The 2028 Pharmacy Class
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) ushered approximately 106 students along their academic journeys to become pharmacists at the September 27 White Coat Ceremony -- an increase of just over 40 percent from last year’s pharmacy class.
The annual tradition of a white coat ceremony symbolizes a commitment by P1 students to become competent and caring professionals. The cloaking is performed by faculty members of the College, who have the responsibility of guiding students on their path to becoming pharmacists.
Learn more and see a listing of the students honored this year: 2024 ACPHS White Coat Ceremony.
The time-honored event, held at the Albert M. White Gymnasium on the ACPHS campus, included more than 500 family and friends and culminated at a reception in the Gozzo Student Center.
Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Sibdas Ghosh, PhD, welcomed the students and their guests, followed by a keynote address from alumnus Zachary Hecox '16, PharmD, CACP, an Anticoagulation Management Clinic Pharmacist at Samaritan Hospital. Interim Dean of Pharmacy, Courtney Tackes, PharmD, MBA, presented the students to be cloaked and Alexander Tow '26 APhA President, Albany Chapter led the recitation of the Oath of a Pharmacist.
The majority of the class of P1 students hail from 11 states across the United States, as well as from Canada, India, South Korea and United Kingdom, and two territories, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The ages of this pharmacy class range from 19 to 34 years of age.
About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is a private, independent college dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society. ACPHS offers 17 undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs including online Master of Biomedical Sciences and Master of Biotechnology programs. Students have myriad opportunities to extend what they are learning in the classroom at The Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET), at student-supported pharmacies in underserved communities, and at The Collaboratory, a public health resource designed to alleviate community health disparities in Albany’s South End neighborhood. ACPHS ranks #1 in New York State for best return on investment by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce and was graded an A+ for value by Niche.