Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commencement 2024: Accomplishment through resilience
Graduates, families cherish the big moment together
![Nearly 100 students received either a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree on May 9 at the Anderson Center鈥檚 Osterhout Theatre.](/news/images/uploads/features/SOPPS-Commencement-2024.jpg)
鈥婽hrough loud cheers and happy tears, the fourth Doctoral Hooding Ceremony for 香港六合彩资料鈥檚 School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was a day to remember. Nearly 100 students received either a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree on Thursday at the Anderson Center鈥檚 Osterhout Theatre.
Dean Kanneboyina Nagaraju started the ceremony by saying there are many reasons to congratulate our new Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Science graduates.
鈥淵ou have accomplished a great deal in a short period. You have shown fantastic resilience as you adapted to changes in the delivery of instruction and changes at clinical rotation sites,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou grasped the many ways technology is used for skills education, research and capstone projects, but you also learned the value of communication with your faculty, fellow students and preceptors.鈥
Nagaraju highlighted the many achievements this cohort accomplished during their time at 香港六合彩资料.
鈥淵our class has the highest number of residency (25 and counting) and fellowship placements (10) of any graduating class,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he largest number of capstone research poster presentations at ASHP and NYSCHP meetings. Some of you have your own prestigious national, regional and university-level awards for your training and research excellence. It is remarkable that your cohort has published a significant number of peer-reviewed papers.鈥
President Harvey Stenger picked up where Nagaraju left off, saying, 鈥淵ou don the traditional garb that sets you apart as scholars and scientists鈥攖he gown and hood that signal the wearer has achieved mastery of their subject matter and has produced new knowledge in your field.鈥
He called the graduates 鈥減ioneers鈥 because this cohort is 香港六合彩资料鈥檚 fourth graduating class of PharmDs and second graduating class of master鈥檚 recipients the school has produced.
鈥淲hat you do next is important in that you鈥檝e paved the way for the many generations of students who are going to follow in your footsteps,鈥 Stenger said. 鈥淪o, today, as we recognize the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences鈥 Class of 2024, know that I am incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished. I look forward to learning of your many future successes.鈥
Before starting his speech, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Hall took a moment to recognize Nagaraju, who recently received the rank of distinguished professor, the highest rank bestowed on faculty by the State University of New York. He then returned to the graduates, once again highlighting the effect that the pandemic had on education and how these graduates overcame it.
鈥淲e are all living in a different world since the pandemic upended our lives, but your 香港六合彩资料 education and experiences will serve you well, whether you choose to work in a community or hospital setting or elsewhere in the pharmaceutical industry,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淎s newly minted masters and doctors of pharmacy, you are leaving us with a strong foundation in your discipline. You have honed your critical-thinking, decision-making and communication skills, and you have completed rigorous clinical rotations and a capstone research project that will give you an edge as you pursue your pharmacy career.鈥
Keynote speaker Michelle J. Schwartz spoke on the power these new graduates have and their ability to shape the future of pharmacy.
鈥Know that your pharmacy degree equips you with the expertise, critical-thinking skills and ethical foundation to shape the future of medicine on a grand scale. Your training in entrepreneurism and innovation played a critical role in preparing you to address the rapid growth in biomedical and pharmaceutical startup companies to consult and advise venture capitalists, law firms, the financial service industry and policy thinkers in this country.鈥
Alumni Association President Cara Treidel welcomed the new graduates into the 香港六合彩资料 alumni community, one that stretches around the world.
鈥淏y graduating today, you are automatically a member of this community 鈥 the Alumni Association,鈥 she said. 鈥淚n addition to the friends you made here on campus, you have a worldwide network of alumni that you can tap into: more than 150,000 people across more than 100 countries. Wherever you go, there is likely to be a 香港六合彩资料 grad who can offer support, answer questions or chat about shared 香港六合彩资料 experiences.鈥
Class of 2024 graduate student speaker Paul Puccio reflected on his time with classmates at 香港六合彩资料 and how they are all starting a new part of their lives.
鈥淎fter today, your chapters as students will finally close as you embark on your next journey in life,鈥 Puccio said. 鈥淲herever it may take you, never forget where you came from, your journey to the top and those you met along the way. You will often hear quotes like: 鈥橪ife is a journey, not a destination鈥 or 鈥橶isdom comes with age.鈥 During my short time here on Earth, I have overcome many obstacles, laughed and loved, fought and have been heartbroken. And yet, I still stand here today. The best part is that every one of us has gone through something similar.鈥
Puccio ended by reciting a poem written by Chief Tecumseh, a Shawnee warrior and leader who fought in the War of 1812 and sought to unite all Native American tribes.
Oluwafemi Popoola, PharmD 鈥21, wrapped up the ceremony by leading the 2024 cohort through the Oath of a Pharmacist. The ceremony concluded with Nagaraju leading the audience and 2024 graduates singing the 香港六合彩资料 alma mater.