Surrounded by family, friends, faculty, alumni, and supporters, 129 members of the UCSF School of Pharmacy PharmD Class of 2029 took the stage at San Francisco's Herbst Theatre on July 17, 2026, to receive the white coats that symbolize their entrance into the pharmacy profession.

Now in its 24th year, the White Coat Ceremony marks one of the school's most significant traditions, welcoming incoming PharmD students into a profession built on compassion, scientific inquiry, and a commitment to patient care.

"The white coat represents your official transition from lay person to student pharmacist," Dean Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm, told the incoming class. "It is a symbol of trust, responsibility, professionalism, and the promise you make to patients."

A profession built on science and innovation

Giacomini welcomed a diverse cohort representing communities across California, the United States, and around the world. Of the 129 students entering the program, 82 percent are California residents, 31 percent are the first in their families to graduate from college, and 67 percent speak multiple languages.

She encouraged students to embrace the perspectives and experiences they each bring to UCSF while preparing for a profession that is evolving rapidly through advances in artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and emerging technologies.

"Our scientific way of thinking is the foundation of the PharmD curriculum that you are beginning today," Giacomini said. "It will frame your academic journey over the next few years, and you will carry it through your careers."

She also highlighted new educational opportunities available to the Class of 2029, including the PharmD-PhD program,the PharmD-Master of Science in Clinical Research Degree Program, and the PharmD-MPH degree program, which will expand pathways for students interested in translating basic science research into clinical application, as well as clinical research, epidemiology, biostatistics, health data science, and public health.

Preparing tomorrow's pharmacy leaders

The ceremony featured keynote remarks from Noelle RM Chapman, PharmD, MBA, vice president and chief pharmacy officer for UCSF Health. Reflecting on her own career journey, Chapman encouraged students to embrace opportunities beyond their comfort zones as they discover their place in the profession.

"Whether you are shy and a little afraid or have the energy and enthusiasm to fix the world's problems, there is a place for you to align who you are with what means something to you in this profession," Chapman said.

In addition, Matthew Bryant, PharmD '02, president of the UCSF Pharmacy Alumni Association board, welcomed the incoming class into a community that extends well beyond their years as students.

"The pharmacist who you will become will be shaped by the people around you now — your classmates, your professors, your mentors, and your family who support you throughout the rest of your career," Bryant said. He encouraged students to lean on one another throughout pharmacy school, describing the UCSF School of Pharmacy as "the greatest pharmacy family in the world."

Students were then coated by alumni, faculty members, and pharmacy leaders representing the breadth of career paths within the profession, including community pharmacy, health systems, academia, and industry.

Looking ahead to the future of pharmacy

The Class of 2029 also heard from second-year PharmD student Arielle Chang, who reflected on her own journey through pharmacy school. She encouraged the incoming students to embrace the uncertainty that accompanies the beginning of pharmacy school, reminding them that growth often comes through unexpected opportunities.

"These experiences, and how you navigate them with the support of those around you, will shape the kind of pharmacists you become: people who can live with uncertainty, adapt to change, stay grounded through disappointment, and continue showing up with care for others," she said.

The ceremony concluded with Jennifer Cocohoba, PharmD, MAS, professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, leading the class in the Oath of a Pharmacist, formally affirming their commitment to ethical practice, patient care, and lifelong learning.

As the newest members of the UCSF School of Pharmacy community donned their white coats for the first time, they joined generations of UCSF pharmacists committed to advancing science, improving health, and serving patients.

In her closing remarks, Giacomini reminded students that pharmacy is entering a period of extraordinary opportunity.

“You are entering the profession when we are at a crossroads for health care. For our Class of 2029, this crossroads is an opportunity, a welcomed challenge, to make a positive difference,” Giacomini said. “You are joining a profession and a community in which you have limitless opportunities to make a difference –– in your own, unique way.”