3 Key Takeaways
- 138 future pharmacists begin their FAMU journey.
- The Class of 2030 joins FAMU Pharmacy during its 75th anniversary year.
- A new generation carries FAMU’s health care legacy forward.
The ceremony came as the College celebrates its 75th year, giving the occasion added significance beyond the traditional presentation of white coats. The incoming students are joining an institution with a long history of preparing health care professionals, a legacy that dates back to 1904, with the establishment of the FAMU School of Nursing, and extends today to communities throughout Florida and around the world.
Otis W. Kirksey, the newly appointed executive director for Strategic Priorities, Clinical Studies and Community Engagement within FAMU’s Health Sciences Enterprise and Research Innovation, delivered the keynote address.
The ceremony also marked the students’ first formal introduction to Vanessa B. Sheppard, the College’s newly appointed dean, who began her tenure on Aug. 3.
For the Class of 2030, the white coat represents the start of that journey. The years ahead will include rigorous coursework, laboratory research and clinical training, ultimately leading students into professions where science, patient care and public health intersect.
Their arrival also extends the College’s legacy.
For 75 years, FAMU’s College of Pharmacy has helped prepare health professionals whose work has reached beyond the classroom and into communities. The Class of 2030 now becomes part of that tradition — with the opportunity, and responsibility, to carry it into the future.