• Education

School of Pharmacy Caps Academic Year with New Dean, Stellar Class of 2013

The nation's premier pharmacy school capped its academic year by welcoming a new dean and celebrating a stellar class of graduates at its commencement ceremony on May 24.

Presiding over the gathering at Davies Symphony Hall was B. Joseph Guglielmo, PharmD, who took over as the School of Pharmacy's dean on April 1. He had been serving as interim dean since Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, PharmD, retired in 2012. Koda-Kimble, who stepped down after an accomplished 46-year career at UCSF, was on hand at the May 24 event to help confer degrees on the graduates.

See More Coverage of UCSF Commencement 2013

During the ceremony, school leaders recognized the five finalists of the Bowl of Hygeia Award, the highest honor given to a graduating student exemplifying the qualities most desirable in a pharmacist, including leadership, ability, enthusiasm and dedication. First presented in 1966, the award is named for Hygeia, the Greek goddess of health and a recognized symbol of the profession of pharmacy.

This year's award went to Pan Pan Wong. Constantly volunteering her time to advance community service and professional organizations, Wong's contributions are characterized by great care, unwavering dedication and thoughtful focus on continual improvement. Wong inspired her peers through her excellence in academics, her ability to lead by example, her passion for pharmacy, maturity, work ethic and professionalism. She successfully restructured student community outreach projects and extended her involvement to professional organizations by serving in student leadership positions through the American Pharmacists Association and Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Society.

Other finalists for the award were Matthew Chang, Amrit Dosanjh, Gregory Gipson and Marisa Roberts.

Founded in 1872, the UCSF School of Pharmacy is the first pharmacy school established in the West and has continued to lead the field. Today it is the leading U.S. pharmacy school in terms of both research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the ranking of its Doctor of Pharmacy degree program in U.S. News & World Report.

Photos: © GradImages®

Dean Emeritus Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, PharmD, hooded graduates alongside newly appointed Dean Joseph Guglielmo, PharmD.
Dean Emeritus Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, PharmD, hooded graduates alongside newly appointed Dean Joseph Guglielmo, PharmD.
Faculty gather on the stage of Davies Symphony Hall at the beginning of commencement ceremony on May 24.
Faculty gather on the stage of Davies Symphony Hall at the beginning of commencement ceremony on May 24. Click here to view a full-screen version of the slideshow.
A bagpiper plays "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland, The Brave" at the end of the ceremony and during the recessional.
A bagpiper plays "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland, The Brave" at the end of the ceremony and during the recessional.
Esther Park gave the second student speech, discussing the new graduates’ futures as pharmacists.
Esther Park gave the second student speech, discussing the new graduates’ futures as pharmacists.
From left, Tony Huynh, Brian Lee and James Vu were chosen by the Class of 2013 to give a group speech about their time in pharmacy school.
From left, Tony Huynh, Brian Lee and James Vu were chosen by the Class of 2013 to give a group speech about their time in pharmacy school.
The five finalists for the Bowl of Hygeia award pose for a photo, from left to right: Matthew Chang, Greg Gipson, Pan Pan Wong, Amrit Dosanjh and Marisa Roberts.
The five finalists for the Bowl of Hygeia award pose for a photo, from left to right: Matthew Chang, Greg Gipson, Pan Pan Wong, Amrit Dosanjh and Marisa Roberts.
Pan Pan Wong, winner of the Bowl of Hygeia award, poses with Dean Guglielmo and Wilma Wong, president of the UCSF School of Pharmacy Alumni Association.
Pan Pan Wong, winner of the Bowl of Hygeia award, poses with Dean Guglielmo and Wilma Wong, president of the UCSF School of Pharmacy Alumni Association.
Pan Pan Wong, winner of the Bowl of Hygeia award, poses with Dean Guglielmo and Wilma Wong, president of the UCSF School of Pharmacy Alumni Association.
Amrit Dosanjh, a finalist for the Bowl of Hygeia award, receives her finalist certificate from Dean Guglielmo.

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