The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy held the first graduation ceremony exclusively for pharmacy graduates on May 15, 2015. Graduates, faculty, family and friends came together at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis for the Honors and Awards Convocation followed by the presentation of diplomas to 175 PharmD graduates and four PhD graduates. Bradley Boucher, PharmD, professor and associate dean for Strategic Initiatives and Operations, led the moment of silence. Randall Nelson, PhD, sang the National Anthem while James Eoff, PharmD, professor emeritus, played the organ. Joseph T. DiPiro, PharmD, dean and Archie O. McCalley Chair at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, gave the commencement address. Drs. Peter Chyka and Stephanie Phelps, professors of Clinical Pharmacy and associate deans for Knoxville and Academic Affairs, respectively, presented academic hoods to each graduate. Chasity Shelton, PharmD, assistant professor of Clinical Pharmacy, led the presentation of student awards with assistance from faculty and special guests. Class Presidents Nathan Owen (Memphis), Erica Schumacher (Knoxville) and Amy Sparkman (Nashville) presented the 2015 Class Gift to Dean Chisholm-Burns. The Oath of a Pharmacist was led by Debbie Byrd, PharmD, MBA, professor of Clinical Pharmacy and associate dean for Professional Affairs, and Leonard Compton, BSPharm, past president of the UT College of Pharmacy Alumni Board of Directors, inducted the new graduates into the Tennessee Alumni Association. Special thanks to Jennifer Williams, associate dean for Student Affairs for organizing this special event.
