Published on October 7, 2026 by Alison Ingle  
male pharmacy student wearing white coat

For the Class of 2030, the white coat represents more than the beginning of a journey toward becoming a pharmacist. It represents the trust, compassion and responsibility that come with caring for patients and serving others through the profession of pharmacy. 

Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy recognized the first-year Doctor of Pharmacy students and celebrated American Pharmacists Month during its annual White Coat Ceremony on Oct. 2 at Shades Mountain Community Church. 

As students received their white coats, they were joined by pharmacists, faculty members, fellow pharmacy students, alumni, parents and professional mentors who helped mark this significant moment in their journey. 

The ceremony also featured reflections from leaders across the pharmacy profession who encouraged students to embrace the opportunities and responsibilities ahead. Wes Maddox, PharmD ’02 and president of the Alabama Pharmacy Association, challenged students to use four words as a “roadmap to success”: priorities, determination, involvement and others. “Compassion can be a clinical intervention,” Maddox said, encouraging students to approach each patient with empathy and to remember the importance of serving others throughout their careers. Representatives from the Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Alabama Board of Pharmacy also welcomed the Class of 2030, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, professional relationships and the many opportunities available within pharmacy. 

“The white coat represents the trust that patients place in pharmacists and the responsibility our students are preparing to embrace,” said Michael Kendrach, interim dean of McWhorter School of Pharmacy. “Today marks an important step in their journey as they prepare to serve others through the profession of pharmacy.” The annual ceremony reflects a longstanding tradition at McWhorter, where alumni and friends sponsor white coats for students. The gesture creates a meaningful connection between generations of Samford pharmacists and reminds students that they are joining a profession built on service, trust and lifelong relationships. 

As these students begin their journey at McWhorter, the white coat serves as a reminder of the pharmacist each student is preparing to become—and the patients they will one day serve. 

GIVE TODAY: Support future pharmacists at Samford University. 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,522 students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 35 Most Beautiful College Campuses, Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.