ETSU holds White Coat Ceremony

East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy welcomed 71 members of the Class of 2030 with a traditional white coat ceremony on Friday at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts. The 71-member class represents the college's largest class since 2019, growth attributable to the work of local legislators who helped secure state funding for Gatton – funding that was increased by the Tennessee General Assemblyearlier this year. The iconic white coat signifies a student pharmacist's status as a healthcare professional within a tradition of care and service. "Class of 2030, you are embarking on a career path that will allow you to serve, lead and make a meaningful impact in your communities in countless ways," Dr. Debbie Byrd, dean of the college, told the new student pharmacists. "The white coat represents not only the trust and responsibility that come with the role of a healthcare provider but also the commitment to patient care, ethical practice and lifelong learning." Byrd also highlighted the Class of 2030's opportunity to learn in a college with a proven record of student success. The college recently ranked among the top five accredited pharmacy schools in the nation and No. 1 in Tennessee for first-attempt pass rates on both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), which is required for licensure, and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), which is required in most states, including Tennessee. She also noted that the Class of 2030 will benefit from both the college's strong student outcomes and further reduced tuition following the state's approval of additional funding earlier this year. In 2023, the college reduced tuition by 30% following the first round of funding. Byrd and special guest State Sen. Ferrell Haile coated the Class of 2030. Haile also delivered remarks as the guest speaker. Haile, a pharmacist, was joined in the audience by several state legislators who were part of the legislative push for additional state funding for the college. Earlier in the day, ETSU named a lecture hall at Gatton in honor of the General Assembly. Haile serves as a state senator for Sumner and Trousdale Counties as well as speaker pro tempore, an elected position that serves as the second-highest-ranking member of the State Senate and presides over the Senate when the lieutenant governor is absent. He has spent 40 years as a small business owner, pharmacist and farmer in Sumner County in Middle Tennessee, where he was born and raised. An Eagle Scout, Haile attended Lipscomb University and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy. After earning his degree, he returned home to help run the farm and serve patients behind the pharmacy counter. Other speakers included Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at ETSU; Dr. Katy Wright, immediate past president of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association; and Ryan Ledford, president of the Class of 2029. Jessica Boggs, president of the Class of 2027, led the new students in the Oath of the Student Pharmacist. Below are highlights from the Class of 2030: Nearly half are first-generation college students. They represent six states and two foreign countries. More than half are from Tennessee, and more than two-thirds of those are from East Tennessee. They attended 27 different colleges and universities. Nearly half attended ETSU. More than one-third of the class came to Gatton through the college's Early Admission Pathway. This program provides the opportunity for high-achieving high school seniors and ETSU first-year students to be accepted directly into Gatton. The class arrived on Aug. 10 for Gatton Ready, a bridge program that helps students acclimate to the rigors of pharmacy school. Gatton Ready is part of the college's commitment to preparing students for successful pharmacy careers within a caring and supportive culture.