5 + 5 + 0 = 10

School of Pharmacy celebrates 550th White Coat student.

by Stephen Vodhanel, PhD

Marie Hovespian, Class of 2015, received a $5,000 scholarship for being the 550th School of Pharmacy student to be given a White Coat during the 10th Anniversary White Coat Ceremony held Thursday, November 3rd, 2011.

"You may ask why the 550th? Well, here is the math: 5+5+0 = 10 to commemorate the school’s 10th anniversary, consequently the 550th student represented this important milestone," said School of Pharmacy dean Billy Hughes.

Of Armenian descent with both parents coming from Yerevan, Armenia, Marie attended UCLA where she majored in psychobiology and was exposed to the value of pharmacists and their role in the health system.

Attraction to study at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy for Marie came when she missed the small atmosphere of her Armenian high school while at UCLA. “Going to UCLA was a different experience for me since I did not have the closeness with my classmates. The atmosphere of a smaller university where long-term relationships is an important part of the curriculum, along with the unique and distinctive aspects of strong cultural and religious ties, is what attracted me to Loma Linda University,” said Marie.

Also, Marie is well on her path of serving the medical community by having volunteered at a small community pharmacy in Los Angeles. And, while attending UCLA Marie co-founded a pre-health organization called “Healthy Bruins,” which aided and encouraged other students to enter the medical profession.

During the 2011-12 academic year, the School of Pharmacy will be commemorating its 10th anniversary with many celebratory events, and 550 white coat students represents an important milestone along the way.

And save the date! School of Pharmacy 10th Anniversary Celebration is April 12, 2012.

Presenting the scholarship to Marie Hovespian, Class of 2015, is Dr. Billy Hughes, Dean, and Dr. Paul Norris, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs.