Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) Professional Year 1 students marked a significant milestone in their education and training through the 15th Annual White Coat Ceremony, where 40 students recited the ‘Oath of a Pharmacist,’ and received their white coats in a ceremony at Ibn Khaldoun Hall, QU attended by faculty members and students, in line with the Ministry of Public Health guidelines. The event was also streamed live on YouTube. This is the first white coat ceremony at CPH to include male pharmacy students alongside female pharmacy students. The students promised to uphold the values of integrity, ethical behavior and practice of the pharmacy profession.
The event started with opening speech from the Masters of Ceremony P1 students Hassan Mohammadian and Baleegh Abdulmajeed followed by welcoming remarks from the Chairman of Aamal Company Q.P.S.C H.E. HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, QU Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences Dr. Asmaa Al-Thani, Canadian Ambassador to Qatar H.E Ms. Stefanie McCollum, and QU-CPH Dean Dr. Mohammad Diab. Dr Mohammad Diab also presented on the college’s achievements over the previous academic year. Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Dr. Alla El-Awaisi concluded the welcoming remarks. Director of the Pharmacy Department at Hamad Medical Corporation Dr Moza Al-Hail delivered the keynote speech and P1 student Mohamed Alsayed provided the speech on behalf of all P1 students.
H.E Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani spoke at the event and commented: “On this special occasion, I am pleased to congratulate my sons and daughters from the College of Pharmacy on this special day, as they passed the general year of the College of Pharmacy and will start today wearing their white coats, which is the starting point in their careers. As these students have chosen Qatar University to launch their scientific and professional future, I am confident that the administrative and academic staff will not hesitate to provide all the students need to be the best active members of the health sector in the country, which is in dire need of the promising generation of young people interested in this vital field”.
Dr. Asmaa Al-Thani congratulated the students at the event saying: “It is with utmost delight and pride that we witness this batch of 40 hard-working students, including male students for the first time, as you embark on a new chapter in your academic journey. This white coat is a turning point in your university life; so seize every opportunity to acquire the knowledge and experience you can and don’t forget the pivotal role you will play in the advancement of health care in Qatar. I am all trust in the efforts you will place and of the success, you shall achieve. I congratulate you on your milestone accomplishment and wish you a very happy “White Coat” learning phase”.
H.E Stefanie McCollum said, “The Pharmacy Program at Qatar University will bring a high quality of education and an internationally recognized degree. I can say this with confidence because this program was the first one outside of Canada to be accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs. We are proud of our academic standards in Canada, and proud that this bond exists within your program here in Qatar.”
QU-CPH Dean Mohammad Diab addressed the incoming students, “It has been a college ritual to host an annual White Coat Ceremony in which we welcome students to the solemn practice of Pharmacy and help them prepare for the responsibilities and privileges that awaits them. However, this year is special as it marks the entry and acceptance of the first batch of male pharmacy students to the premises of the College. Our goal always complies with Qatar National Strategy for human development and that is to feed the market of Qatar with qualified pharmacists ready to serve this country. It is always a pleasure to see a batch after batch taking their first steps into the career of Pharmacy and captivating all the knowledge they can get on the College premises”.
Dr. Moza congratulated the students and commented: “I take this opportunity to welcome you, male and female students, to the College of Pharmacy, to class fifteen. This day is the first step in your educational path, and then to the professional world. Be assured that it has a wide impact on this world. Wearing the white coat means that you belong to the great profession of pharmacy. It also means your dedication to fulfill the professional and ethical duty to provide pharmaceutical service of the highest level of performance expected. You were selected because you were the best students applying for admission to the College of Pharmacy this year”
Dr. Alla El-Awaisi said, “Today is an important day in the student professional journey happening during unprecedented circumstances. Despite the challenges they may have encountered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are really proud of our students’ determination, resilience, and enthusiasm to pursue their careers in pharmacy to become the trusted healthcare professionals, educators, or scientists in line with the theme for this years World Pharmacists Day “Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health”.
Master of Ceremony Hassan Mohammadian commented “Finally, after a challenging general year, we made it to P1. No words can express how thrilled and excited I am to be a pharmacy student. And I cannot wait to finally wear my white coat and take the pharmacist vow.”
Baleegh Abdulmajeed commented: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. P1 is our first step to the success and helping humanity.”
First-year pharmacy student Mohamed Alsayed said, “Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation to be part of the CPH family, we will always be indebted to the college of pharmacy and their faculty members for the frequent support and help they gave to us to achieve this point. Wearing the White Coat in the WCC is a significant step towards our dream, that we will always work hard and do our best to make it comes true (We can do it… We will be great pharmacists).”
First-year pharmacy student Alghalya Al-Jufairi commented: “”I feel proud and excited to be a student at the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University and I have ambitions to complete my educational career and serve my country in the coming years. In addition, having the support of the college and the state encourages us to excel and provide the best for the country, and we aspire to achieve Qatar Vision 2030. The ceremony of wearing white coats and taking the oath symbolizes the responsibility that we bear and is the first step in our educational journey. In the end, I wish the best of luck to me and to all the upcoming batches.”
During the ceremony, the Annual Ebn Sina Awards to the highest achieving students was announced for each professional undergraduate and postgraduate year: CPH PharmD student Dhabya Al-Khater, MSc pharmacy student Menatallah Rayan, Professional year 4 student Ruba Sulaiman, Professional year 3 student Emelith Cerbito and Professional year 2 Laila Elmancy. The ceremony concluded with a video from the Class of 2025 sharing their joy of being admitted to the College of Pharmacy and what it means to be joining the pharmacy profession.
Source: Qatar University