DG First-Year Students Receive Their White Coats

One of the favorite ceremonies for both students and administration alike is the White Coat Ceremony. Last Friday, the Downers Grove first-year classes of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago College of Pharmacy, and College of Health Sciences celebrated this "rite of passage" with friends and family.

Photo: Students reciting the Oath of Commitment.

Since MWU students often begin their clinical experiences in the first year of their programs, they receive their white coats in late September. The messages given by the President and the Deans at this event emphasize the importance of professionalism. Dr. Goeppinger talked about the history of the ceremony and how important it is for students to remember that their education will commit them to serving patients throughout their careers. The academic deans then spoke about the three rings of professionalism: with patients (Dr. Nichols, CCOM); with colleagues (Dr. Smith, CHS); and with the community (Dr. Fjortoft, CCP).

Photo: Members of the Master of Biomedical Science Class of 2009

Following these remarks, each college took turns in calling their students to the stage individually to be coated. CCOM students were coated by Dr. Nichols; CHS students were coated by Dr. Smith and their program director; CCP students were coated by their faculty advisors. Once the nearly 600 students were all in their white coats, they then recited the Oath of Commitment in unison.

Unlike the somewhat more formal graduations, the White Coat Ceremony is truly a celebration of these students beginning their first year of professional health care education and making the commitment to serve patients. The white coat reminds them--and all of us--that health care is a special calling that is highly respected by society because of the professionalism and caring required of practitioners. Whenever any of us sees someone in a white coat, we know that the person is there to help us--whether in the hospital, an office setting, a pharmacy, a therapy facility, or a laboratory. The ceremony helps to reinforce to our students that treating patients is their ultimate goal and that much is expected of them along the way.