EUCHS Doctor of Pharmacy Ushers 59 Students into Clinical Year

At the 2nd White Coat Ceremony on Friday, June 22, 2024, fifty-nine (59) students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program (Pharm D.) at Entrance University College of Health Sciences (EUCHS), Accra, were officially welcomed into their clinical year of study. Held with the theme “Development of the indigenous pharmaceutical industry – a hope for national and economic development,” the ceremony signifies the students’ rite of passage into the Clinical Year, the final year of the Pharm D Program, following five years of top-notch academic and professional training.

Doctor Barima Afrane, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, emphasized the symbolism of the white coat ceremony, which represents societal trust and responsibility. “The white coat ceremony represents a commitment to the highest standards of patient care, ethical practice, and lifelong learning,” he explained. Doctor Barima Afrane encouraged students to embrace self-reliance and strive for excellence during this critical stage of their education. He also thanked the sponsors of the ceremony, the university’s mentoring institution, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, for its guidance, the University of Ghana, the Pharmacy Council, PSGH, GTEC, FDA, and everyone else.

Professor Aaron Lante Lawson, President of Entrance University College of Health Sciences (EUCHS), emphasized the significance of the ceremony and the importance of pharmacists in the health sector, as well as encouraging them to pursue careers in academia.

In his keynote address, Pharm. Kwabena Asante Offei, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), stated that the pharmaceutical industry represents a significant economic opportunity for Ghana, and that we have an existing industry with a solid foundation for expansion into a global industry. ‘Let us make the commitment that we will not disappoint and that we will play our part, and that hopefully in our lifetime, this vision for the pharmaceutical industry will be realized,’ he stated.

Invited guests at the ceremony included Dr. Mrs. Akua O. Amartey, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) Operations Division, and a few others. With messages that both cautioned and inspired them to go on to the next phase of their academic journey, they left a lasting impression on the celebrants.

Other faculty members expressed their good wishes and words of inspiration. Abii National, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, Entrance Pharmaceutical and Research Centre, Priority Insurance, and other sponsors supported the second White Coat Ceremony.