Photos by Paulius Musteikis

On September 29, 2024, the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy’s PharmD Class of 2028 met an important milestone: their White Coat Ceremony. During the ceremony, student pharmacists receive their very own white coat — a symbol of their official welcome into the profession. To commemorate the achievement, and alumni and leaders joined Steve Swanson, dean of the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy, in delivering comments to the Class of 2028, including Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) President Julie Bartell (PharmD ’06), Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) Board of Directors Chair Janet Fritsch (BS ’87), and the 2024 Young Alumnus of the Year Jason Bergsbaken (PharmD ’12). PharmD students shared their voices, too, with speakers Jennifer Velikodanov (third-year PharmD student), president of the Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students (WSPS); Katie Molkentin (third-year PharmD student), Tracy Wang (third-year PharmD student), and Davina Gerber (third-year PharmD student), of the WSPS professionalism team who helped organize the event.

The white coats given during the ceremony, which students will wear throughout their four years at the School of Pharmacy and in clinical rotations, wouldn’t be possible without the generous donations of School of Pharmacy alumni and friends.