Annual White Coat Ceremony
Students will excitedly fill the Health Sciences Centre Main Auditorium on Thursday evening, as the School of Pharmacy Class of 2018 are officially welcomed into the pharmacy profession, and presented with their white coats. Students will also recite the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board (NLPB)'s Code of Conduct, as well as the School of Pharmacy Pledge of Professionalism as they vow to practice with the highest ethical standards.
Professional conduct, in person and online
The event was established to impart on students the profound ethical responsibility they will hold to their patients, colleagues, and to the health-care system.
Students will be reminded of the importance of performing their practice in an moral, respectful manner. In particular, the importance of professional conduct on social media sites will be emphasised, cautioning students that anything written in an email or on social media sites should be considered public information.
Expanded scope of practice
Students will also be provided with an orientation into the current landscape of the pharmacy profession.
“As the most accessible health-care professionals, it is anticipated that pharmacists will be expected to offer much more – from vaccinations, smoking cessation and mental health and addictions counselling, to blood pressure monitoring, medication management, chronic disease management and prescribing for minor ailments, and so much more,” says Dr. Carlo Marra, dean.
In the fall of 2014, the provincial government announced that pharmacists in Newfoundland and Labrador are now able to provide the flu vaccination. The school has been offering certification training to pharmacists across the province, to enable and encourage expanded scope skills development.
Mr. Kevin Pollard, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Health and Community Services, will bring greetings on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dr. Noreen Golfman, provost and vice-president (academic) pro tempore, will bring greetings on behalf of Memorial University.
For further information, please contact Heidi Wicks (communications coordinator) at wicksh@mun.ca or 777-7302 (office)/749-7462 (mobile).