Watch the full White Coat Ceremony on YouTube.