School of Pharmacy Inaugural New Curriculum Cohort's Last Week on Campus & Graduation

The end of the year was very special for us as our first class just completed our new PharmD curriculum and was ready to graduate. The Class of 2024 was the first class that was enrolled in our new integrated semester-based curriculum that launched in Fall 2021. We were filled with a profound sense of pride and joy to see them to return from their APPE rotations and welcome them back on the campus, only 5 days from Commencement and receiving their PharmD degrees.  This moment was made even more special as we honored the first cohort to graduate under our newly implemented PharmD curriculum. The innovative courses, collaborative projects, real world applications, and extensive integration have not only enriched our student’s academic lives but we are confident they have provided them a strong foundation on which to build their future careers.

Throughout the past three years, the Class of 2024 has shown incredible resilience and adaptability and continued to work with us closely to make select adjustments to our curriculum. The completion of their studies under this new curriculum is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support of our faculty and staff.

The 74 students of the class of 2024 were glad to be back on the campus and reunite with each other as well as with the faculty and staff. During their final week with us on our Hillsboro Campus, we had prepared a packed agenda with interactions, preparation and discussion and celebrations including NAPLEX and MPJE board preparation sessions and simulated 6-hour NAPLEX exam. On Wednesday, we also held 2-hour small-group exit interviews to gauge the Class of 2024 feedback on their past experiences with the program, School community and our new curriculum. During these exit interviews, we had small groups composed of up to 10 PharmD interviewed students, and 2-3 faculty, 1 staff, 1 administrator, and representatives from the School of Pharmacy Advisory Board members and Preceptor Advisory Board members. The busy Wednesday was then completed with the School of Pharmacy Research Symposium. On Thursday, we continued with more activities and celebrations including what it means to be an alumnus and how to be involved as alumni or preceptors after graduation. On Friday, the School community celebrated with the Class of 2024, family and friends during the School’s Graduation and Award Ceremony at Wingspan Conference and Events Center in Hillsboro. During the ceremony, we also were able to recognize the 2024 Student Awardees and then later enjoy receptions. We would like to thank Albertsons and CVS Health for sponsoring this joyous event. We then celebrated as a Pacific University Community with our students their hooding and conferral of degrees during the University Commencement and Hooding on the Forest Grove campus on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

At the time of graduation in May 18, 2024, we collected information of the plans and placements of our Class of 2023 stats (N=74 alumni).

We are proud of the Class of 2024 and we look forward to witness the remarkable achievements and impacts they will make in the pharmacy profession and patient care.

- by Marketa Marvanova, PharmD, PhD, BCGP, BCPP, FASCP | Dean and Professor | School of Pharmacy