Raising the Bar

As one who has spent a fair amount of his adult life (supply your own punch line here) in education, trying to figure out how to motivate students, Thursday night's White Coat ceremony offers some answers.

First a description, & then a couple of brief reflections.

The Ford Center on the campus of the University of Mississippi. A very impressive facility! (If you're a presidential debate watcher, you'll see the Ford Center when it hosts a debate.) Very few empty seats, and we were dressed up. Coat, tie, the works. (yeah...waaaay out of character for me, but I do it sometimes...)

A number of upper classmen attended, wearing their white coats. The faculty of the School of Pharmacy filed in, all wearing their (longer) white coats. And then the students who will begin their pharmacy courses next week. (one of whom looks like a bigger, stronger, smarter, better-looking version of me...).

The Dean of the School of Pharmacy spoke, as did the Dean of Students for the entire University. Both did a great job of (a) welcoming the students into the pharmacy community, and (b) challenging them greatly. At the risk of bragging on my baby boy, a quick word on what it took to be sitting there as an entering student. 30-something of the 100 were "early entry." This means they applied in high school, went through an interview and a competitive impromptu essay ("Here's your topic; you have an hour. Grammar & spelling count. Good luck!"). 50 were selected. They had to keep a 3.5 gpa their freshman year, and a 3.25 cumulative by the end of their sophomore year. (If you add the first 2 semesters' gpa of my freshman year, you don't get to 3.5...sigh). And of course, they had to make a particular score on the PCAT (aptitude test). 15ish of James' early entry class either didn't make it or opted out for whatever reason. The rest of the entering class is "regular entry" which means they went through a similarly competitive application process. (Everyone in the class is referred to as "P3's" connoting that this is their 1st year of actual pharmacy courses; next year is P4, then P5, etc.) A number of them already have a degree. Some have work experience too. So, the group is already an impressive, motivated group. Personally, I'm just glad they let me sit in the back of the auditorium!

After opening remarks, the group read the UM creed, and then read the pharmacy school creed out loud. Then, one at a time, they came up on stage and signed 2 large copies of the Pharmacy creed. 1 of these will be displayed in the School of Pharmacy in Oxford, and the other will be displayed in the clinical facility in Jackson. Then, the Dean herself put their (personalized!) white coats on them, they were given a copy of a book on the history of pharmacy education @ Ole Miss (James' class is the 100th class, which is pretty cool), and they were given a copy of the creed. BTW, their names were read out by Associate Dean Dr. Marvin Wilson, who--literally--has changed the pharmacy profession in the state of Mississippi and beyond. As the Dean said, "Dr. Wilson needs no introduction," at which point a fairly sizeable ovation came forth, led by the students. MS'ians, next time you're speaking w/ your pharmacist, find out if s/he went to Ole Miss' Pharmacy School. If so, and if s/he's under about 50, s/he'll definitely remember Dr. Wilson!

The whole ceremony had a very formal feel to it. A seriousness & gravity about it. Much was said about the sacred trust that exists between a pharmacist and his patients. About the vital need for integrity and ethical behavior. I kept picturing my most excellent pharmacist out at M.D. Anderson and was totally agreeing with what was said. Basically, all of us walked out of there with an overwhelming sense that this was the beginning point of something far bigger than a degree program at a particular university.

Which leads to my personal reflections...

Dr. Reardon, the Dean of Students, remarked that he had wondered what the School of Pharmacy had that none of the other schools on campus had, other than a reputation for being among the very best Pharmacy programs in the country. (note: there are some other outstanding programs on campus there...for example, their Croft Institute for International Studies is world class...) His conclusion was that the School of Pharmacy has ritual and ceremony. After last night, I agree.

I totally dig the academic rituals and ceremonies. I'm goober enough that I enjoy getting on the robes and being part of graduation ceremonies. But graduations are (obviously!) at the end of a program of study. Thursday night's ceremony was equally serious, but was signifying the beginning of a program. The entering students there have taken zero pharmacy courses. And yet, the vision was cast, the warm welcome was put forth, and the challenge was issued. Shoot, I was challenged and motivated, and I can't even spell pharmacy or organic chemistry or biochemistry of any of the scary pharmawhatever course names.

I lay there in bed Friday night and thought that I'd give a lot if I could bottle up that motivation and sprinkle a bit of it on my students. Or on myself now & then. Based on history, there will be a few there last night who will not receive their Pharm.D. in 4 years. Some will choose a different life path; others will have a different path thrust upon them by grades in the Pharm.D. program. But those who do receive their Pharm.D. in 4 years will remember the challenges and encouragement they received last night. And they will go out and make a gigantic difference in the lives of people. People like me, who are totally dependent on what is taught in Schools of Pharmacy and learned after by pharmacists.


Fraternities & sororities do similar things with their rituals, but then there's not very much followup. And some of us utterly fail to live up to the standards set by the rituals in college Greek systems. Once upon a time, the Christian church had a similar ritual--baptism. If we truly pondered all that baptism means, it would definitely raise the bar. ("buried with Christ in baptism; raised to walk in new-ness of life..." Words that should matter!) But these days, baptism is frequently viewed simply as something one has to do to join a church. Nothing more. Which is sad.

So James & his classmates had a vision cast Thursday night. The standard was set, and the bar was raised. Now they have the responsibility and challenge of pressing on through 4 more years. Two years of very demanding courses. (18 hours worth this Fall) Then the gigantic challenge of the P5 year, which is a year of clinicals in Jackson. Cases are presented and analyzed, and solutions developed. From what I hear, pretty much nobody enjoys the P5 experience. But I also hear that they're all better pharmacists because of it, particularly if they wind up in a research type setting after completing the program. Then, the P6 year, which is mostly enjoyable; they complete eight 5-week rotations in different pharmacy settings. And then the Doctorate of Pharmacy is bestowed.

Here's hoping...and expecting...that James Madaris is walking across another stage 4 years from now. To receive his hard-earned Pharm.D. degree. (note: here's further hoping that I'm there in the audience, barely holding myself together with pride & thanksgiving...)

The application for the rest of us is this: do whatever it takes to raise the bar. Personally and professionally. Especially spiritually. Re-visit why you chose your profession. Take a day to ponder & reflect. Go to a conference. Re-visit your college campus and walk around reminiscing. Make a point of thinking deeply about your workplace next time you're there. View it as a calling. Pray for a new vision. Read Os Guiness' excellent book The Call from a few years back. Whatever it takes. Sneak in to next August's white coat ceremony at the University of Mississippi's School of Pharmacy, even, just to watch.

And while you're at it, would you voice a prayer for my baby boy? His is a genuine calling to the profession, which he had confirmed Thursday evening. But it's still a long & difficult road between Monday morning and Pharm.D. On his behalf, thanks!

With Love & Hope,
Mike

p.s. - My brother Jim & I are headed out to Houston tomorrow afternoon. Monday's a fun-filled day of a bunch of tests. (1st test is early, last test is at 8:00 p.m.!) Then Tuesday is the big appt. w/ Dr. Homsi. Thanks for your prayers!!

p.p.s. - I'll put some pix from Thursday night here as soon as I get ours developed and receive some others via email from others who were there. (and as soon as I remember how to do so...)

p.p.p.s. - If Ole Miss happens not to be your school of choice, that's fine. Remember, Lisa & I are Bama grads ourselves. But also remember, (a) James is not a partier, and (b) not in a fraternity, and (c) is a shorts/flipflops/t-shirt type, who (d) has had a great time there, while (e) growing spiritually, and (f) getting an outstanding education, (g) from one of the top pharmacy programs in the country. Your kid wants to be a pharmacist in Mississippi? Here's an exhaustive list of everywhere s/he can get pharmacy education in state: University of Mississippi. (list ends). A great friend of mine is completing his P6 year now, after being a lifelong MSU fan with 2 degrees from MSU; he's maroon & white thru & thru...and is very proud of his Ole Miss Pharmacy degree. As he should be. FWIW.