From a White Coat to Alumni Support

UC gives her tools to succeed

Tabatha Phillips is proud of her white coat. It represents her first experience as a University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy doctoral student and the support she’s received since.

“Our white coats get donated by alumni and it helps you make a connection right off the bat with a person who wants to see you succeed,” she shares. “Alumni are super involved and treat us like royalty.”

Whether it’s help from alumni, faculty, her peers or scholarship, Tabatha says that her she’s had a remarkable journey as a Bearcat.

“I remember when I was interviewing and trying to choose a school, UC was focused on how students make UC great, not the other way around,” she says.

The opportunities she’s had as a doctoral student have shaped her own desire to help others as a pharmacist and even earned her a scholarship. As a student leader in a group of pharmacy and medical students who work at a local shelter, Tabatha found she had an affinity for organizing volunteers and working with the homeless. Her peers selected her for the Exemplary Service Award, which came with a scholarship.

“Every time I’ve been successful in my life is when I’ve been working for the best of the group, rather than for myself,” she says. “That’s something UC has really brought out in me.”

Her grandfather, who was also a Bearcat, would have been thrilled to see how she’s flourished at his alma mater.
“My grandfather always told me to be true to myself and to chase after my dreams as fast as I could,” she says. “And that's what I've been doing here at UC. Just going after my dreams. UC has given me all the tools and I've been succeeding and it’s really exciting.”

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