WCC pharmacy graduates receives pins in ceremony
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 14, 2016 10:34 AM
Wayne Community College recently recognized the seven members of its Pharmacy Technology class of 2016 in a formal pinning ceremony.
The annual service includes presentation of pharmacy technician pins and roses by the faculty of the program and recitation of the "Oath of a Pharmacy Technician." It denotes the graduates' passage from students to professionals in their field.
Guest speaker at the ceremony was Dr. Heather Hudson, the pharmacist manager at Mount Olive Pharmacy, a site for student clinical rotations. She told the graduates that the ultimate goal of the pharmacy teams of which the new graduates will become members is to provide the best care possible and "improve the well-being and life of our patients."
"Over the past decade, (pharmacy technicians have become a vital part of the pharmacy environment," she said. "As the pharmacy practice continues to evolve, the role of the pharmacy technicians will continue to expand and the demand for well-educated technicians will continue to increase."
Laura Skinner, director of WCC pharmacy technology program, told the graduates, "Remember, count your pills twice, check the prescription label and the medication three times, but most importantly, remember that you are a pharmacy technician and you are ready to make a difference in the health care world."
This year's graduates included Dean Barfield, Kristie Crabtree, Tonivia Kornegay, Ashlyn Merritt, Brittany Powell, Rebekah Sass and Richard Underwood.
The WCC program is a limited-admission, three-semester program that leads to a diploma. Graduates can choose to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam to earn the title of "certified pharmacy technician."