Students Receive First Doctor鈥檚 White Coats at Ceremony
The 64 members of the incoming class of 2017 in the at each received their first doctor鈥檚 white coat today during the White Coat Ceremony. The seventh annual White Coat Ceremony formally marked their entry into the profession of medicine and took place in the on the Boca Raton campus.
鈥淭he power of the symbolic white coat resides in how you conduct yourself while wearing it as a medical student and later as a physician,鈥 said , M.D., dean of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, as he delivered his remarks to the entering class of 2017. 鈥淚t is a constant reminder of your professional and ethical obligations as a physician. Always remember that providing health care is a sacred trust and your white coat symbolizes your commitment to upholding that trust.鈥
, M.D., senior associate dean for student affairs and 抖M女仆 in 抖M女仆鈥檚 Charles E. College of Medicine, served as the master of ceremonies and 抖M女仆 President 聽 provided remarks prior to the white coat cloaking.
鈥淵ou have chosen a very noble profession and we wish you every success in your education, your training and your life as a physician,鈥 said Markowitz. 鈥淭his is the first step on a journey that will be exciting, frustrating, but will be the most remarkable journey you will encounter. On behalf of all us in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and at 抖M女仆 we welcome you on this journey.鈥
The event program included a keynote delivered by , M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of integrated medical science and director of anatomical programs in 抖M女仆鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, and the 2017 recipient of 抖M女仆鈥檚 highest award, the 鈥淒istinguished Teacher of the Year.鈥 Trelka is board-certified in anatomic and forensic pathology and has been a medical examiner and coroner in Virginia, Ohio and Florida. He is the former deputy chief and interim chief medical examiner of Broward County.
The students were cloaked with their white coats by Markowitz and , M.D., assistant dean for student affairs in 抖M女仆鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Each student was pinned with a 鈥淗umanism in Medicine鈥 lapel pin by a member of the class of 2020 during the ceremony. At the conclusion of the event, the students recited in unison an 鈥渙ath鈥 they collectively wrote, which will serve as a code of conduct they are committed to following throughout their education and as physicians after medical school.聽
The 64 members of the incoming class of 2017 were selected among 3,667 applicants who desired to attend 抖M女仆鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Class members range in age from 19 to 30. The class of 2017 is the most diverse in the school's history and will contribute to the College鈥檚 mission to enhance diversity among the physician workforce. Fifteen percent of the class received their bachelor鈥檚 degree or master鈥檚 degree from 抖M女仆. Although most of the class members majored in traditional pre-med subjects, the class also is made up of students who have non-science majors. Approximately 87 percent of the incoming class are Florida residents.聽聽聽
Most of the major colleges in Florida are represented including students from 抖M女仆, the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Other students in the class attended undergraduate institutions such as Boston University, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, The University of Hawaii, and the University of Southern California among others.
Each student鈥檚 white coat was sponsored by members of the community as well as local businesses during White Coats-4-Care, a special fundraising event co-chaired by Bonnie and Jon Kaye, Kaye Communications, Inc. The event also provided vital medical school scholarships.
Following the White Coat Ceremony, students and guests enjoyed a special reception generously 聽underwritten by Michael T.B. Dennis, M.D., member of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Board of Trustees and chair of the of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.
The was founded in 1993 by the . The Foundation concluded that the beginning of a student鈥檚 journey into medicine is the best time to influence standards of professionalism, humanistic values and behavior.
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