CPHS Welcomes Newest Classes of Healthcare Professionals During Coating Ceremonies
Friday, August 30th, 2024
Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) recently welcomed their newest cohorts of professional students: the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Class of 2028, the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Class of 2027, the Masters of Athletic Training Class of 2026, and the Nursing Class of 2025, the first cohort of the brand-new program.
The College continued its tradition of formally inducting the incoming students through its White and Blue Coat Ceremonies. Since 1988, these ceremonies have marked the beginning of a journey for Drake CPHS students in our professional programs.
The four ceremonies were held on Friday, Aug. 23, in Sheslow Auditorium. Students were each presented with their coat and name tag. Together, each cohort recited their pledge of professionalism before their families, friends, and the CPHS faculty and staff.
PharmD and Nursing students received traditional white coats, and OTD and MAT students received symbolic blue coats. For OTD students, the blue coat honors the pioneers of the occupational therapy profession, who wore slate blue uniforms when they served in World War I over a century ago. For MAT students, a sporty blue windbreaker was chosen for its appropriateness and practicality for the athletic training profession as students enter clinical rotations.
Erik Maki, dean of CPHS, provided opening remarks for each of the four ceremonies. Michael Nelson, CPHS assistant dean of affairs, served as the marshal. Chuck Phillips, CPHS associate dean of curriculum and assessment, announced each student by name, hometown, and coat donor as they walked the stage to receive their blue or white coats for the first time.
Pharmacy students heard remarks and advice from Olivia Kube, a 2025 PharmD candidate. The PharmD students also received a professional greeting from Kate Gainer, the CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association. Gainer led the PharmD students in reciting the Professional Pledge of a Student Pharmacist.
Nursing students were given a professional introduction into their program by Lance Schmitt, chief nursing officer and president of nursing at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines.
Occupational therapy students heard remarks and advice from Paige Fernety, a 2025 OTD candidate, and a professional welcome from Abi Swidergal, the OTA program director and associate professor at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill. Swidergal led the students in reciting the Professional Pledge of an Occupational Therapy Student.
Athletic training students were given remarks and advice by Sami Miller, a 2025 AT candidate. The athletic training students also received a professional speech from Melanie Mason, health and movement science department chair at Graceland University.
“We are so excited to welcome these new students into our professional programs and we look forward to supporting them throughout their journey here at Drake,” Dean Maki noted following this year’s ceremonies.
The academic performance and demographics of the four new classes reflect Drake’s intent to maintain high academic standards for admitted students, recruit diverse cohorts, and attract students from a wide range of geographic locations. Across the four cohorts, more than 75 percent of students identify as female. The classes are also geographically diverse with students coming from 19 different states including Virginia, Texas, Puerto Rico, Idaho, Colorado, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Arkansas, California, Oregon and internationally, joining students from Iowa and surrounding states.
