King Horn Field House
United States
At this solemn, yet momentous occasion, student pharmacists will be asked to take an oath of Professional Commitment and receive White Coats from their mentor to signify their commitment to the profession and their future patients.
The Professional Commitment Ceremony is held annually in the Field House of the King Horn Sports Center in Ada, Ohio. (Parking is free and available close to the ceremony on a first-come/first-serve basis. Please use the entrance closest to the Field House as Athletics will have a tournament going on in the gyms.
Schedule of Events:
- Sept 12th, 2026
- Students are to arrive in the Field House North end behind the curtain by 9:15 a.m. to pick up their White Coats and copy of pledge, and then line up for the processional.
- The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last approximately 1 hour.
Reception to follow in the South end of the Field House
FAQ's
Who are invited?
Family and friends are invited to attend the Ceremony in person. There are no tickets needed or limit to number of family or friends you can invite.How will the ceremony proceed?
Students are to report to the Field House, North end area behind the curtain. White coats will be given to you at check in and you will be lined up alphabetically. The Platform Party will lead the processional line into the Field House, with faculty and students following.Guests can be seated in the Field House beginning at 9:15 am.
When do I get my signed Pledge?
You will receive your previously signed 'Pledge of Professionalism' on the day of the ceremony when you check in.
How long will the ceremony last?
The ceremony should last approximately 1 hour.Is there a reception after the ceremony?
A light reception will be held immediately after the Ceremony in the Field House South end.What is the dress code for Mentees?
Dress is professional. If you wear a suit, leave your jacket at home since you will be putting on and wearing a white coat.What is the dress code for Mentors?
Mentors are expected to have professional dress. (No white coats)Where should guests sit?
White Coat Ceremony guests will be seated in the King Horn Sports Center Field House. There will be a limited number of accessible seats available if needed.
The 2026 White Coat Speaker:
Dr. Timothy Heimann, Pharm. D., MBA Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Director, Community Outpatient Service & Pharmacy Service
Dr. Heimann serves as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary for Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) Pharmacy Field Adoption and as Assistant Director for the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System (VANEOHS) in Cleveland, Ohio, where he provides executive leadership for pharmacy and broader clinical operations.
While earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University, Dr. Heimann began his career with VA as a pharmacy student and intern, building a foundation in direct patient care and health system practice. Following graduation, he advanced through progressive leadership roles as lead pharmacist, pharmacy manager, associate chief of pharmacy operations, chief of pharmacy service, and ultimately Assistant Director of Community Outpatient Service and Pharmacy Service at VANEOHS. In these roles, he has overseen all aspects of pharmacy services, led daily operations at 12 community based outpatient clinics across a 21 county region, and driven strategic initiatives in quality, safety, incident command, and organizational change.
Nationally, Dr. Heimann is involved in enterprise pharmacy transformation efforts, including staffing model redesign, formulary governance, and data driven performance improvement to enhance Veteran care across the VA. A longstanding member of multiple pharmacy and healthcare organizations, he also holds an MBA in Health Care Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, underscoring his commitment to developing future pharmacy and healthcare leaders who unite clinical excellence with strong management and operational leadership.