Class of 2029 Touro College of Pharmacy Welcomed to the Profession at White Coat Ceremony

The cloaking took place at ceremonies held March 11 at a national historic landmark - The Town Hall - just a short walk from the school’s Times Square labs and lecture halls. In welcoming remarks, TCOP Dean Dr. Henry Cohen called the ritual cloaking the “key symbolic act of a healer’s education.”  

By the end of the 19^th and 20^th centuries, the Dean explained, medicine had evolved into more of a scientific enterprise and its “pureness” became institutionalized and reflected in the dress and white uniforms of health care workers including pharmacists.

“So, students, you will soon be donning your white coats, which will become a lifelong symbol and daily reminder of your commitment to science and patient care,” said the Dean.

Providing More than Expertise – “Humanity”

Before the cloaking and the taking of professional oaths, students heard a personal reflection from Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at Mount Sinai Health Systems, Joseph Pinto. He shared a story from a counseling session early in his career that he said he’s never forgotten -- with a young adult patient who had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about to receive his first chemotherapy regimen.

“I remember seeing the look on his face. It was fear, the kind that comes when someone realizes their life has suddenly changed,” he recalled. “That experience changed how I thought about pharmacy and the impact I can have. Because sometimes the most important thing we provide is not just medication expertise. It’s humanity.”

Afterwards, the students shared that they were moved by the speakers’ remarks and by walking across the stage to receive their white coats, meeting their classmates’ families, and celebrating the moment with their families.

“After being cloaked and taking the oath (of a pharmacist) it felt like I got one step closer to becoming a pharmacist,” said Ahmadjon Samadjonov, a graduate of CUNY’s Hunter College who majored in biochemistry and worked as a pharmacy technician at CVS. Upon admission to TCOP, he received three scholarship awards – a Dean’s Scholarship for his  undergraduate academic performance, a Community Pharmacy Scholarship for his experience, and another scholarship in recognition of resuming his education after being away from school for a few years.

After earning his PharmD, Samadjonov said he’d like to work either as an ambulatory care or community pharmacist, though he’s also becoming interested in R&D. “Pharmacists that work in this field can develop drugs and make changes on a global level.”

“A Meaningful Moment”

Alexis Palumbo, who received a Walgreen’s Inclusion Award Scholarship, said receiving her white coat was a meaningful moment that reinforced her commitment to patient care, lifelong learning and professionalism.

“It symbolizes the responsibility we have as future pharmacists to serve as a final safeguard in medication safety and it motivated me to continue growing in the field,” she said.

A Susquehanna University graduate, Palumbo finished with dual B.S. degrees in Biomedical Sciences and ACS-Certified Chemistry and is interested in pursuing a residency in ambulatory care.

“I’ve always been drawn to the complexity of pharmacy and the vital role pharmacists play in patient care,” she said. “I value building long-term relationships with patients and helping manage chronic conditions.”

Joelle McCalla received a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Technology in Jamaica, where she was born and raised.

“Pharmacy embodies one of my purposes – to help – and the profession has always been of great interest as it goes beyond preparing and dispensing medications. Practicing in Jamaica helped me to make an impact in the healthcare system and be of influence in the health industry.”

McCalla reflected that the White Coat ceremony, her second, motivated her to continue her career plans to become a pharmacist and healthcare professional.

“It was symbolic of the responsibility I commit to, and made everything feel so real. I felt proud and motivated,” she said.