April 27, 2024 - 2:00pm
915 E Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Get Directions Livestream

The PharmD Commencement ceremony will be held in person and live streamed.

  • Commencement Speaker

    Paul AbramowitzPaul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, ScD (Hon), FASHP
    Chief Executive Officer
    American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
    Bethesda, Maryland

     
    Paul W. Abramowitz is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and President of the ASHP Foundation.

    ASHP is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and health-system community pharmacies. For over 80 years, ASHP has championed innovation in pharmacy practice, advanced education and professional development, and served as a steadfast advocate for members and the patients they serve. ASHP is also the accrediting body for pharmacy residency and technician training programs, and provides comprehensive resources to support pharmacy professionals through every stage of their careers.

    Prior to joining ASHP in September 2011, Dr. Abramowitz worked in hospitals and health-systems for over 30 years. He served as Associate Hospital Director for Professional Services and Chief Pharmacy Officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He also held prior positions as Director of Pharmacy and Associate Professor at the Medical College of Virginia and the University of Minnesota.

    Dr. Abramowitz received a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry and Biology from Indiana University, a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Toledo, a PharmD from the University of Michigan, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

    In addition to serving as ASHP President in 1993-94 and as Treasurer of ASHP from 2007-10, he chaired the Boards of: the ASHP Research and Education Foundation, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, and the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center.

    Dr. Abramowitz has actively combined practice, teaching, and research throughout his career. He has lectured and published extensively focusing on: the effect that quality pharmacy care can have on improving outcomes and reducing costs of care, developing new pharmacy care models, reducing adverse drug events, and expanding comprehensive medication management to all sites of care.

    He was a recipient of the John W. Webb Lecture Award in 2000 and the Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award in 2009, health-system pharmacy’s highest honor. In 1990, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy, in 2010, the Alumni Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, and in 2015, he was recognized as one of Washington’s Trending Association Leaders by Bisnow. Dr. Abramowitz received Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Toledo in 2013 and the Touro College and University System in 2022.

    Currently, Dr. Abramowitz serves on the Boards of the American Nurses Foundation, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the GTMRx Institute. He also serves on the Howard University College of Pharmacy Board of Visitors, is a member of the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and a Professor-Emeritus at the University of Iowa.

  • Event Day Information

    General information:

    • Please plan to arrive early.  Graduates must be at Rackham by 1:00 pm.
    • Please turn off all cell phones.
    • Commencement will start at 2:00 pm.

    Procession:

    • Line up in alpha order.
    • First person of the row enters and moves all the way to the far side of the row.
    • Each row follows in turn.

    Oath of a Pharmacist:

    • Class representative will instruct you to speak loudly and in UNISON.

    Hooding of the Graduates:

    • Faculty Marshal will lead first student from seat to stage, entire row follows.
    • Each row will rise and process to the stage. The faculty marshal will release you to enter the stage as your name is called.
    • Stand on the X in front of the Associate Deans to be hooded.
    • Walk to the DEAN and shake hands (photo will be taken).
    • Walk to the Faculty Marshal for Certificate (for photo purposes only).
    • When you return to your original seat....PLEASE BE SEATED IMMEDIATELY.

    After Ceremony:

    • Group photo will be taken on the steps of Rackham immediately following the ceremony. 
    • Please return rentals gowns, hood, and tams to the back of the auditorium before leaving Rackham.
    • Pick up envelope with graduation materials at the same time.
    • Congratulations!! 
  • Ann Arbor Travel

    LOCATION
    The Commencement Ceremony is being held at Rackham Auditorium.
    Address: 915 E. Washington Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109

    AIR TRAVEL
    Detroit International Airport (DTW) is the airport nearest Ann Arbor. Travel time from DTW to Ann Arbor is approximately 25 minutes.

    DRIVING DIRECTIONS (to Rackham)
    A complete list of driving directions can be found at: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/rackham_building/driving_directions/

    PARKING
    The gates to the Thayer (216 S. Thayer Street), Fletcher, Hill (201 Fletcher Street), Thompson (500 Thompson St) and Palmer-Blue Area (200 Washtenaw Avenue) structures will be opened at 10 a.m. for commencement guests. Parking enforcement in these areas will be suspended from 10 a.m. to the end of posted enforcement hours.  Even though enforcement is suspended, we encourage guests not to park in any specialty signed spaces (Gold, UM Business, Service Vehicle, etc.  The campus parking structures fill to capacity during the business days.

    Additional parking is available in the city structures: Maynard (324 Maynard St), Washington (215 Washington Street), Liberty (510 E. Washington) and Forest (650 S. Forest)

    DINING
    A complete list of restaurants in the Ann Arbor area can be found at: http://www.visitannarbor.org/dining

  • Ann Arbor Travel - Accommodations

    ACCOMMODATIONS

    Bell Tower
    300 South Thayer
    Ann Arbor, MI 48104
    (734) 769-3010
    http://www.belltowerhotel.com/

    Graduate Ann Arbor
    615 East Huron Street
    Ann Arbor, MI 48104
    (800) 666-8693
    http://graduateannarbor.com/

    Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown
    120 West Huron Street
    Ann Arbor, MI 48104
    (734) 662-9999
    http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/arbdt-residence-inn-ann-arbor-downtown/

    A complete list of accommodations in the Ann Arbor area can be found at: http://www.visitannarbor.org/accommodations/hotels

  • FAQs

    Will guests need to bring the commencement announcements to get into Rackham?
    No. Guests will not need to bring anything to enter.

    Is there a limit of guests we can invite?
    Currently there is no limit of how many guests can be invited.

    Arrival Times 
    We anticipate that the venue will open for guests and seating will begin approximately 45 minutes prior to the published start time.  We recommend arriving no later than 30 minutes before the start time. 

    Academic attire
    Academic attire will be distributed after the P4 seminar on April 12.  Return your gown and hood within 30 minutes after the ceremony concludes unless you are attending the UM Commencement Ceremony on May 4.  Gowns, tams and hoods must be returned on Monday, May 6 to the Student Services reception area of the College. 

    Livestreaming information 
    The College of Pharmacy PharmD Commencement Exercises will be livestreamed.  The link will appear on this page before the event begins.

  • Health and Safety Protocols

    The following protocols will be in place for guests to attend the Commencement Ceremony.  Guests should check this page for any changes or updated requirements from the University for in person events occuring in April 2023. 

    COVID-19 Safety

    Effective March 14, 2022, masking will be optional in most indoor spaces on campus including in offices, residence halls and at athletic events. It is expected that all individuals of the U-M community and guests stay home when they are not feeling well (do not attend work, class, gatherings or events) and individuals are expected to continue to use ResponsiBLUE and ResponsiBLUE Guest as a daily symptom checker.

    Additionally, neither proof of vaccination nor recent negative test are required for attendance at this event.