What does a white coat mean? In pharmacy, the White Coat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that welcomes students into the profession and symbolizes their commitment to serving patients and their communities. Each fall, a new class of Doctor of Pharmacy students join the University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the White Coat Ceremony marks the official beginning of their PharmD journey. This year, surrounded by family, friends, faculty and mentors, 111 students in the Class of 2030 took that next step.Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Professor Michael Wolcott, PharmD, opened the ceremony by expressing gratitude to the families, loved ones, mentors, faculty and staff who support the students’ journey.
“This moment signifies the transition into our community and represents your commitment to serve the patients who have trusted you with their care,” Dr. Wolcott said.
The Class of 2030 represents a diverse range of backgrounds and lived experiences. Of the 111 students, 60 are from Colorado and 51 are from across the country. Twenty-seven are the first in their families to complete a college degree. The class ranges in age from 19 to 45, with a mean age of 26. Some have research experience, some are making the move from a pharmacy technician to a pharmacist, and all are here to dive in, create change, and pursue excellence.
Dean Brian Tsuji, PharmD, encouraged students to recognize the people and experiences that brought them to this moment, framing his remarks around three themes: people, purpose and profession.
“Behind every one of you here today are your parents, your partners, your grandparents, your siblings, friends, mentors and loved ones,” Dean Tsuji said. “These are your people. This is our community. Remember them.”
Dean Tsuji also challenged the new learners to remember why they chose pharmacy and the responsibility that comes with entering a profession that reaches virtually every community.
“Use what you will learn in the next four years to make someone’s life better and to improve their care because our patients and our people are our purpose,” he said. “Never lose sight of the patient behind the prescription, the infusion or the recommendation that you will give.”
Dean Tsuji emphasized the breadth of opportunities available to pharmacists, from hospitals and clinics to community pharmacy, research, public health, industry, education and entrepreneurship. As advances in biologics, cell and gene therapy, artificial intelligence and precision medicine continue to reshape health care, he encouraged the Class of 2030 to imagine the possibilities ahead.
“Dream big, think differently, stay curious, pursue excellence, and never underestimate what you can do,” he said.
Faculty speaker Meghan Jeffres, PharmD, associate professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and recipient of the 2026 Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award, brought the class to its feet with an interactive look at the many paths a PharmD can open. Students stood to identify interests ranging from infectious disease, oncology and pharmacogenomics to medical writing, informatics, entrepreneurship, leadership, research and quality improvement.
Her message was clear; pharmacy is a profession with room for many different passions and strengths.
“A Doctor of Pharmacy degree from CU will unlock many doors. Which doors you walk through while wearing this white coat is up to you,” Dr. Jeffres told the students.
Recent alumna Anna Figueroa, who graduated from the PharmD program in 2025 and is now pursuing a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences at CU Anschutz Pharmacy, offered the class a more personal perspective on what lies ahead.
Dr. Figueroa shared that she entered pharmacy school questioning whether she belonged. Despite academic and research successes, she experienced setbacks and moments of self-doubt throughout her training. Those experiences, she said, ultimately became some of her most important lessons.
“Resilience is not something you are born with. It’s something that you work on, you build over time,” Figueroa said.
She encouraged students to view pharmacy school not simply as a curriculum, but as a community supported by mentors, colleagues, faculty and staff.
“The difficult moments are not interruptions in the journey. The difficult moments are the journey,” she said.
As the Class of 2030 received their white coats, students took an important step into their professional journey. The coats symbolize their commitment to the patients and communities they will serve, and the possibilities that await them.
Four years from now, the students will leave CU Pharmacy as PharmD graduates. But, as Dean Tsuji reminded them, their journey will extend far beyond the degree.
“Remember your people. Remember your purpose. And remember and embrace the incredible possibilities of your profession,” Tsuji said. “Your journey is just beginning.”
Video created by Alicia Facer, CU Anschutz Pharmacy.
