On Aug. 20, 147 of the 148 students in the PharmD Class of 2030 received their white coats during the school's 24^th annual White Coat Ceremony, held at the Center for the Arts on UB's North Campus. The cohort is among the largest entering PharmD classes in the school’s history. Sponsored by Tops and Walgreens, the event brought together students, family members, faculty and staff to celebrate the start of their professional pharmacy education. 

As one of the first major milestones in the PharmD program, the White Coat Ceremony emphasizes the responsibilities of the profession and the impact pharmacists have on the patients and communities they serve.

During the Calling of the Class, Nicole Albanese, PharmD ’01, assistant dean of student success and engagement and clinical professor of pharmacy practice, recognized each student as they crossed the stage to receive their white coat.

“Today marks your formal transition to being a professional doctoral student,” said Gary Pollack, PhD, dean, UB SPPS. “With a shared commitment to patients, families and communities, your white coat is a visible symbol of the profession you are entering, and of the trust that will be placed in you.”

The ceremony also featured a keynote address from Raelea Derylak, PharmD ’25, Pharmacy Emerging Leader Pharmacist at CVS Pharmacy.  Reflecting on her own journey from pharmacy student to practitioner, Derylak encouraged students to approach their pharmacy education with curiosity, resilience and a willingness to learn from every experience.

“The greatest lesson won’t come from a classroom or a textbook,” said Derylak. “You’ll learn resilience after your toughest exam. You’ll learn humility when you realize medicine is always evolving. You’ll learn confidence the first time a patient thanks you for making a difference. And you’ll learn that being a pharmacist is about far more than just medications—it’s about earning trust during some of the most vulnerable moments in someone's life.”

Before classes began, incoming PharmD students gathered Aug. 20-21 for a two-day orientation introducing the academic, professional and experiential components of the program. Students connected with faculty, staff and classmates while learning about key resources and support available throughout their PharmD journey. Sessions covered professional conduct, communication, experiential education, advising and mentoring, and included an Oath of a Pharmacist activity and Narcan training to reinforce the values and responsibilities of the profession.

Incoming pharmaceutical sciences graduate students participated in a separate orientation on Aug. 21 to prepare them for graduate study and research. Programming included introductions to school leadership, research lab tours, a faculty meet-and-greet session, a current student panel on strategies for success, and tours of the Pharmacy Building and UB Libraries at Abbott Hall. Throughout the day, students learned about the curriculum, research environment and resources available to support their academic and professional development.

Undergraduate students in pre-pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences were also introduced to the SPPS community through orientation programming on Aug. 21, held as part of the broader UB undergraduate experience. Sessions included student success and goal-setting workshops along with opportunities to learn about the resources and support available within SPPS.

Together, the orientation programs helped students build connections, explore campus resources and prepare for a successful start to the academic year.

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences marked the first day of classes on Aug. 24 with the opening of Café & Commons, a newly renovated dining and community space in the Pharmacy Building designed to support student connection, collaboration and well-being.

Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the café offers convenient grab-and-go food and beverage options for the South Campus community. An adjacent recreation space, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., provides opportunities for students to unwind between classes with games including air hockey and foosball.

The renovation also included the installation of new wall graphics throughout the Pharmacy Building, creating a more vibrant and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. From grabbing a quick meal to taking a break between classes, Café & Commons creates new opportunities for students to connect, recharge and build community in the Pharmacy Building. The school is grateful to its university partners and facilities team for their collaboration in bringing the project to life.