Winkle College of Pharmacy Class of 2016

On Sunday, May 1, students from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy marked the culmination of four years of rigorous study and experiential training at Cincinnati Music Hall, where the Class of 2016 officially completed their education to become doctors of pharmacy, PharmDs.

"I felt excited and proud to walk across the stage as a third-generation UC college of pharmacy graduate," Sarah Priestle, PharmD, said of taking that walk alongside her mother, Mimi Hart, owner and CEO of Hart Pharmacy in Price Hill, and her grandfather Thomas Hart, who established the pharmacy in 1960.

Priestle was one of 94 students to walk the stage and receive their diplomas. Two students received doctoral degrees in pharmaceutical sciences and 17 received their master's degrees.

"The event is all about our students and their families, of course, and it would be hard to top the type of send-off they received. Our college will be pretty quiet for the next three months, and our Class of 2017 students start their first rotation today," said Neil MacKinnon, PhD, dean of the college. 

Also on hand at the graduation ceremony to personally congratulate pharmacy graduates were UC President Santa J. Ono, PhD, and Robert E. Richardson Jr., chairman of the UC Board of Trustees. UC awarded more than 6,400 degrees to 6,351 graduates this spring—the highest number the university has ever seen for a class of spring term graduates.

The Winkle College of Pharmacy Class of 2016 demographics consisted of a predominantly female student body, with 65 percent female and 35 percent male. Almost half of the class—48 percent—will be practicing in a community pharmacy at either a chain pharmacy or independent pharmacy with 3 percent practicing in hospital pharmacy. Two percent will be practicing in either long-term care or home health care. A large portion of the class—27 percent—will go on to postgraduate residency training.

At the time of graduation 20 percent were still interviewing for positions in community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy.

Graduates will now sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) over the next few weeks to earn licensure. 

Sarah Priestle, PharmD, jokes that she's been interviewing for her job at Hart Pharmacy for the last six years; because that's where she's been working while in school.  

"I am blessed to get to take care of the same patients my family has been taking care of for more than 50 years. The day after graduation, I went into work, just like I have every Monday, and I love it!"