October 27, 2014

On Thursday, October 16, 2014, the College celebrated with pharmacy student leaders and scholars in the Rho Chi Society and Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society (PLS).

Rho Chi, an academic honor society in pharmacy, is based on the mission to encourage and recognize excellence in intellectual achievement and foster fellowship among its members.

  • Initiates into Rho Chi include those achieving a GPA within the top 20% of the class after the first two years of pharmacy school; 15 pharmacy students were initiated this year.
  • Those receiving Rho Chi certificates are honorees of Rho Chi, receiving recognition for achieving a GPA within the top 25% after one year of pharmacy school; 21 pharmacy students received this.

Phi Lambda Sigma, a national pharmacy leadership society, recognizes and promotes a culture of strong leadership within the profession. The society’s mission is to empower the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

  • Initiates into PLS are collegiate members selected via peer recognition for having proven a commitment to the advancement of the profession through demonstrated leadership; 23 pharmacy students were initiated this year.
  • Honorary members have demonstrated dedication, leadership, and service to the pharmacy profession and are actively involved in pharmacy organizations, showing a high degree of professionalism in their fields; 6 pharmacy students received this.

“Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma are two very important societies at the College of Pharmacy because they celebrate student scholarship and leadership. The U-M College of Pharmacy was the originator of Rho Chi, and in 1922, we formed the Alpha Chapter. In contrast, only recently did we establish the Pharmacy Leadership Society (PLS) to celebrate outstanding leadership exhibited by our students. Given our commitment to scholarship and leadership, it made sense to combine these two initiations and hold a big celebration for these outstanding pharmacy students,” states Associate Dean Bruce Mueller. 

The program included opening remarks from Dean Jim Dalton, including his talk entitled “Crafting a Path to Success” in which he emphasized the importance of mentors to his career experiences and the value of networking for students and graduates as they make choices in their career. Yihan Sun, PharmD’15, president of Rho Chi, and Chris Dolan, PharmD’15, president of Phi Lambda Sigma gave closing remarks before the students celebrated with friends, family, and faculty members.

“The event was a culmination of an opportunity to celebrate two outstanding traits in our students, scholastic excellence and leadership. To be able to share the students’ achievements with family, friends, and the University community was very special,” adds Dr. John Clark, Phi Lambda Sigma advisor, Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy.

“The academic and leadership honor societies recognize important accomplishments of our student pharmacists. We are thrilled to share their initiation into these organizations with family, friends, and faculty. These societies represent many of our leaders and best,” states Dr. Karen Farris, Rho Chi Society advisor, Charles R. Walgreen III Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Associate Chair for Professional and Graduate Education, Department of Clinical Pharmacy.

Congratulations to the newest members of the Rho Chi Society and Phi Lambda Sigma!

Visit our Facebook page for more photos from the event.
View the program of events for a list of students who took part in these ceremonies.