Incoming students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College
of Pharmacy received their white coats on Wednesday, Aug. 21, as a symbol
of their entry into the pharmacy profession.
The UNMC College of Pharmacy Alumni Association donated the white coats,
and COPAA President Kelli Coover, Pharm.D., presented the coats to the
64 incoming students. The students began classes Monday, Aug. 26, and are
slated to earn their doctor of pharmacy degrees in the spring of 2006.
By presenting the incoming students with the white coats, we welcome
the students to the profession of pharmacy. We want to instill in them
that their professional development begins now, not when they graduate
in four years, Dr. Coover said. The white coats help the students acknowledge
that they are in a profession in which they should be responsible, ethical
and knowledgeable.
Clarence Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy, welcomed
the students and led them in their professional pledge. Charles Krobot,
Pharm.D., a pharmacy practice instructor, addressed the incoming students
on the concept of professionalism.
Dr. Krobot said to be pharmacy professionals, the students will need
to obtain clinical knowledge and learn how to apply that knowledge. He
said pharmacy professionals must wear appropriate attire and keep a neat,
well-groomed image. They also must be disciplined, deliberate, efficient,
persistent, unflappable, accurate and sensitive, Dr. Krobot said.
Last, and possibly most important, pharmacists must demonstrate the
highest integrity, an uncompromising adherence to a code of values including
sincerity, candor, and honesty, Dr. Krobot said.
The incoming pharmacy students, listed alphabetically by hometown, include:
Albion: Cody Stroh
Alliance: Todd Vaughn,
Bellevue: Kevin DeLong
Big Springs: Lindsey McGreer
Blair: Timothy Sass
Broken Bow: Todd Ahlers
Cambridge: Andrew Sexton
Chadron: Gregory Failla
Columbus: Jessica Korger, Shanna Melliger and Lindsay Mueller
Council Bluffs: Lisa Keathley
David City: Evan Neesen
Dorchester: Krystal Sokolik and Aaron Stutzman
Fordyce: Tamara Loecker
Gering: Laura Walter
Grand Island: Ashley Garrett and Maegan Lange
Greeley: Dana Dutcher
Gurley: Carmen McRoberts,
Kearney: Georgia Lewis and Lesley Liebig
Holdrege: Shawn Walker
Laurel: Jeremy Anderson,
Liberty: Justin Weyer
Lincoln: Micah Jaynes, Amy Johnson, Adam Orsborn and Christine
Wallin
McCook: Lindsay Chance and Danica Hauxwell
Minden: Michala Craig
Nebraska City: Carly Madden
Norfolk: Nelle Balsiger
Omaha: Megan Ahl, Amy Becher, Kristine DeLong, Sara Fonda, Joshua
Hite, Rebecca Wicht and Kathryn Yambor
Ord: Ann Philbrick
Osmond: Gretchen Theisen
Papillion: Pamela Berecek
Pierce: Ellyette Prahl,
Sargent: Tiffany Grause
Schuyler: Eric Novotny and Leslie Steffensmeier
Scottsbluff: Jessica Obermeier
Spalding: Kathleen Molt and Kathryn Molt
Springfield: Scott Coleman
Stratton: Amanda Klemm
Unadilla: Jill Noerrlinger
Wakefield: Maggie Brownell
West Point: Rebecca List and Jonathan Merchen
Other states:
Martinez, Calif.: Melina Ehlers
Gary, Ind.: Dana Moton
St. Louis, Mo.: Lara Huey
Mitchell, S.D.: Brooke Imus
Sioux Falls, S.D.: Jill Hasner
Yankton, S.D.: Brooke Hoesing