News @ VCU School of Pharmacy

The class of ’13 has landed

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The School of Pharmacy is 130 students stronger this week, with P1 orientation having started Aug. 13. Students were welcomed that morning by Dean Victor Yanchick.

The dean offered commentary on the next four years, as well as some history of the last couple hundred. Topics included:

• History: The Medical College of Virginia traces its roots to 1836, while the School of Pharmacy began in 1898. In 1968, MCV merged with Richmond Polytechnical Institute (RPI), a school about two miles west, to create Virginia Commonwealth University.
• Accreditation: This is the only pharmacy school in Virginia with full six-year accreditation. “So," the dean said, laughing, "You don’t have to worry … unless you’re here for six years!”
• Alumni: “We have a very strong alumni base here in Virginia and across the country.”
• Pharm.D. program: It’s one of the larger programs in the country, with about 70 faculty. There might be opportunities to study abroad, and experiential education now spans all four years. It’s also the only comprehensive program in the state, as several graduate degree programs are available.
• Making it: “We want to see 130 of you walk across the [commencement] stage in four years. We’re not trying to weed you out. We want you to succeed.”
• Physical plant: Major renovations are planned in the Smith Building in the next year and a half, most of which will directly benefit students.
• Student pharmacists: “Beginning today, you’re branded … you’re a student pharmacist. You’re representing the pharmacy profession, this school, this university.”
• The future of pharmacy: “You’ll be able to prescribe confidently and provide oversight on medications. This is very important. If you think you’re going to go out, get a job, make six figures and just fill prescriptions, that’s not going to be there. … It’s patient-centered. You’ll be paid for services you provide and outcomes you document.”
• VCU Medical Center: “You’re fortunate to be in the environment of a medical center. … You can work collaboratively.”
• Becoming a leader: “Community service and professional organizations are important. I expect each of you to be a leader … whether with a capital ’L’ or a small ’l’!”
• Keeping a balance: Balance is important, whether it’s school, vacation, exercise, diet. “It’s so easy to go over to the McDonald’s every day. … And don’t take anything into your lungs other than the fresh air Richmond has to offer! … Have fun, study hard, plan ahead.”
• Standing out: “My goal is to make sure when you cross that stage in four years, I know who you are. … Set yourself apart, be unique.”

Asked which area of pharmacy they plan to pursue, the class of 2013 were nothing if not diverse: community, compounding, geriatric consultation, research, hospital, owning their own, neonatal, oncology, “not sure,” industry, alternative medicine, “everything,” veterinary, infectious diseases, nuclear, diabetic health care, public health, pediatrics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacotherapeutics. Some of the goals were particularly specific, such as working for the Navy, becoming a medical science liaison in oncology, working for Indian Health Services and starting a company to research nutritional supplements for third-world countries.

Tom Reinders, associate dean for admissions and students services, rounded out the morning with a heads up on must-know information concerning the rest of orientation, such as parking, food services, “rules of the road” (how to survive four years of pharmacy school!), professionalism, financial aid and more.

He also announced that Brad Martin, P2 class president, would serve as P1 class president until a new one is elected.

At that point, the meeting was adjourned for lunch at the Omni Richmond Hotel in Shockoe Slip. Lunch was sponsored by Kroger, which was represented by David Flammia (B.S. ’94), Blake Gillum (Pharm.D. ’06) and Jay Troyer.

After lunch, the school’s student leaders welcomed the class and offered their own advice on being a successful student. Then it was back to Smith 103 for a few hours with Brian Canaday of Phartech, one of the School of Pharmacy services destined to be a student’s closest friend.

Welcome, ’13ers! The traditional White Coat Ceremony takes place Aug. 22 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, and classes begin Aug. 24.

Submitted By:
Cynthia McMullen
8/21/2009