KNUST holds second white coat ceremony
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has held its second White Coat ceremony for students who studied for doctorate degrees in Pharmacy in Kumasi.
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The occasion was under the theme: “Impact of the pharm doctor pharmacist on pharmaceutical care”, and it ushered the second batch of Doctorate students in Pharmacy (Pharm D) into their clinical year.
Symbolism of White Coat
The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) course is a six-year programme that was began in the 2012/2013 academic year to replace the traditional four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) programme, as a means of keeping pace with global trends in pharmacy education.
A White Coat ceremony is symbolic; it is also steeped in tradition. On such an occasion, students are officially initiated into clinical training after years of pre-clinical studies. The students are adorned with white coats, the symbol of clinical service and care.
High expectations
The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPPS), Prof. (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson, reminded the students to deliver as was expected of them by their lecturers, parents, guardians, the pharmacy profession and the healthcare team.
She advised the students to put up the right attitude and stay committed to the virtues of the profession.
Overview
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) and acting Rector of the Ghana College of Pharmacists, Mr Benjamin Kwame Botwe, traced the growth of the pharmacy profession and recounted the conscious efforts leaders in the profession globally had made over the years to review the role of pharmacists and make the profession more patient-oriented and friendly to the public.
He said this paradigm shift began with the advent of machines during the industrial revolution and development of the pharmaceutical industry, resulting in the production of pre-mixed drugs and stable pharmaceutical preparations.
Continuous professional development
Mr Botwe advised the Doctorate of Pharmacy students to undertake continuous professional development programmes available at the Ghana College of Pharmacists after their induction into full practice and publish research findings in local and international journals to contribute to the world body of knowledge of pharmacy and health.
In a message read for him, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso, applauded the support from stakeholders, both internal and external, towards the success of the profession.
He said the university and faculty had invested in infrastructure to construct additional classrooms, laboratories and related model practice centres to give the course of study more advantages.
A professor of pharmacy practice and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Frances Owusu-Daaku, led the process of “Gowning” the students, which was performed by a section of lecturers, parents, preceptors and dignitaries.