The Temple University PharmD Class of 2029 gathered at the Temple Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia on Friday, September 12, 2025, to celebrate the beginning of their journey into the pharmacy profession.

This long-held tradition highlights the importance and responsibility of pharmacists within healthcare.

“The white coat you will don today is far more than a garment,” said S. Suresh Madhavan, PhD, MBA, FAPhA, Professor and Dean, Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP). “It is a powerful symbol of trust, integrity, and service. Known as the "cloak of compassion," it represents your pledge to put patients at the center of everything you do. When you wear this coat, you carry the confidence of the public, the expectations of your profession, and the hope of those who depend on you. It will remind you daily that you are called not simply to dispense medicines, but to listen, to guide, to heal, and to serve with empathy and professionalism.”

Ninety-eight students received their white coats during the ceremony, which was attended by students’ friends and family for the first time in TUSP history. Students were helped into their white coats by alumni and friends of TUSP, in a long-standing tradition connecting them to the alumni network.

Prior to the cloaking ceremony, the TUSP Alumni Association presented awards to notable members of the community:

• 2025 Pharmacy Student Health Care Professional Award: Nashalie Moret Vega, TUSP PharmD candidate in 2026
• 2025 New Pharmacist Practitioner Award: Sarah Valiante ‘21, PharmD
• 2025 Distinguished Pharmacist Practitioner Award: Tom DePietro ‘09, PharmD
• 2025 Mentor of the Year Award: Christina Rose, PharmD, BCCCP, FCCM, Assistant Dean of Admissions, TUSP

Additionally, the 2024-2025 Preceptor of the Year awards were presented to Basil Hamed, PharmD ’06 and Louis Lozzi, PharmD ’19.

Nishaminy Kasbekar, PharmD, FASHP, Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at the University of Pennsylvania Health System provided a keynote address, welcoming the students to the profession and imploring them to be the change that leads the way.

The ceremony concluded with the administration of the Oath of the Pharmacist by TUSP Alumni Association President, Ashlin Miller, PharmD, MBA ’13. The Oath signifies the professional responsibilities undertaken by a pharmacist, including service to humanity, prioritization of patient welfare, promotion of inclusion and equity, ethical conduct, professional competence, and more.

Seventy-six percent of the Class of 2029 are Pennsylvania residents, while the remainder are from across the country—including Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, Texas, California, and Virginia—and abroad. Sixty-two percent of the class identifies as female; 81% are under the age of 27; and 62% identify as a person of color.