Celebrating its 20th anniversary, East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy welcomed its Class of 2029 with a traditional White Coat Ceremony on Friday.

The iconic white coat signifies a student pharmacist’s status as a health care professional within a tradition of care and service.

“Class of 2029, you are embarking on a career path that will allow you to serve, lead and make a meaningful impact in your communities in countless ways,” Dr. Debbie Byrd, dean of the college, told the new student pharmacists. “The white coat represents not only the trust and responsibility that come with the role of a health care provider but also the commitment to patient care, ethical practice and lifelong learning.”

Byrd also highlighted the college’s 20th anniversary this academic year, marking a major milestone for a college that rose from humble beginnings in 2005 to become a nationally recognized institution known for its commitment to rural and underserved communities.

Byrd and special guest Dr. Steven Gentile coated the Class of 2029.

Gentile serves as the executive director at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). Prior to that role, he served as chief policy and strategy officer and, before that, assistant director of fiscal policy. Before joining THEC, Gentile was the assistant dean of admission and financial aid at his alma mater, Davidson College, in North Carolina.

Other speakers included Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at ETSU; Dr. Anthony Pudlo, chief executive officer of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association; and Anjalee Bean, Class of 2028 class president. Mackenzie Johnson, president of the Class of 2026, led the new students in the Oath of the Student Pharmacist.

Below are highlights from the Class of 2029:

  • Almost a third are first-generation college students;
  • They represent eight states and one U.S territory;
  • 85% are from East Tennessee;  
  • Nearly 80% hail from within a 150-mile radius;
  • Almost 40% are from a rural area;
  • They attended 25 different colleges and universities;  
  • Nearly half attended ETSU and  
  • Almost one-third of the class came through the college’s Early Admission Pathway, an opportunity for high-achieving high school seniors choosing to attend ETSU, or current ETSU first-year students, who can apply to be accepted directly into Gatton. This pathway has grown eightfold since 2020.

The class arrived on Aug. 11 for Gatton Ready, a bridge program to help students get acclimated to the rigors of pharmacy school. Gatton Ready is part of the college’s commitment to provide elite pharmacy training within a caring and supportive culture.

ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy is one of the university’s five health sciences schools that comprise its Academic Health Sciences Center, providing students with a robust combination of academic and clinical sciences programs that elevate their interprofessional experience.  

Applications are open and scholarships are available. Learn more and apply at etsu.edu/pharmacy.