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Wednesday, 9 March 2016

“Our community is why we are here” Professor Stephen Duffull tells new Pharmacy students of 2016 at the School of Pharmacy White Coat ceremony. “A student's goal is to learn with our community and help our community.”


Professor Duffull initiated this symbolic ceremony (2011), providing a formal transition from being a student in Health Science First Year to entering the first professional year of the Pharmacy programme. The School of Pharmacy welcomes 120 new students who received a Code of Conduct “written by the students for the students” say's Professor Duffull, a Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights brochure and their white dispensing coat.

Guest speaker angela hardwood with professor stephen duffull
Professor Stephen Duffull with guest speaker Angela Harwood.

Dr Arlene McDowell and PPF Professor Windle
Dr Arlene McDowell and Professional Practice Fellow Mr James Windle present the students with their white coats.

Guest speaker and School of Pharmacy affiliate pharmacist, Angela Harwood says “I love every single minute of my job!” Currently working as a Clinical Pharmacist Facilitator at Wellsouth Primary Health Network.

Mrs Harwood choose pharmacy because of its diversity within the workforce. “You're really, really lucky”,Mrs Harwood says, explaining how pharmacy has grown and how it will continue to grow.

Nineteen-year-old Leah Mualia, moved to New Zealand from Samoa last year to join her sister at Otago University. Leah's Grandfather and father are both pharmacists and Leah hopes to return home to help run their family pharmacy. Leah credits the support she has received from Otago University Pacific Islands Research & Student Support Unit (PIRSSU), seen below with Associate Dean (Pacific) Faumuina Associate Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga and the School of Pharmacy Pacific Island support Professor Pauline Norris.

Pacifc Island Students with staff support.
From left: Faumuina Associate Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga, Leah Mualia, Tokaniman Bio, Warren Penaia, Professor Pauline Norris and Sini Fonua.

University of Otago Maori support staff at white coat ceremony
The ceremony began this year with a mihi whakatau from University kaumatua, Hatarei Temo. This was followed by a waiata sung by school staff.

Lisa Kremer and Wiremu matthews with new maori students
Māori Pharmacist Association President, Wiremu Matthews stands with our 5 new Māori students and School of Pharmacy Māori support, Lisa Kremer.

Professor Joel Tyndall with IMU students
Associate Professor Joel Tyndall with the second year students wearing their dispensing jackets with pride.

IMU-Otago.ambassadors.2016.418
Third year pharmacy students joining the BPharm programme from International Medical University IMU. From left: Exin Lim, Wei Yin Chen and Lai Yan Pow.

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