Incoming doctor of pharmacy students will don their white coats for the first time on Friday, August 23 at the USC Mann White Coat Ceremony.
The annual event, held this year at Bovard Auditorium on the USC University Park Campus, signifies the beginning of students’ journey to becoming health care providers.
Following a welcome from Dean Vassilios Papadopoulos, Kari Franson, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs, and Irving Steinberg, associate dean for faculty affairs, will preside over the presentation of the white coats. Samantha Yeung, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy, will lead new PharmD students in reciting the Oath of a Pharmacist.
Raymond Risman, PharmD ’07, MS ’07, vice president of trade relations and pharmaceutical contracting at Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, will deliver the alumni keynote address.
Risman focuses on lowering the cost of branded prescription medications to provide broader access, flexibility and affordability for all patients—the insured, the underinsured and the uninsured. A member of the USC Mann Board of Councilors, Risman received his PharmD and a master’s degree in regulatory science from the Mann School. Previously, he served in leadership positions at HealthVerity and UnitedHealth Group.
The White Coat Ceremony for the PharmD Class of 2028 will take place at Bovard Auditorium on the USC University Park Campus on Friday, August 23 at 11 am. The event will be live-streamed, and more information is available at mann.usc.edu/white-coat.