School of Pharmacy Celebrates the Class of 2012 at Convocation

Nearly 160 PharmD and PhD students receive degrees and start the next phase of their lives

By Becky Ceraul
May 21, 2012

On May 18, family, friends, faculty, preceptors, and staff watched proudly as the School of Pharmacy’s newest Doctors of Pharmacy walked across the stage at the School’s annual convocation ceremony held at the Baltimore Convention Center to receive their doctoral hoods.

In her opening remarks, Dean Eddington told the Class of 2012 that they hold a special place at the School as the bridge between the old and new Pharmacy Hall, opened in the fall of 2010, and the curriculum they came in under and a revised curriculum launched in the fall of their third year. “The perseverance you showed in navigating our changing curriculum and in dealing with the disruptions of a major construction project will serve you well as you now navigate the changing health care landscape and the job market.”

“Individually, many of you experienced changes in your life during the last four years. Thirteen of you got married while in school. Some became parents – there were 10 babies born to the members of this class. Some of you overcame obstacles and hurdles such as illnesses that threatened to derail your educational dreams. Others may have questioned their decisions to pursue pharmacy – especially as the curriculum progressed and the stress increased,” she said.

“But none of you gave up. In fact, many of you pursued additional opportunities such as internships, dual degrees, community service projects, and leadership roles in student government and professional organizations.”

Eddington told that graduates that convocation is indeed a celebration of all they have accomplished but also a celebration of the future. “I personally see today as the beginning of a celebration of what is to come for each of you as members of one of the most rewarding professions,” she said.

Before presenting each graduate with their doctoral hoods, the dean said, “When you arrived here four years ago, you donned the White Coat signifying entry into the profession of pharmacy. Now you are about to receive the doctoral hood signifying completion of the highest professional degree in pharmacy. Donning it celebrates the fact that you have met the objectives set for you by our faculty. It means that you are now in charge of your own learning, and that is a heavy responsibility for which you have been well prepared.

Donning the traditional olive colored pharmacy hood represents the fact that you have entered a caring profession that depends upon your proper use of scientific and clinical knowledge. You must care for your patients with compassion as well as intelligence. You will be trusted by your patients – do not underestimate the importance of that trust nor treat it lightly.”

Rear Admiral Scott Giberson, BSP, MPH, the United States Public Health Service’s Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Pharmacy Officer, was chosen by the Class of 2012 as the keynote speaker for convocation.

Robert Michocki, PharmD, a professor of pharmacy practice and science, was selected by the graduating class as Faculty Member of the Year, and five preceptors were honored by the class as Preceptors of the Year.

The School’s morning convocation ceremony was followed by a campus-wide graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. at First Mariner Arena. Freeman Hrabowski, PhD, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, provided the keynote address.

Twelve graduating PhD students from the School’s Departments of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences received their hoods at an afternoon ceremony on May 17.

Class of 2012 Awards and Prizes

Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacists Student Achievement Award
Andrea Passarelli

Maryland Pharmaceutical Society Award
Ibrahim Ibrahim

Alpha Zeta Omega Fraternity, Kappa Chapter Prize for proficiency in pharmacology
Katelyn Smith

Andrew G. DuMez Award for superior proficiency in pharmacy
Daryl Glick

Lambda Kappa Sigma, Epsilon Alumnae Chapter-Cole Award for proficiency in pharmacy administration
Jessica Chasler

William Simon Memorial Prize for superior work in the field of medicinal chemistry, practical and analytical chemistry
Yajun Tu

Dr. & Mrs. Frank J. Slama Award for superior work in the field of biopharmacognosy
Amy Chase

Wagner Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence Prize for meritorious academic achievement in pharmaceutical jurisprudence
Jessica Chasler

John F. Wannenwetsch Memorial Prize for exceptional performance and promise in the practice of community pharmacy
Katie Ferguson

Conrad L. Wich Prize for exceptional work in medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy
Sarah Pierce

L.S. Williams Practical Pharmacy Prize to the student having the highest general average in basic and applied pharmaceutics
Jason Kwong

Academic Excellence Award
Daryl Glick
Marcelle Raum

Leadership Awards
Joy Chou
Vicky Dang
Katie Ferguson
Melissa Kim
Sai Nimmagadda
Andrea Passarelli

Preceptors of the Year
Alfred Abramson, BSP, RPh
Norman P. Chanaud, III, PharmD
Patricia E. Grunwalk, PharmD, BCPS
Helen C. Osbron, RPh
Carla Williams, PharmD, BCPS