In a special White Coat Ceremony held on February 19 at the LAU Byblos campus, 65 pre-pharmacy students gathered to receive their white coats from the school’s faculty, marking their transition to the next stage of the professional pharmacy program and their dedication to ethical practice, lifelong learning, and the highest standards of patient care.

LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah praised the students for dedicating themselves to a profession that deeply impacts individuals and society. “This ceremony symbolizes your commitment to the profession and the best practices in the pharmaceutical field,” he said in his opening remark.

Originally scheduled for October 4 but postponed due to the war, the event was hosted by Dr. Lamis Karaoui, assistant dean for Student Affairs and Master of Ceremonies, and attended by families, friends, and members of the academic community.

“For this cohort, the significance of this ceremony is even greater,” said Dean Naser Alsharif. “It is a testament to their courage and perseverance in the face of immense uncertainty, pain, and suffering.”

Dr. Alsharif emphasized the dual responsibility the students would henceforth assume. “You will wear two hats—the Professional Hat and the Personal Hat,” he said. While their professional role demands excellence in knowledge, skills, and attitude, he reminded them that their personal role is just as vital: to be compassionate advocates, responsible global citizens, and champions of social justice.

Class representative and Professional Year 1 (P1) student Marie Ange Abi Chedid then took the stage to express gratitude to the faculty and staff for their enduring support. “Wearing this coat reminds us of our professional identity and the responsibility we carry for our future patients’ wellbeing—a trust that must never be taken lightly,” she said. She also extended her appreciation to the parents “who stood by us through these crucial years.”

Among the attendees was LAU alumnus and President of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists, Joe E. Salloum (BS Pharm ’03), who spoke about the shared commitment of both the university and the syndicate to patient care. He went on to underscore the importance of a strong alumni network in advocating for the university’s mission, which would improve job placement and, ultimately, benefit various pharmacy sectors in the country.

As a symbol of their rite of passage and their commitment to their professional years, each student signed and took the “Pledge of Professionalism” and the “Oath of a Pharmacist” upon receiving their white coat before returning to their seats. After a riveting musical performance on the piano by P1 student Hampig Boujanian, followed by a vocal cover by P1 student Rafic Ghamrawi, the ceremony concluded with the students reciting the pledge, led by Clinical Associate Professor Maya Zeineddine.