John L. Colaizzi, Jr., group vice president and head of enterprise pharmacy practice at Walgreens and one of the nation’s leading voices on pharmacy practice, will deliver the keynote address at the Temple University School of Pharmacy’s 2026 White Coat Ceremony on September 18.
Colaizzi, a licensed pharmacist and 29-year Walgreens veteran, currently oversees pharmacy practice across the company’s community and specialty pharmacy businesses. He also leads Walgreens’ regulatory and professional pharmacy affairs efforts and works with schools of pharmacy, professional organizations and healthcare leaders to advance the profession.
He will speak to members of Temple’s PharmD Class of 2030 as they formally begin their journey into the pharmacy profession.
“The White Coat Ceremony is one of the most meaningful moments in the life of a student pharmacist,” said S. Suresh Madhavan, PhD, MBA, FAPhA, dean of Temple University School of Pharmacy. “Our students are not simply beginning a rigorous academic program. They are beginning a professional journey centered on patients, service, and responsibility. John brings an extraordinary perspective on where pharmacy is headed and what it means to lead in this profession.”
The ceremony will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Temple Performing Arts Center. In addition to Colaizzi’s keynote, the program will feature remarks from Madhavan and Aisha Alkilani, president of the PY4 class. Members of the School’s faculty, Board of Visitors, Alumni Association and pharmacy community will cloak the Class of 2030.
Colaizzi’s keynote comes at a pivotal moment for the Class of 2030 and for Temple Pharmacy.
The School is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, marking 125 years of educating pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, advancing discovery and serving communities. The White Coat Ceremony is one of the anniversary year’s most important traditions: a moment when the School welcomes a new generation into a profession whose role in healthcare continues to evolve.
The ceremony will also include a special moment for the inaugural Marvin Samson Scholars. Samson, CST ’60, will personally cloak the students receiving the new $25,000 scholarships established through his recent $1 million gift to support deserving pharmacy students.
For the Class of 2030, the white coat will be more than the symbol of a profession they are entering. It will mark the beginning of their opportunity to shape what comes next.