Nova ScotiaThe college of pharmacy no longer celebrates its incoming class with white coats, saying they can have negative implications for some communities.White coats can have negative implications for some communities, director saysFrances Willick · CBC News · Posted: Nov 01, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe incoming class of pharmacy students at Dalhousie University received a cherry tree sapling during their welcome ceremony this fall. (Kevin Liu)Dalhousie University’s College of Pharmacy is shaking up a longtime tradition.For years, students entering the pharmacy program in Halifax were welcomed into the health-care field with a special ceremony in which they were given a white coat.The white coat was regarded as something to be proud of, said the college’s director, Kyle Wilby — something that signalled a sense of belonging in a new profession.But this September, the welcome ceremony looked a bit different. After students crossed the stage, received a pin, and signed a pledge of professionalism, they were handed a cherry tree sapling.History of mistrustWilby said for some people, particularly in racialized or 2SLGBTQ+ communities or those with mental health disorders, a history of mistreatment in health care can result in a lack of trust of health-care professionals.“Due to past negative experiences in health care where maybe they’ve been forced to disclose information or maybe felt that they didn’t have their true patient voice when they were obtaining health care … seeing that white coat could actually be triggering and may result in a negative perception for those patients,” Wilby said.Kyle Wilby is the director of Dalhousie University’s College of Pharmacy. (Submitted by Kyle Wilby)The white coat can also be a barrier, giving the perception of a power difference between patient and pharmacist, and perhaps prompt patients not to open up as much, said Wilby.Dalhousie pharmacy students are still given a white coat when they enter the program, but Wilby said it’s just not celebrated.“It was just time to make the change.… It really was us trying to find our own distinct symbol to welcome students into pharmacy.”Why a cherry tree?“We wanted to go back to our roots as a profession,” Wilby said. “When you think about medications, we think about where they come from, and they really started to come from the world around us, our environment and in particular, plants.”Wilby said while a cherry tree was chosen because the fruit, bark and leaves can all be used for medicinal products, the college may choose a different plant in future years.He added that he’s hoping to have a planting event at the end of the program — assuming students can keep the sapling alive.“Students so far have really embraced it and have told me that they’ve got their plant-care skills ongoing,” Wilby said.Others in profession applaud changeDalhousie is the first school to move away from the white coat ceremony. The college stopped celebrating the white coat in 2024, but only introduced the cherry tree this fall.Since then, the University of Ottawa has also moved toward a plant-based celebration, giving students an echinacea plant this year, Wilby said.Shawn Bugden, the president of the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada, said Dal’s move certainly has other schools talking.“Dal is getting us all to sort of think about this and reflect on what we do and why we do it,” he said.“There’s a power imbalance that’s inherent when you’re dealing with a health-care professional and anything that we can do to sort of minimize that is something that should be done.”Allison Bodnar is the CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia. (Jean Laroche/CBC)Allison Bodnar, the CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia, said she applauds the college for making the change.“It’s a recognition that perhaps it’s not a symbol that is something that we want to continue with,” she said.Bodnar said many in the pharmacy field choose not to wear the white coat these days anyway.“They don’t want to be perceived as a position of power. They want to be collaborative. They want to work with their patients,” Bodnar said.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORFrances Willick is a journalist with CBC Nova Scotia. Please contact her with feedback, story ideas or tips at frances.willick@cbc.ca
Dalhousie University welcomes new pharmacy students with saplings instead of white coats
