School of Pharmacy technician program graduates second class of learners
Family, friends and preceptors came together to celebrate the new class of graduates
Cheers and applause filled ’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences on Friday as members of the second cohort of the pharmacy technician training program celebrated their graduation.
Six learners received their certificates of completion from Program Director Kenneth McCall, alongside Dean and SUNY Distinguished Professor Kanneyboyina Nagaraju, and Instructional Support Associate Katie Sasina.
McCall started the ceremony by thanking everyone for being there and emphasizing the importance of pharmacy technicians in healthcare.
“Pharmacy technicians often go unrecognized, but they are essential members of our healthcare team,” he said. “Over 1 billion medications are dispensed or administered every year in the United States, and almost all of those medications are prepared and handled by pharmacy technicians under supervision.”
Graduates studied over 120 topics, including applied calculations, non-sterile and sterile compounding, data entry, medication reconciliation and pharmacology, he added: “They are now ready to enter the healthcare workforce and make a vital impact.”
Nagaraju shared his excitement for this class, describing them as trailblazers not only for the program but for the community as well.
“As graduates, you are now ambassadors to this new and blossoming program and walking proof of the impact this school is having on our local community,” he said. “It is not common for a pharmacy school to start a pharmacy technician program, but our commitment to helping local students motivated us to initiate this program. Helping the local community and its learners is important not only for our school but also for .”
Sasina, who has taught a majority of the program and has worked alongside the learners all year, spoke highly of the new graduates and their new passion for pharmacy.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our pharmacy technician graduates,” she said. “Watching them learn, grow and become passionate in this field has been a true joy. Their dedication and hard work have set a standard for future cohorts, and I’m excited to see where their careers take them. Our students are ready to make an impact in the world of pharmacy.”