March 6, 2019
Students at the Rho Chi and Phi Lamdba Sigma Initiation Ceremony
Congratulations to this year's inductees into the College's honor societies, Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma.

On February 12, 2019 the annual Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma Induction Ceremony was held at the North Campus Research Complex Dining Hall. Rho Chi is an academic honor society, which invites students who achieve a GPA in the top 20% of their class to become members. Phi Lambda Sigma is a pharmacy honor society that invites students who have demonstrated strong leadership potential to become members.

Membership in Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma recognizes the academic and leadership achievements of students at the College, but also comes with added responsibility. Once inducted, members of both societies serve students at the College of Pharmacy through academic tutoring, professional development, and leadership training opportunities. More specifically, Rho Chi facilitates the College's shadowing program and offers exam review sessions to all students. Similarly, Phi Lambda Sigma coordinates the College's annual P4 Professional Skills Day to prepare fourth-year students for residency and fellowship interviews, as well as a curriculum vitae workshop and mock interview event for other students to help prepare them for pharmacy internship applications. Both organizations provide mentorship to other students as they develop their professional interests.

Ryan Tarpey, a fourth-year pharmacy student and the current Fred and Dee Lyons Leadership Scholar, described his excitement about being inducted into Phi Lambda Sigma. "Phi Lambda Sigma allows me to connect with classmates within the College of Pharmacy to focus and develop our  leadership style and envision how we will work together to advance pharmacy practice in our careers." 

This year's keynote speaker was Bernard Marini, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist Specialist in Hematology/Oncology at Michigan Medicine. A 2012 graduate of the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Dr. Marini's inspiring and heartfelt speech emphasized the need for this year's inductees to continue working hard to become competent, compassionate healthcare providers who have the courage and wisdom to, when appropriate, question the status quo to provide exceptional patient care. Rho Chi faculty advisor Karen Farris, PhD, and Phi Lambda Sigma faculty advisor John Clark, PharmD, MS, also provided remarks throughout the evening.

In order to align more closely with the practices of other national chapters, the U-M College of Pharmacy's Rho Chi chapter changed its membership selection process to allow second year pharmacy students membership into the organization. Previously, students were only eligible for induction during their third year of pharmacy education.  In order to bridge the gap between the new and old periods for selecting members, both Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma combined the induction ceremonies for current second and third year students. Because of this change, Rho Chi had the honor of welcoming 34 new members, while Phi Lambda Sigma welcomed 31. Both societies inducted additional honorary members: Rho Chi initiated Hae Mi Choe, PharmD, Associate Dean for Pharmacy Innovations and Partnerships and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, while Phi Lambda Sigma initiated Ryan Foster, PharmD, MBA, Senior Director of Pharmacy Services at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI.

On behalf of the members of Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma, organization presidents Megan Klatt and Brian Bazzell congratulate this year's inductees and thank everyone who helped to make the evening a memorable experience for all involved.

To see more photos from the event, visit the College's Facebook page.