White Coat Ceremony at QU
The first ever pharmacy program in Qatar lived a moment of history at Qatar University on Sunday, October 28, 2007 when 20 students in the Class of 2011 recited the oath of a pharmacist at a ceremony.
The first ever pharmacy program in Qatar lived a moment of history at Qatar University on Sunday, October 28, 2007 when 20 students in the Class of 2011 recited the oath of a pharmacist at a ceremony.
"Tonight is a truly a special occasion. For tonight, we will hold the first White Coat Ceremony for the first class of the first pharmacy program in the state of Qatar. This is a very special event for this country... and this occasion has been made even more special by the fact that you are all here to share in this celebration with us," Pharmacy program head Dr Peter Jewesson welcomed the audience.
QU president Professor Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad in her remarks described the BSc pharmacy degree program as an example of the university's dedication to serve the country. "This was just an idea five years ago," she said adding that this program would support the healthcare sector, which is undergoing major development.
Then Pharmacy program head, Dr. Peter Jewesson, described the ceremony as the start of a tradition that underscores the students' commitment to a profession that hopes to provide safe and effective care to the people they serve.
He pointed out that pharmacy has been voted, in North American public opinion polls, as the most ethical and trusted profession for more than two decades.
In the US alone, a projected shortfall of over 150,000 pharmacists is predicted by 2020, Dr Jewesson told the gathering, saying that this program virtually guarantees employment for life to the graduates.
He went on to say, "Our objective is to graduate '7 Star pharmacists,' as defined by the World Health Organization, who would be caregivers, decision makers, communicators, leaders, managers, teachers, and lifelong learners."
Dr Jewesson also announced that QU has initiated the process to accredit the pharmacology program with the Canadian Council of Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs, to provide an internationally benchmarked standard.
In a moving moment, faculty members Dr. Maguy El Hajj, Dr. Nadir Kheir, Manal Zaidan, Dr. Husam Younes, and Dr. Kerry Wilbur draped the white coats on the future graduates followed by the 'Oath of a Pharmacist,' which was recited by the students in both English and Arabic.
It was an evening of joy and pride-for the 20 students, their parents, the pharmacy program members and the whole QU community. |  |
