U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy to Deliver Commencement Address at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' Colchester Campus

COLCHESTER, VT--(Marketwire - Mar 25, 2013) - James J. Gozzo, Ph.D., President of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, announced today that U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont will be the commencement speaker at the first graduation ceremony of the school's Colchester Campus. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Champlain Valley Exposition.

"As the longest serving member of the Senate, Sen. Leahy has dedicated much of his life to public service and helping improve the lives of countless people," said President Gozzo. "It is an honor to have a person of his stature as the speaker for the first commencement ceremony of our Vermont Campus. I have no doubt that his remarks will serve as an inspiration for not only our graduating class, but for all of those in attendance." 

"With the historic passage of the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans who were uninsured or underinsured are gaining access to health care," said Senator Leahy. "As more people seek out vital health care services for themselves and their families, there is a corresponding need to increase the number of pharmacists and other health care professionals. Schools such as Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will help ensure that we have enough well-trained professionals to meet the health care needs of all Americans, today and into the future."

Patrick Leahy was elected to the United States Senate in 1974. Today he ranks first in seniority in the Senate and is the President Pro Tempore (senior senator in the majority party). He is the Chairman of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Sen. Leahy is also the senior most member of the Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Agriculture Committee.

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences opened its Colchester satellite campus in fall 2009. The campus is now home to 270 full-time students, and it remains the only pharmacy program in the state of Vermont.

About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution committed to graduating the best health care minds in the world. The College's Vermont Campus is located in Colchester and is home to the only pharmacy program in the state of Vermont. The school's main campus is located in Albany, New York. For more information, please visit www.acphs.edu.